US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU1256

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001256 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS, DRL, EAP/CM, PRM, G 
GENEVA FOR PLYNCH 
NEW DELHI FOR JNAIR 
BEIJING PLEASE PASS TO CHENGDU 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DHS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PGOV, PTER, PINS, NP, Bhutanese Refugees 
SUBJECT: NEPAL THINKING AGAIN ABOUT BHUTANESE REFUGEES 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 01028 
 
Classified By: Charge Elisabeth Millard. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Restarting the Bhutanese Refugee Discussion 
------------------------------------------- 
 
1.  (C) UNHCR Resident Representative Abraham Abraham 
reported to us a conversation he had with Nepal Foreign 
Secretary Acharya on June 7 to press the issue of Bhutanese 
 
SIPDIS 
refugees in Nepal. Acharya said the government of Bhutan must 
start implementing their agreement to take back refugees. 
Acharya said that if Bhutan started to take back category 1, 
3, and 4 refugees from the verified camp, then Nepal could 
consider a "technical pause" to look at other possibilities, 
including third country resettlement options for the 
remaining refugees. (Note: Nine Bhutanese refugees from 
various camps visited the Embassy on June 2 to press for the 
option of third country resettlement. End note.) 
 
2. (C) On June 8, Charge spoke to Acharya who stated that he 
was informally floating this proposal and that His Majesty's 
Government of Nepal (HMGN) might consider if put forth by the 
international community. 
 
3. (C) On June 9 FM Pandey reiterated that Bhutan needed to 
implement the agreement before Nepal would agree to 
discussing third country resettlement.  The Charge suggested 
a proposal along the lines Acharya had raised: repatriation 
of those agreed upon in the verified camp, followed by a 
"technical pause" where all interested parties could look at 
a durable solution that would include third country 
resettlement.  Pandey agreed that the plan had merit and was 
worth exploring.  He told the Charge that the Bhutanese 
Foreign Minister had requested a meeting with King Gyanendra 
in Doha.  Pandey had demurred, but left open the possibility 
of himself meeting the Bhutanese FonMin, if requested. 
 
Re-Registration of Bhutanese Refugees 
------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) The Charge also pressed the Foreign Minister to make 
sure that the information campaign for UNHCR's profiling 
exercise could take place in July so the effort could begin 
in August, as discussed in May with the PRM -led delegation 
(reftel).  Pandey indicated he understood the importance of 
the exercise. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) Acharya's proposal is a version of the idea put forth 
by A/S Dewey in October, although HMGN is talking about the 
return of category 1, 3 and 4 refugees, not just category 1. 
This is the first indication we have had from HMGN since 
February 1 on its thinking on the thorny question of 
Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. 
MILLARD