Nepal Travel Warning: U.S. State Department

[tigertiger]

Anyone have comments on this?

"This information is current as of today, Mon Jun 01 2009 11:32:04 GMT-0400 (EDT): May 22, 2009

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in country. The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges American citizens to obtain updated security information before they travel and to be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaces the Travel Warning for Nepal dated November 21, 2008 and updates safety and security information.

Political violence remains a problem in Nepal. The Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Youth groups from the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), have also formed and clashes continue among these political rivals. Violent actions by multiple armed splinter groups in the Terai region along the southern border with India remain a significant concern."

[yakshaver]

Anyone have comments on this?

"This information is current as of today, Mon Jun 01 2009 11:32:04 GMT-0400 (EDT): May 22, 2009

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in country. The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges American citizens to obtain updated security information before they travel and to be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaces the Travel Warning for Nepal dated November 21, 2008 and updates safety and security information.

Political violence remains a problem in Nepal. The Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Youth groups from the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), have also formed and clashes continue among these political rivals. Violent actions by multiple armed splinter groups in the Terai region along the southern border with India remain a significant concern."


The bombing of the Catholic Church in Patan (if true... I did not know....) is very sad indeed. Pressure cooker bombings have happend in the past in Nepal, unfortunately. Not often, but it seems to be the "weapon of choice" at times of unrest.

In terms of the US State Department warnings (usually mindlessly mirrored by the Australian Foreign Affairs Travel Advisory), their credibility with events in Nepal is zero.
They kept warning people not to go there for years and years, or only go if absolutely necessary (which is me, I am addicted, so I find it absolutely necessary to go trekking in Nepal...).

The major problem with the US State Department warnings is similar to the problem the doomsayers who predict the end of the world have: eventually it may happen. But you lose a lot of credibitily in the meantime, when you bark out dire warnings at every oportunity. No one trusts you anymore.

During unrests in the past, turists have been inconvenienced every now and then (like with bandths etc), a few have been even roughed up when they refused to pay "donations" on treks to Maoists, or engaged into stupid political debates... But in general one felt quite safe as a tourist and could conduct one's activities without much of a problem.
Tourists were not targeted. I don't think they are now. (I know this is a very selfish perspective, but this is all I have. We discussed this at nauseam in years past...).
This does not mean the situation cannot change, and you need to follow the events in Nepal, and talk to trustworty locals.

My Manaslu trek is definitely on. I see no reason to change anything at this stage.