VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKU #0862/01 1531219
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021219Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9269
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0899
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0108
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 2383
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000862
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, NEA/I
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER MOPS SOCI NP IZ
SUBJECT: NEPALESE CONTRACTORS KIA IN IRAQ -- ALLEGATIONS OF
NON-PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFITS BY CONTRACTOR COMPANIES
1. This is an Action Request. Please see final para.
2. Emboff met Riyadh-based Nepalese Charge d'Affaires Prakash
Suvedi at his request on May 28, 2007 to discuss allegations of
non-payment of death benefits by companies operating in Iraq for the
USG. He requested any assistance the USG could offer.
3. Mr. Suvedi presented the Embassy with a diplomatic note No.
DM/255 which reads as follows:
The Embassy of Nepal in Riyadh, which is concurrently accredited to
the State of Kuwait, presents its compliments to the Embassy of the
United States of America in Kuwait and has the honour to state that
the family members of the following Nepalese nationals who were
killed while serving presumably under US contracts in Iraq have been
approaching this Embassy with their request to provide them with
compensation and insurance.
S.N./Name of the Deceased/Date of Death/Company's
Name
--------------------------------------------- -------
1. Umesh Thapa May 2, 2007 Taylors
2. Choodamani Sharma Aug 27, 2006 RGS Logistics
3. Chinta Bahadur Pun June 11, 2006 RGS Logistics
4. Chandra Mani Rai Apr 6, 2006 BTB Contractor
5. Bil Prasad alias June 5, 2005 American-Iraq
Bin Kumar Gurung Solutions Group
6. Ishwar Bahadur alias
Ishwar Man Rai Feb 11, 2004 KBR
7. Indra Bahadur Magar June 24, 2004 Global Security
8. Raman Singh Thapa Aug 14, 2004 Global Security
9. Govinda Raj Limbu Nov 25, 2004 Global Security
10. Tilak Ram Bhat Chhetri Nov 25, 2004 Global
Security
11. Bhim Bahadur Gurung Nov 25, 2004 Global Security
12. Gagan Chand Thakuri Nov 25, 2004 Global Security
13. Ram Bahadur Gharti Dec 11, 2004 Olive Security
14. Kishor Rai Dec 16, 2004 Global Security
15. Padam Bahadur Rai April 13, 2005 DOD Contractor
16. Yam Bahadur Thapa April 25, 2006 National
Logistics
However, the Embassy has been facing difficulties to contact and
deal with these companies operating inside Iraq. In view of this
problem as well as considering the trauma the bereaved families are
undergoing with the death of their breadwinners, the Embassy would
like to request the esteemed Embassy of the United States in Kuwait
to kindly instruct the concerned companies to pay immediately
through this Embassy legitimate dues, compensation and insurance
that the legal heirs of the deceased may be entitled to under the
prevailing laws and regulations. If the family of some of those
Nepalese nationals are already paid by the concerned company
directly, the Embassy would like to get documents confirming such
payments.
In the meantime, all contractors of the Government of the United
States should be informed to use the official channel while paying
any dues, compensation and insurance money to the family in case of
any death of a Nepali national under their sponsorship.
[Complimentary close.]
4. Accompanying the dipnote was a dossier with copies of DD Form
1075 (Convoy List of Remains of Deceased Personnel), DD Form 2064
(Certificate of Death (Overseas)), DD Form 890 (Record of
Identification Processing), CAC and CPA ID cards, passport biodata
pages, various correspondence, insurance policies, a DNA test
report, etc. of the deceased listed above. A review of the files
reveals that nearly all of the deceased persons were killed by
insurgent attacks (IEDs, gunfire, rocket fire, etc.)
5. Kishor Rai (number 14 in dipnote) should read Kishwar RAI per
his DoD Contractor ID card issued 2004JUN07.
6. Not listed in the dipnote, but included as a file was a power of
attorney for the legal heirs of Agam Bahadur ADHIKARI, deceased 26
June 2005, a truck driver, possibly with Rehal International.
7. Mr. Suvedi asked the USG to apply "moral pressure" on
contractors to pay these claims. Emboff offered his sympathy and
said he would forward the diplomatic note to Washington.
8. ACTION REQUEST: Please advise post on appropriate response to
the Embassy of Nepal's diplomatic note. POC is John Higi,
Management Officer, Iraq Support Unit Kuwait.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
LeBaron