US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2209

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002209 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS, PRM 
NSC FOR GREEN 
LONDON FOR BELL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, CH, IN, NP, Tibetan Refugees 
SUBJECT:  DEMARCHE ON REFUGEE PROCESSING IN NEPAL 
 
REF: A. STATE 178852 
     B. SEPT. 24 PARKER-SHELTON E-MAIL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
U.S. Proposal to Resettle Tibetan Refugees from Nepal 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
1. (C) In an October 6 meeting with Foreign Minister Ramesh 
Nath Pandey, the Ambassador discussed the USG's proposal to 
stand up a refugee processing operation in Kathmandu for some 
Tibetan refugees resident in Nepal (ref A).  The Ambassador 
also shared with FM Pandey the one-page description of the 
refugee process (ref B).  The Ambassador explained that the 
resettlement program would serve Nepal's interest by removing 
5,000 refugees, and also China's interest by getting the 
Tibetans further away from the Chinese border.  Acknowledging 
that the USG needed to have permission from His Majesty's 
Government of Nepal (HMGN), the Ambassador asked for 
confirmation that the USG could proceed with its proposal. 
 
2. (C) The Foreign Minister responded that he would study the 
proposal, but was unsure how HMGN would react, given Nepalese 
reluctance to annoy China.  He also lamented that the U.S. 
was supporting those responsible for closing down the Tibetan 
Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO) -- the political parties -- 
while asking HMGN to register the Tibetan Welfare Society 
(TWS).  Pandey continued that the U.S position "confused" 
him.  The Ambassador reiterated that resettlement of the 
Tibetan refugees could be a solution that would benefit the 
Tibetan refugees, Nepal, and China. 
 
Chill Toward U.S. 
----------------- 
 
3. (C) Pandey expressed concern that HMGN's reaction to the 
proposal might be influenced by its disappointment over the 
USG decision not to invite the King to the President's UNGA 
reception, which he said had harmed Nepal-U.S. relations.  He 
claimed that "the relationship was now at the lowest level." 
The FM insisted that, although Nepal and the U.S. shared the 
same goals for a Nepali return to democracy and the need to 
address the Maoist insurgency, USG methods were "harmful" to 
achieving those goals.  The Ambassador pointed out that the 
failure of the King to even begin a process of reconciliation 
had forced the USG to take increasingly tough measures in 
order to convince His Majesty to move in the right direction. 
 Pandey asserted that there were ways to convince the King to 
correct his mistakes and said that, indeed, the King would 
correct his mistakes.  However, U.S. methods were pushing the 
King to compound his errors.  He stated that the U.S. had "to 
compensate for past decisions regarding His Majesty." 
Pandey emphasized that the U.S. should "try to do something 
to make corrections" in the U.S.-Nepal relationship. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
4. (C) The Foreign Minister seems unlikely to confirm HMGN 
approval of the U.S. resettlement proposal in the very near 
future.  He implied that a positive decision would be 
dependent upon U.S.-Nepali relations improving. 
MORIARTY