US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2568

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS, PRM, CA/VO 
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, PTER, CVIS, NP 
SUBJECT:  FM PANDEY: NO PROGRESS ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES 
 
REF: A. NEW DELHI 8893 
 
     B. KATHMANDU 1819 
 
Classified By: Amb. James F. Moriarty, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
FM Doubts Bhutan Commitment to Start Returns 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
1. (C) In a November 23 discussion with the Ambassador, 
Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey relayed the gist of his 
unfruitful discussion with the Bhutanese Foreign Minister 
held on the margins of the SAARC meeting in Dhaka.  Pandey 
lamented that, after having agreed in writing in September to 
take back the Categories 1 and 4 refugees from Khudunabari, 
the RGOB now seemed intent on stalling the repatriation 
process.  (Note: This is a sharply different description of 
recent RGOB-GON communications on the refugee issue than that 
provided ref A.  End note.)  Pandey said that the Bhutanese 
FM had reiterated the proposal that Pandey visit Thimpu prior 
to any repatriation.  Pandey had again rejected such a visit 
until after Bhutan had begun implementing the agreement to 
repatriate refugees.  The Bhutanese FM had then suggested 
that Bhutan send a team to Khudunabari to explain what the 
returnees could expect upon their return.  Pandey pushed back 
strongly, fearing a repeat of the December 2003 events when 
the Bhutanese officials' discussion with the refugees had 
provoked a near riot in the Khudunabari refugee camp.  Pandey 
had emphasized to his Bhutanese counterpart the need to start 
the repatriation process, as Nepal and Bhutan had earlier 
agreed. 
 
2. (C) Very concerned about Bhutan's apparent intransigence, 
Pandey told the Ambassador that he was considering writing 
another letter to the RGOB urging the Bhutanese to implement 
their agreement to take back the refugees.  The Ambassador 
suggested that Pandey give the Bhutanese a reasonable date, 
i.e., one-two months, to start the return process, failing 
which, Nepal would internationalize the problem.  The FM 
welcomed the idea. 
 
3. (C) Pandey stressed that Nepal's primary concern was the 
fate of the ethnic Nepalis still living in Bhutan; he feared 
that if there were no returns, Bhutan would conclude that it 
could get away with another round of ethnic cleansing.  The 
FM emphasized that it was important that Nepal not take any 
steps that could relieve the pressure on Bhutan to start 
repatriating its citizens.  He explained that was the reason 
Nepal had not issued travel documents to the three minor 
girls, one of whom was raped (ref B).  Although he recognized 
the case was urgent and valid on humanitarian grounds, he 
reiterated that, at this time, Nepal would not take any steps 
to ease the pressure on Bhutan by setting a precedent of 
resettling Bhutanese refugees in third countries.  The 
Ambassador noted that the current situation also did not 
appear to provide any checks on the possibility of future 
expulsions by the RGOB; if returns were never going to occur, 
it would be better for the international community to clearly 
denounce the 1990 expulsion and begin resettling the 
refugees.  Pandey agreed and reiterated that setting a 
deadline for action by the RGOB could be the way to go. 
 
Tibetan Refugees 
---------------- 
 
4. (C) The Ambassador pushed the Foreign Minister to register 
the Tibetan Welfare Society.  Pandey responded that the USG 
should focus on the protection of the welfare of Tibetan 
refugees and not pursue a "political issue."  The Ambassador 
agreed that ensuring the refugees' safe transit to India was 
important.  He noted that it was our hope that the Lutheran 
World Federation would prove a reliable and efficient partner 
For UNHCR. 
 
Travel Documents For "Follow-to Join" Cases 
------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) The Ambassador raised our concern about our 
long-standing request that the government issue travel 
documents to allow Tibetan refugees resident in Nepal to 
emigrate to "follow-to join" relatives who have been granted 
asylum in the U.S.  The Ambassador noted that this could 
become a major issue for the USG.  The Foreign Minister took 
note and said he would look into it. 
MORIARTY