November
2003
Humla:
Maoists demand entry fee from tourists |
 |
The
Maoist rebels have started charging the fee compulsory from each of the
tourists to enter in the upper regions of Humla district. Each tourist
has to pay US $ 100 for passing the Maoist checkpost. Even a tourist guide
is compelled to pay 5,000 rupees to the Maoists. The government tourist
tas is US $ 90 dollars per tourist for a period of one week, with 15 dollars
for each additional day. |
top
November
2003
Taplejung,
Panchthar - Kachenjunga area: Suspected Maoist gunmen rob foreign trekking
groups |
 |
According
to sources, suspected Maoist rebels looted a huge amount of money from
three foreign trekkers in the Mt. Kanchanjungha region and dismantled a
makeshift tent of a British trekking group. They also ordered the group
to immediately vacate the place. The group was on its way to Yamphudin
from Suketar. In another incident in Gopetar area in Panchthar, the rebels
looted Rs 12,000 in cash and binoculars from a German and another Dutch
trekking groups. Similarly the rebels robbed Rs 48,000 in cash from other
trekkers in the Yamphudin VDC. The site of the incidents where the foreigners
were robbed is located about two days of walking distance from the district
headquarters, Fungling. The trekkers were unharmed. Although the Maoists
say they never target tourists, there have been reports of extortion. |
top
October
2003
Maoists
extorting money from tourists in Dolpa district and Makalu-Barun area |
 |
Sankhuwasawa
- Makalu area: Maoists collecting "entry fee" from tourists
According
to reports Maoist rebels are collecting forced donation or "revolutionary
tax" from foreign trekkers, expedition teams and even from porters and
guides entering the Mount Makalu Base Camp.
A
Maoist written red banner is hanging just below the Mount Makalu Base Camp
at Seduwa and Tasi villages of the Makalu VDC. On that banner amounts of
taxes are fixed for foreign tourists, guides, Sherpa cooks and porters
to pay.
Patrolling
armed Maoists don't allow the visitors to proceed without paying them the
fixed amount. |
 |
Dolpa:
Maoists extorting money from tourists
According
to reports Maoist rebels have started collecting donations from tourists
visiting the northern part of Dolpa district. Officials said that the Maoist
rebel fighters were collecting Rs 1,000 from every tourist visiting Upper
Dolpo at Dho. The Maoists threatened to prevent the group from visiting
the Upper Dolpo area. |
top
December
2002
Dolakha:
Travellers robbed along Lamosangu-Jiri road |
 |
Dolakha:
Travellers robbed along Lamosangu-Jiri road
Tourists
and general travellers visiting Dolakha complain of being robbed at various
sections of the Lamosangu-Jiri road along the Araniko Highway by groups
of people claiming to be Maoists. Victims have reported that groups of
youth, waiting along the roadside, forcibly stop vehicles and threaten
the passengers into 'donating' money claiming that they are Maoists. Most
of these incidents have occurred at Bhudey, Kharidhunga, and Halhale of
the Lamosangu-Jiri road. Since the Maoists started collecting 'donations'
through threats and intimidation, now even village children and youth are
doing this money extortion business on the pretext of being Maoists.
Travellers
reported that the youth did not let them go until they gave them 2000 rupees.
Till now, however, no foreigners have been subjected to this new form of
extortion. It is suspected that persons with criminal records and living
in villages near the road are involved in the roadside extortions. |
top
November
2002
Sankhuwasawa:
Once more - Maoists demanded "donations" from tourists |
|
Makalu
area: Tourists robbed by suspected Maoists
Tourists
who were trekking up to Makalu Valley from Tumlingtar towards the Mt. Makalu
base camp reported that they had been robbed by members of the Maoist party.
The Maoists understood most English and one of them spoke French as well.
Out of the four one had a pistol, one was in army combat pants and the
rest were mostly in casual dress. The Maoist asked for a "donation". The
memebers of the foreing trekking group paid Rs. 4,000 each as per
their "rate" for trekkers. Climbers were to pay more, may be Rs. 5000 or
Rs. 6000. The Maoists also offered a helicopter ride for Rs. 7000 from
Sheduwa to Makalu base cam |
top
October
2002
Taplejung
- Kachenjunga area: British mountaineers trapped by Maoist rebels |
|
British
montaineers trapped by Maoist rebels
One
of Britain's best mountaineers has been trapped by armed Maoist rebels
while on a climbing expedition in Nepal's north-eastern Taplejung district.
It is the second time in 2002 that British media have published reports
on Maoist activities against tourist groups in Taplejung's Kangchenjunga
area. A number of the group were stopped on the way up to the mountain
by suspected Maoist rebels demanding a high amount of money in cash. The
Britons were locked up and threatened they would be killed if they attempted
to summon police or army personell. Earlier this year Nepali media have
reported on Maoist attempts to collect money from tourist along the route
to Manang. |
top
October
2002
Pokhara-Kaligandaki:
Maoist activities |
 |
Trekking
to Jomsom and Mustang:
According
to experts, the long trekking route to Jomsom is unsafe and dangerous due
to Maoist activities in this area. Maoists have threatened some tourists
who were on a trek to Mustang. |
|
