US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2487

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002487 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
DEPT FOR PRM 
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PREL, NP 
SUBJECT: UNHCR REGIONAL DIRECTOR CALLS FOR ACTION ON 
BHUTANESE REFUGEE SITUATION 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 2415 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
Bhutanese Refugees: Urgent Action Required 
------------------------------------------- 
 
1. (C) Janet Lim, UNHCR Director for the Bureau of Asia and 
the Pacific, emphasized to the Ambassador on November 13 that 
she believed there was great urgency in finding a solution to 
the Bhutanese refugee situation in Nepal.  She noted that the 
worsening security situation in the camps, which she had 
visited the previous day, necessitated an immediate solution. 
 She explained that countries that might accept refugees 
today might not want to accept Maoist-indoctrinated refugees 
in five years.  The Ambassador assured her that we continued 
to push Nepal to move forward quickly.  However, the 
Ambassador cautioned, Bhutan was adept at delaying progress. 
For instance, Bhutan had taken advantage of the frequent 
government changes in Kathmandu, approaching each new 
government with the same proposals as if they were new. 
After each Cabinet change, the process would start afresh. 
 
Visit of Resettlement Working Group 
----------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Lim informed the Ambassador that the small 
resettlement working group in Geneva (reftel) would likely 
visit Nepal and Bhutan to discuss ideas with the governments 
following the December 5 meeting.  The Ambassador supported 
this effort by resettlement countries (Norway, Denmark, the 
Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and the U.S.) to meet the 
governments in Kathmandu and Thimphu to push for action.  He 
suggested including New Delhi on the itinerary -- an idea 
that Lim readily agreed would be beneficial. 
 
UNHCR Continues to Push for TWS Registration 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) UNHCR Resident Representative Abraham noted his 
continued efforts for the registration of the Tibetan Welfare 
Society (TWS).  He said that UNHCR was working with current 
implementing partner Lutheran World Federation to speed 
construction of the Tibetan Reception Center (TRC) extension. 
 He noted that the number of Tibetans at TRC waiting to 
transit to India was up from a low of 22 people at TRC in 
early September to 656 people on November 13.  He explained 
that Nepal and India were continuing to process refugees, but 
the recent Nepali holidays had kept some refugees at TRC 
longer than usual. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
4. (C) Increasing international focus on the Bhutanese 
refugee issue is perhaps the only way to push this problem 
towards a resolution.  Absent outside pressure, the Bhutanese 
seem disinclined to accept the return of any refugees, and 
the Nepalis too distracted to come up with a coherent, 
constructive policy.  We should capitalize on the current 
increased international interest to push for a comprehensive 
solution. 
MORIARTY