US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI6215

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 006215 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PREF, ECON, IN, NP, BT, CH, India-Bhutan 
SUBJECT: MEA PLAYS DOWN BHUTANESE KING'S VISIT 
 
REF: A. NEW DELHI 5912 
     B. KATHMANDU 1638 
 
Classified By: Polcouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: King Wangchuck's August 1-4 visit to New 
Delhi was part of a routine exchange and did not focus 
narrowly on an imminent Bhutan-China boundary agreement, 
according to MEA Joint Secretary (Nepal/Bhutan) Ranjit Rae. 
Rae said that the border issue was discussed, along with 
other routine matters, such as tariffs, the hydro sector and 
general business.  He implied that the press leaks about the 
China border were deliberate -- perhaps part of a GOI effort 
to remind Beijing of its special relationship with Thimphu. 
He indicated that MEA did not discuss the Nepal/Bhutan 
refugee issue with the King, but believed the topic came up 
in meetings with the Home Ministry.  Rae suggested the 
Nepalese and Bhutanese Ambassadors in Delhi would be good 
interlocutors to revive the stalled talks.  The August 3 
standoff between Bhutanese Refugees and Indian police at the 
border was politically motivated and timed to coincide with 
the King's visit, Rae stated.  End Summary. 
 
King's Visit Not at the Behest of the GOI 
----------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) The King's visit was not at the "command" of the GOI, 
as implied in a July 28 article in the Indian Express, but 
was a regularly scheduled trip, Rae indicated in an August 8 
meeting.  Discussion of borders is normal for a working visit 
by the King to New Delhi.  The Bhutanese on-line newspaper, 
Kuensel, reported that the King met with Prime Minister 
Singh, Sonia Gandhi and President Kalam during his four day 
visit.  According to Kuensel, the King discussed hydropower 
development, support for the G-4 resolution for India's 
permanent membership to the UNSC and the draft Bhutanese 
constitution (Reftel). 
 
Refugees 
-------- 
 
3.  (C) Rae mentioned that the refugee issue between Bhutan 
and Nepal did not come up in meetings between the King and 
the MEA, but indicated that the issue was broached during 
discussions with the Home Ministry.  He signaled that the GOI 
position has not changed and it continues to pressure Bhutan 
and Nepal to find a solution to the problem.  Nepalese 
Foreign Secretary Acharya suggested to Rae during a recent 
visit to Kathmandu the GON's firm stance on complete 
verification prior to refugee repatriation may be softening. 
Acharya indicated that Nepal might allow Category 1 refugees 
to return prior to the completion of the verification of the 
other camps, if Bhutan states its commitment to repatriate 
the rest.  Rae commented to the GON that the Nepalese 
Ambassador to Delhi has been an effective interlocutor and 
suggested that he and the Bhutanese Ambassador should restart 
this dialogue.  Noting that Kathmandu has more serious issues 
to deal with, Rae warned that the Government of Nepal is not 
enthusiastic about engaging on the refugee issue and will 
want to know details regarding what the Royal Government of 
Bhutan (RGOB) intends to discuss. 
 
Border Standoff: A PR Stunt 
--------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Regarding the August 3 incident on the Nepal-India 
border in which a group of 323 refugees from the Beldangi 
Refugee Camps attempted to return to Bhutan via India 
(Reftel), Rae stated it was solely a publicity stunt 
scheduled to coincide with the King's visit to Delhi.  He 
noted that if the refugees truly wanted to reach the Bhutan 
border, they could simply leave in smaller numbers without 
the fanfare, since the border is open and guards would not 
normally restrict the passage of Bhutanese or Nepalese 
citizens.  Staging a sit-in on the middle of the Mechi bridge 
only ensured the Indian border guards would not allow them to 
pass, Rae indicated. 
 
Comment: Border Dispute will be a "Package Deal" 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5.  (C) The July announcement by RGOB's Secretary for 
International Boundaries Pema Wangchuck that Bhutan and China 
had "agreed to change the claim line" prodded the GOI into 
action.  It was no coincidence that an article in the Indian 
Express reporting New Delhi's apprehension over the border 
deal appeared just days prior to the King's visit.  The GOI 
leak to the Indian Express ensured China would get the 
message that no deal on the Bhutan-China border should be 
made prior to an agreement on the Sino-Indian border dispute. 
BLAKE