US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI73

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000073 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS CHENGDU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PREF, PHUM, IN, CH, NP, India-China, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: LODI GYARI INFORMS INDIA OF PLANS FOR TIBETAN 
RESETTLEMENT IN THE US 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford,  Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) On January 3, the Dalai Lama's Special Representative 
Lodi Gyari told Ambassador Mulford that he had briefed MEA 
Joint Secretary (East Asia) Ashok Kantha that same day on 
Dharamsala's intention to relocate 10,000 Tibetan refugees 
from India and Nepal to the US.  He emphasized that he had 
spoken to the GOI "informally," with the understanding that 
the US wanted to raise this issue with New Delhi separately. 
He mentioned only Dharamsala's wish to explore the 
possibility of resettlement to the US, but said he did not 
discuss US thoughts on the matter.  Gyari indicated that a 
significant factor in the Tibetan Government-in-Exile's 
(TGIE's) decision to pursue resettlement was Nepal's recent 
push back of several Tibetan refugees and the poor economic 
opportunities for Tibetan refugees in India. 
 
2.  (C) The Ambassador noted his impression that Dharamsala 
had agreed not to raise the issue with the Indian government 
until the US had broached the matter.  Gyari said that his 
intention had been "quite the opposite," remarking that "our 
relationship with India is unique, we are like family."  To 
keep Dharamsala's plans from India would therefore be 
inappropriate, he emphasized, explaining, "we do not want 
India to misunderstand what we are trying to do."  Gyari told 
the Ambassador that he had not yet raised the issue with 
Kathmandu, calling the Nepalese government "a different 
matter." 
 
3.  (C) Asked how the MEA had received this information, 
Gyari stated that Kantha had "taken the information very 
well," acknowledging that several Tibetan settlements in 
India were facing economic challenges. 
MULFORD