US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI3431

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003431 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PREF, PTER, IN, NP, BT, Bhutan, India-Bhutan 
SUBJECT: GOI EXPECTS BHUTANESE REFUGEE SURVEYS TO CONTINUE, 
SOLUTION STILL ELUSIVE 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: During a May 2 meeting with a visiting 
G/PRM/DRL/DHS delegation in India to review Tibetan and 
Bhutanese refugee issues, MEA Joint Secretary (North) Ranjit 
Rae offered his view that the UNHCR "had met the concerns" of 
HMGN in order to resume the registration of Bhutanese 
refugees in camps in Nepal, agreed that the Dewey-Wangchuck 
framework provides the best means to move ahead on the 
refugee issue, and commented that many refugees had left 
Bhutan voluntarily under a "pull" from Nepal.  Rae also 
reiterated concerns that some in the camps have links to the 
Nepalese Maoists or insurgent groups in Northeast India, and 
offered suggestions for managing any eventual resettlement 
program.  End Summary. 
 
Refugee Camp Occupants 
---------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Meeting with J/S Rae, the delegation led by PRM 
Director of Admissions Terry Rusch expressed appreciation for 
the GOI's long-running assistance to Tibetan refugees, and 
raised the possibility of US resettlement of some of them as 
a way of sharing the responsibility for refugee support. 
Noting that their current visit was focused on proposals for 
resettlement of Tibetan refugees, the delegation informed Rae 
that at the appropriate time and in coordination with other 
concerned governments and institutions, the USG may also 
participate in a resettlement effort for Bhutanese refugees. 
In the near term, the USG may undertake resettlement in the 
US for a modest number of the most vulnerable Bhutanese 
refugees identified by UNHCR at camps in Nepal. 
 
3.  (C) Rae offered an overview of GOI thinking on the 
Bhutanese refugees, reviewed the positions of Nepal and 
Bhutan on activities leading to repatriation of some of the 
refugees, and stated that having addressed the "concerns" of 
HMGN, the UNHCR is "again starting the survey" of the 
Bhutanese refugee camp occupants.  (Note: Embassy Kathmandu 
informs us, and UNHCR in New Delhi has confirmed, that while 
UNHCR has submitted information to HMGN, it is awaiting 
government approval to continue the profiling activity.  End 
Note)  Rae agreed that the framework for repatriation of 
Category 1 refugees worked out by King Wangchuck and 
Assistant Secretary Dewey offered the best prospect for 
moving ahead. 
 
4.  (C) Rae stated that the number of Bhutanese refugees in 
camps in Nepal is much less than the 125,000 that has been 
reported.  Estimating that of about 130,000 who had 
originally left Bhutan, some 30,000 remained in India, Rae 
commented that although some of the refugees had been driven 
out by a "push" from the RGOB, many had voluntarily moved to 
Nepal, responding to a "pull" to regroup ethnic Nepalese 
living in a "greater Nepal."  Even among the 100,000 in 
Nepal, there are many with jobs or other connections to 
India, he said, explaining India's policy of open admission 
for Bhutanese and Nepalese.  Because all people in the camps 
come from one of those countries, they enjoy visa-free 
movement into and out of India. 
 
Possibilities for Resettlement 
------------------------------ 
 
5.  (C) Rae recommended that any resettlement program take 
into account the "South Asian" priority given to families, 
suggesting that cases should be processed to ensure that 
parents, children and possibly grandparents remain united. 
He estimated that the total number of families in the camps 
was around 14,000-15,000.  The population of the camps is 
very young, he noted, with about half of the residents under 
age 18.  Rae advised that any third country resettlement 
option be delayed until it has been determined who will 
return to Bhutan.  Otherwise, he warned, many will request a 
third country option instead of going back.  (Note: UNHCR has 
mentioned to us in the past that the refugees are already 
aware of this possibility.  End Note) 
 
6.  (C) Commenting on the possibility of Bhutanese refugees 
being interviewed in India for resettlement by the US, Rae 
reaffirmed that Bhutanese and Nepalese citizens could freely 
cross the Indian border, but requested that the USG consult 
with the GOI before setting up any refugee processing within 
India for camp residents.  Rae said the GOI had reports that 
the Bhutanese Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) was 
being organized in the camps, and that it may have links with 
both the Nepalese Maoists and Northeast Indian insurgent 
groups, but that India had no certain knowledge of this yet. 
He asked how this Maoist connection might affect resettlement 
in the US. 
 
7.  (C) In a separate May 6 meeting with the delegation, 
Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary (Foreigners) DS 
Mishra noted that any refugees leaving from India for 
resettlement would require an exit permit from the GOI.  He 
commented that any decision on allowing USG interviews with 
refugees in India would be made "at a political level," not 
by his Ministry, but indicated no objection in principle to 
such an arrangement. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8.  (C) J/S Rae's assertion that UNHCR profiling activity has 
already restarted is a bit premature, but UNHCR hopes that it 
will soon receive the required government approval.  Rae's 
discussion of a "pull" from Nepal suggests that the GOI 
agrees with the Bhutanese King that not all of the refugees 
are legitimate claimants.  The GOI appears to have no 
objection to a resettlement program for the small number of 
"extremely vulnerable" refugees, but Rae seems to believe 
that a larger solution is still some time away.  End Comment. 
 
9.  (U) This message was cleared by Terry Rusch, Susan 
O'Sullivan, Kate Friedrich, and June Tancredi. 
BLAKE