"Revolutionary
Fee", "People's Goverment Tax", "Donation" or Robbery?
|
Maoist
rebels demand money from tourists |
December
2004
Makalu
region: American tourists are not allowed |
|
The
Maoist demand a tax of Rs 5,000 per tourist. American tourists are not
allowed in this area.
The
Maoists destroyed the central office of the Makalu Barun National Park.
There is no market even for vegetables and dairy products.
Makalu
Barun National Park |
|
"People's
government tax" |
Foreigners |
NRs 5,000 per tourist |
Nepali |
? |
|
|
See
also: Makalu Barun 2002 |
November
2004
Humla:
Maoists demand tax |
|
Taking
a helikopter in Simikot is the only way to get in and out of Humla. The
Maoists don't permit travellers to walk the trails to the south.
Mount
Kailash and Mansarobar Trek |
|
"People's
government tax" |
Foreigners |
USD
100 per tourist |
Indians |
NRs
300 per tourist |
Nepali |
NRs
200 per person |
|
|
|
November
2004
Kaski:
Annapurna Base Camp trail and Jomsom Trek |
|
The
Maoist tax is mandatory. There is still
the NRs 2,000 Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) fee. The Maoists
have a checkpoint in Ghorepani occupied by the Maoists' Magarat Autonomous
Region. The Thambuwan Autonomous Region
checkpoint
is in Ghandruk.
Annapurna
Base Camp and Jomsom Trek |
|
"People's
government tax" |
Ghorepani
checkpost |
NRs
1,000 per tourist |
Ghandruk
checkpost |
NRs
100 per tourist and day |
|
|
|
November
2004
Taplejung:
Karnali and Kachenjunga Treks |
|
Karnali
and Kanchenjunga Treks |
|
"People's
government tax" |
Tourists |
USD
100 per tourist |
Nepali
porters
and
guides |
NRs
500 per person |
|
|
|
The
tourists will get receipts so they are not charged twice along the trails
by other Maoists.
May
2004
Solukhumbu:
"Official" Maoist Tourist Tax |
|
|
"People's
government tax" |
Tourists |
NRs
1,000 per person |
Americans |
more
than NRs 1,000 per person |
Nepali
porters |
NRs
250 per porter |
Locals |
NRs
0 |
|
|
|
The
tourists will get receipts so they are not charged twice along the trails
by other Maoists.
April-May
2004
Myagdi,
Solukhumbu, Sindhupalchok: Maoists demand donations from tourists |
|
Kaski,
Mustang, Myagdi districts
Earlier
this month the Maoists had forced Israeli trekkers returning from Mustang to pay donations near Beni, the headquarters of Myagdi. According to eyewitnesses,
the Maoists had initially tried to manhandle the tourists but later let
them go after taking NRs 5000 from each person. |
|
Sindhupalchok
- Helambu
Trekkers
returning from Langtang and Gosainkund reported that they have been
stopped by Maoist women between Phedi and Chisapani and forced to pay a
"passing fee" of NRs 2000 each. |
|
Solukhumbu
Trekkers
returning from a Dolakha - Jiri - Salleri trekking that they have
been threatend by Maoists in the Salleri area. The Maoist announced to
collect a donation of NRs 5000 each later. The Maoists never appeared again. |
January
2004
Annapurna
Region - Everest Region: Maoists demand donations from tourists |
|
Kaski,
Manang, Parbat, Gorkha,Lamjung and Solu Khumbu districts
Trekkers
reported that they have met rebels while on the trails along the "Round
Annapurna route". |
|
The
rebels stop by teahouses in the Solukhumbu area to talk to tourists and
ask for donations. The Maoist soldiers remain polite. They demand donations
from US $ 7 to US $ 14. There have been very few reported cases of tourists
being pressured after refusing to pay.
|