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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 003265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
ROME FOR FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016 
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV CH BH NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: FOOD FOR BHUTANESE REFUGEES AT RISK, GON 
NEEDS TO TREAD SOFTLY ON TIBETANS 
 
KATHMANDU 00003265  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Nicholas Dean for reasons 1.4(b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see para 8. 
 
¶2. (C) Foreign Ministry Joint Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai 
expressed concern to RefCoord December 21 about a possible 
break in the World Food Program's food supply to the 
Bhutanese refugees.  WFP Deputy Country Director separately 
requested the USG consider funding the refugee food program. 
Bhattarai noted widespread concern about the planned U.S. 
resettlement program and requested additional details.  He 
was optimistic that third-country resettlement could begin 
after the next Bhutan-Nepal ministerial, but stressed the 
need to hold the Royal Government of Bhutan in some way 
accountable for the expulsion of nearly 1/6 of its 
population.  On the issue of 180 Tibetan asylee 
following-to-join cases, Bhattarai indicated that the 
Government of Nepal (GON) would have to proceed very quietly 
and that the U.S. would need to constantly remind the GON of 
its humanitarian obligation to allow these families to be 
reunified. 
 
Possible Break In The Food Pipeline For Bhutanese Refugees 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) In a December 21 meeting with Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) Joint Secretary for UN Affairs Dinesh 
Bhattarai, RefCoord learned that the World Food Program (WFP) 
office in Kathmandu had issued a letter to the MFA suggesting 
that, beginning January 30, 2007, there would be a break in 
the food pipeline for the 107,000 Bhutanese refugees living 
in eastern Nepal.  Bhattarai expressed serious concern about 
the humanitarian crisis that would ensue if food assistance 
were cut. 
 
Food Delivery Ensured Through January 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) RefCoord subsequently spoke with WFP Deputy Country 
Director Dominique Hyde regarding this issue.  Hyde reported 
that every two years WFP had to seek funding from donor 
countries for food assistance to the Bhutanese refugees. 
Current funding was sufficient only through December 31, 
2006, she said.  Although WFP had borrowed funding through an 
internal loan process, that would only ensure food delivery 
to the refugee camps through end-January 2007.  Hyde 
indicated that the European Union was the only donor that had 
shown interest in funding this program and even that 
commitment, if secured, would only last two months.  She 
explained that the WFP request was for USD 20 million for a 
two-year program. 
 
More Information on U.S. Resettlement Wanted 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Bhattarai noted the high-level of interest within the 
GON bureaucracy in resolving the 16-year-old issue of 
Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.  However, he said, many 
officials, from the Home Ministry to Members of Parliament, 
had asked him about the conditions of resettlement to the 
U.S. and other host countries.  Many of these officials 
worried that the U.S. would cherry pick refugees by only 
taking the young and well-educated.  To be able to respond to 
these queries, Bhattarai specifically requested RefCoord to 
provide him with information on U.S. resettlement, e.g. how 
would they be transported, where would they be settled, and 
what would be their legal status in the U.S.  He opined that 
once the GON was well-informed about the U.S. refugee 
 
KATHMANDU 00003265  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
resettlement, it would be more willing to agree to, and move 
forward with, the program.  Bhattarai welcomed RefCoord's 
assurance that an information sheet on U.S. resettlement 
would be forthcoming and would be shared publicly. 
 
Necessary to Hold Bhutan Accountable 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) Bhattarai believed the next Bhutan-Nepal ministerial 
would be postponed until after formation of the interim 
government, but did not think that Maoist participation in 
the government would delay the bilateral meeting.  Bhattarai 
passionately described the need to hold the Royal Government 
of Bhutan (RGOB) in some way accountable for the expulsion of 
nearly 1/6 of its population, even if it was merely a 
commitment from Bhutan that this would not happen again.  He 
agreed with RefCoord that the future of the refugees should 
not be held hostage to the issue of Bhutanese accountability, 
but suggested both tracks could be pursued simultaneously. 
 
GON Must Tread Quietly on Tibetan Issues 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) When asked about progress on permission for the 180 
Tibetan asylee following-to-join cases to depart Nepal, 
Bhattarai commented that the GON wanted to move forward, but 
had to proceed very quietly in order to avoid condemnation 
from the People's Republic of China (PRC).  RefCoord 
expressed frustration that many of these individuals were 
minor-aged children who had been waiting for over two years 
to rejoin their families in the U.S. and offered Embassy 
cooperation to facilitate their departure.  Bhattarai 
responded that the U.S. had to keep reminding the GON to 
resolve this problem.  He also requested RefCoord to provide 
a letter outlining the particular situation of these 180 
Tibetans, specifically indicating what would be there legal 
status and how they would be resettled.  RefCoord explained 
to him verbally and agreed to follow-up with a letter. (Note: 
 Post has already outlined the status of these 180 Tibetan 
asylee following-to-join cases to officials at both the Home 
and Foreign Ministries, but will do so again.  End Note.) 
 
Comment and Action Request 
-------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Joint Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai, a useful 
interlocutor on a wide-range of issues over the past three 
years, was recently nominated to be Nepal's next Ambassador 
to UN Mission Geneva.  Whether in Kathmandu or in Geneva, he 
will be a helpful ally in convicing the GON to move forward 
with resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees.  At a time when 
resolution of the 16-year old Bhutanese refugee situation may 
be close at hand, it is critical that the U.S. show its 
support for the refugees.  According to WFP, USG funding in 
2006 equalled USD 1.94 million.  Post requests Department to 
consider partial funding for the WFP request of USD 20 
million in support of the Bhutanese refugee food program for 
2007-2008. 
DEAN