|
"Revolutionary
Fee", "People's Government Tax", "Donation" or Robbery? |
|
Maoist
rebels demand money from tourists |
| October
2006 Everest region- Solu Khumbu: Maoists intensify extortion from tourists |
Maoist
activists have intensified their extortion drive against tourists visiting
the Mount Everest region. Reports say that the Maoists were collecting
2,500 Nepalese rupees (about 35 US dollars) from each tourist entering
the Everest region. Trekkers reported that Maoists have installed a Maoist
post at Phakding (before Monjo on the way from Lukla up to Namche). Maoist
extortion takes place also in the Sherpa-ruled Khumbu valley the first
time.
 |
|
Everest
region - Solukhumbu |
 |
|
"People's
government tax" |
| Foreigners |
NRs
2,500 per tourist
or
35 US dollars per tourist
or
100
rupees per pax and day |
|
 |
|
| September
2006 Maoist
extortions |
 Nepal News:
'Maoist
extortion, growing politicisation hitting hard tourism industry' (September 2006)
top
| September
2006 Dhading:
Maoists Extorted Money on Highway |
The
Maoists have continued collection of forced donation despite their past
agreements.
Maoist
activists collected donation from the vehicles plying on the Prithvi Highway
near Khanikhola. Similarly, Maoists' women wing collected money at Parewartar,
located on Malekhu-Dhading section of the Highway.
top
| March
2006 Dolakha:
Donations along the Jiri - Everest Trail |
Maoist
rebels have a strong presence in the Lukla area but have said their policy
is not to harm foreign tourists.
Reports
say that tourists have been stopped by Maoists rebels near the village
of Bhandara some kilometers east of Jiri, Dolakha district. The tourists
have been forced to spend a night in a remote village because they refused
to pay a rebel "tax". "They were carrying guns and had hand grenades. They
told us that if we didn't pay them we couldn't go on," a tourist reported.
After paying 20,000 Nepali rupees (US$280) the rebels had allowed them
to continue their trek.
top
| February
2006 Fee is
normal in Maoist controlled areas |
Maoist
fighters levy a "tax" on tourists who pass through areas under their control.
|
| "People's
government tax" |
| Foreigners |
NRs
1,000 per tourist ($14) |
| Groups |
can
bargain for discounts |
|
|
The
tax is normally NRs 1,000. Sometimes it can be as much as six times that
much.
See
also: Close encounters
in the Himalaya - Trekking through Nepal's changing political landscape
|
