US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1372

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001372 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2012 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PREL, MARR, NP, Human Rights 
SUBJECT: NEPAL'S ARMY SETS UP HUMAN RIGHTS CELL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Nepal's army has set up a cell to 
investigate reported human rights violations, the Defense 
Ministry announced July 10.  A high-ranking officer agreed to 
consider offers of USG assistance for the newly-created 
office.  The cell has reportedly been established because 
human rights inquiries have become too numerous for senior 
officers to handle.  Human rights groups welcomed the news 
and planned to offer assistance to the RNA.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) has set up a human 
rights cell under its Adjutant General Department to 
investigate reports of human rights violations, a July 10 
Defense Ministry press release announced. 
 
3. (C) The RNA Chief of General Staff (CGS) gave ODCOff 
advance notice of the announcement during a July 10 briefing 
on U.S. security assistance.  The CGS stated that the cell 
would include representatives from the offices of the RNA's 
Director of Public Relations, Judge Advocate General and 
Military Police.  Col. Deepak Gurung, Director of Public 
Relations, would serve as the primary point of contact for 
the cell.  (Note:  At the time of the announcement Col. 
Gurung was in the U.S. on a single country project IVP 
program on "Government Public Affairs."  End Note.) 
 
4. (C) The new human rights cell has not yet received any 
international assistance or advice, the CGS noted.  ODCOff 
proposed arranging for an advisor from the Center for 
Civilian-Military Relations (CCMR) to come to Nepal to assist 
with the program.  The CGS agreed that that was a good idea. 
He added that the cell "works with ICRC."  (Note:  Although 
the RNA has agreed in principle to cooperate with ICRC, ICRC 
maintains that it still does not have access to RNA 
detainees.  End Note.) 
 
5. (C) The RNA Director of Military Operations (DMO) told 
DATT that he had set up the cell because the volume of human 
rights inquiries had become too large for his office to 
handle.  He stressed that he planned to ensure that the cell 
was sufficiently staffed and funded. 
 
6. (SBU) Kapil Shrestha, member of the GON's National Human 
Rights Commission, told us the army's new approach was 
"encouraging."  "We encourage them to adopt a responsive 
stance on human rights," he added, and would be willing to 
collaborate on training and materials.  Human rights groups 
also welcomed the announcement.  Representatives of the Human 
Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) told Ambassador July 12 
that they planned to meet with the RNA in coming days to 
discuss the cell and offer assistance. 
 
7. (C) Comment:  So far, the RNA has moved slowly to address 
reports of rights violations.  That RNA top brass have taken 
pains to express support for the new human rights cell is 
welcome news, perhaps indicating that Mission efforts to 
focus the RNA's attention on potential human rights problems 
are paying off.  Post will watch closely for signs that the 
new mechanism is in fact speeding the RNA's response to 
complaints.  End Comment. 
MALINOWSKI