Cablegate: Nepal: Committed to Support Minustah

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKT #0166 0561218
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD2AA51D WSC8358-695)
P 251218Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1489
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2557
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3849
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000166

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM HA SOCI MCAP MARR SNAR ASEC
EFIN, KJUS, KPKO, XL, NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: COMMITTED TO SUPPORT MINUSTAH

REF: SECSTATE 012558

1. (SBU) Per demarche request (reftel), Embassy contacted
Armed Police Force (APF) IG Sanet Basnet and Home Ministry
Secretary Dr. Govind Kusum regarding Nepal's current offer to
provide one Foreign Police Unit (FPU) for 12 months. Both
Basnet and Kusum confirmed that Nepal is still willing to
provide one FPU for 12 months, and can extend the deployment
as long as MINUSTAH requests and funds its presence.

ASSISTANCE REQUESTED
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2. (SBU) Nepal's Armed Police Force unite of 150 personnel
are not equipped for the deployment, as current equipment
supplies do not meet UN standards according to the Home
Ministry. They requested a minimum of 10 lightly-armored
tired vehicles or HMMMVs. They also requested personal
equipment, uniforms, body armor, ammunition, and sub-machine
guns for 150 personnel. If the process moves forward, Nepal
will likely request additional equipment, including tents,
water tankers, fuel tankers, etc. The government also
requested air support for the deliver of personnel and
equipment to Haiti, although Kusum said the UN could be
willing to fund airlift for personnel. (Note: There are
already Nepal Police in Haiti under MINUSTAH CivPol, and any
equipment could be delivered directly to the police personnel
already on the ground.) INL has been briefed on the request
for assistance by Post, and is studying possible funding to
support this FPU. Point of contact at INL is Vivita
Rozenbergs and Meagan McBride.

TIMING
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3. (SBU) Nepal has committed to provide the additional
personnel as soon as the United States secures the equipment
and transportation assistance it has requested. The APF FPU
will likely schedule deployment upon confirmation of a
delivery date of equipment. Charge has scheduled a meeting
with Home Minister Bhim Rawal and will discuss further
details on possible deployment dates.
CAMP

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