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FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
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RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0843
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 5652
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RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY 0342
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1513
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2409

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000338 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017 
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BT NP
SUBJECT: CORE GROUP ON BHUTANESE REFUGEES EAGER TO MOVE 
AHEAD 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 317 
     ¶B. KATHMANDU 222 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty for reasons 1.4(b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) In a February 9 meeting with Ambassadors representing 
the Core Group on Bhutanese refugees, Ambassador Moriarty 
informed his colleagues that Prime Minister had approved 
large-scale resettlement (ref A).  The Ambassador's briefing 
was well-received and helped the Core Group to define its 
next steps, including a joint demarche to the Foreign and 
Home Ministries.  In other business, UNHCR Country Director 
Abraham noted delays in the Government of Nepal's processing 
of vulnerable cases for resettlement.  All the Ambassadors 
expressed concern over the impact that the apparent increase 
in Maoist and Communist Party of Bhutan activity in the camps 
might have on a resettlement program.  Australian Ambassador 
Lade, who chairs the Kathmandu Core Group, raised the problem 
of the refugees' food supply, which Abraham said had been 
secured through mid-May thanks to U.S., Canadian and European 
contributions. 
 
Australia Will Chair Kathmandu-Based Core Group 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On February 9, Ambassadors representing the Core 
Group on Bhutanese refugees met to discuss recent 
developments and possible next steps.  Hosted by Australian 
Ambassador Graeme Lade, Ambassador Moriarty, Danish 
Ambassador Finn Thilsted, Canadian Cooperation Officer Ed 
Doe, and UNHCR Country Director Abraham attended the meeting. 
 Lade provided a brief overview of the January 17 Core Group 
(CG) meeting in Geneva.  While Canada had assumed 
chairmanship of the Core Group in Geneva, he noted that, at 
Canada's request, Australia had consented to chair the CG in 
Kathmandu. 
 
GON Processing of Vulnerable Cases Too Cumbersome 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶3. (C) UNHCR Abraham provided an update on the Government of 
Nepal's (GON) processing of vulnerable cases for 
third-country resettlement.  Of the first batch of 16 
vulnerable refugees, to date, 12 had departed Nepal, 3 had 
withdrawn their applications and 1 was under process with the 
Home Ministry.  Abraham stated that, on January 4, UNHCR had 
submitted to the Home Ministry a second batch of 36 cases 
that third countries had approved for resettlement.  Using a 
flow chart, Abraham detailed the GON's processing 
requirements, including a vulnerability assessment, approval 
for resettlement and issuance of travel documents and exit 
permits.  He opined that these current procedures would be 
far too cumbersome for a large-scale resettlement program. 
Abraham wanted to meet with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs 
and Home together to discuss ways this process might be 
streamlined. 
 
Concern Over Maoist and Other Communist Activity in the Camps 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Lade expressed concern that the Communist Party of 
Bhutan and Nepal's Maoists were attracting refugee youth to 
their movement.  He noted in particular the recent report 
that Maoist posters instructing teachers to close a 
schoolwere found covering the walls of the Beldangi 2 camp. 
Maoists had clearly stated their intention to prevent the 
resettlement of refugees to third countries, Lade added. 
Ambassador Moriarty agreed that there seemed to be increased 
Communist activity in the camps, which posed additional risks 
for refugees who supported third-country resettlement. 
 
More Contributions Needed for Refugee Food Program 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
KATHMANDU 00000338  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶5. (C) Lade worried that a break in the World Food Program 
pipeline for the refugees would play into Maoist hands and 
encourage further dissatisfaction in the camps.  Abraham 
noted that ongoing unrest and the continuous series of 
bandhs, or closures, in the Terai had compounded the food 
supply problem.  Abraham detailed recent donor contributions 
to the Bhutanese refugee food program, including the U.S. 
contribution of USD 1.8 million, the Canadian grant of nearly 
USD 500,000 and the USD 400,000 from the Swiss.  He believed 
that the European Commission contribution of Euros 1.5 
million (roughly USD 2 million) had been used to pay back 
WFP's internal loan from January that had prevented an 
earlier break in the food pipeline (ref B).  With these 
contributions, Abraham averred, the food supply was secured 
through mid-May 2007.  Ambassador Moriarty agreed that a 
break in the pipeline would be counterproductive to Core 
Group interests and encouraged donors to make additional 
contributions. 
 
Encouraged by PM Koirala's Agreement on Resettlement 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶6. (C) Ambassador Moriarty then briefed the group on his 
February 7 meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala 
(ref A).  Noting that he had previously raised this issue 
with all three relevant Ministers (Prime, Foreign and Home), 
the Ambassador indicated his belief that the Prime Minister's 
agreement was the result of internal GON consultations. 
Encouraged by the PM's agreement, the Core Group agreed that 
it needed to move quickly to take advantage of this 
opportunity.  The Ambassador detailed the U.S. plan to issue 
a Request for Proposals soon. 
 
Next Steps:  Core Group Demarche to GON 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) The Ambassador stated his intention to meet the week 
of February 12 with both the Foreign Minister, who was 
expected to return February 12 from medical treatment in 
Thailand, and Home Minister to obtain their buy-in for the 
resettlement program.  Both the Australian and Danish 
Ambassadors were interested in a joint Core Group meeting 
with both the Foreign and Home Ministers.  The Ambassador 
agreed to request such a meeting during his bilateral 
meetings next week, adding that concrete resettlement offers 
by other Core Group members would strengthen a joint 
demarche.  The group agreed that implementation of a 
resettlement program, including streamlining GON processing 
requirements and broad dissemination of information on 
resettlement, would be key to success. 
 
Comment: The Way Forward 
------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) Both the Danish and Australian Ambassadors seemed 
pleased with U.S. advocacy for, and the Prime Minister's 
agreement to, a resettlement program for the Bhutanese 
refugees.  We agree that a joint Core Group demarche to the 
Government of Nepal, particularly if it includes other 
concrete resettlement offers, would help to keep momentum 
going in Kathmandu.  We also recommend that the Department 
consider the idea of a demarche by Embassy New Delhi to the 
Government of India (GOI) and Royal Government of Bhutan 
(RGOB) detailing the U.S. interest in accelerating a 
comprehensive solution and seeking their assistance.  We 
believe that a clear statement that the international 
community would not tolerate further expulsions from Bhutan 
should be a central element of this demarche. 
MORIARTY