maoists still in annapurna?

[nancylehet]

given MOST recent political changes in nepal, has anyone been through annapurna area since last november (the date of the last post)? wondering if the maoists are still asking for 'fees' in the phedi area or have the finally stopped given their new place in govt?

[yakshaver]

given MOST recent political changes in nepal, has anyone been through annapurna area since last november (the date of the last post)? wondering if the maoists are still asking for 'fees' in the phedi area or have the finally stopped given their new place in govt?

Which "phedi" is this supposed to be, Thorung Phedi? I may have a mental blank... There were never maoists collecting there...

[Oli]

Which "phedi" is this supposed to be, Thorung Phedi? I may have a mental blank... There were never maoists collecting there...

Maybe they were hiding from you Yakshaver. You never seem to meet the maobadi, but they are (or were) out there ;)

[Per]

Which "phedi" is this supposed to be, Thorung Phedi? I may have a mental blank... There were never maoists collecting there...

Phedi means the "foot of a hill" in Nepal, i.e., where you begin your ascent. I figure that in this case it may refer to the place where the trail takes off for Dhampus west of Hyengsa near Pokhara. Though it could be any other phedi.

[nancylehet]

I can now answer my own question - more or less. hiked parts of annapurna area in feb 2007 (didn't make the full circuit due to blizzard!).

besisahar-chame = no maoists.

nayapul-tatopani = no maoists.

[Ging]

The Himalayan Times April 23 2007
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?dtSiteDate=20070423&filename=aNPata0sjqzpa5a3Ra1wa.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&sImageCaption=&sImageFile=&HidPath=aATaoanlaNaeaw2a/a2Ta0ra/Va4a/a2wg

Maoists stop tax collection in Kaski

Himalayan News Service
Pokhara, April 22:

Maoists have stopped collecting tax in Kaski district since a week. They have handed over the task of tax-collection to the district development committee.
Representatives of the eight political parties and district development committee had, in a meeting held last month, decided that the DDC should collect taxes.
Kaski local development officer, Narahari Baral, said the Maoists had seized tenders worth Rs 8 million relating to sand and stone extraction from different river banks, rural roads and tourism.

[bampoo]

We have plan for the annapurna circuit ( ABC) trek during the late October. Can anyone suggest the situation out there after the recent political developments ? Is the Maoists hostile ?

[ChrisU]

I was at the Annapurna Circuit last week and got stopped by Maoists twice.
First time at the top of the steep hill just before Tal (heading anti-clockwise), then second time on the level trail just before reaching Birenthanti, near the end of the trail.
Both times I was stopped.
First time I spent 20 minutes trying not to pay - but was out-numbered.
2nd time I had the receipt from my grudging "donation".

[oakdog]

Ho much was your donation?

[Landfall38]

completed AC in nov. There were maoist-YCL checkpoints (i) just before Tal (a tough checkpoint) then (ii) between Kagbeni & Jomsom, (iii) just before Ghorepani (Chitre side), (iv) immed after Ghorepani (Ulleri side) and finally (v) just before end just before Birethanti.

Only the Tal checkpoint was alert and "threatening" (the YCL cadres carried sticks). The others seemed asleep and we didn't even stop, saying we had already paid.

We paid 1000 NR each at Tal -- next day they insisted on 2000 NR per trekker. however, students can negotiate and indeed, some days the Tal group seemed to get lax and could be convinced to let some go w/o paying (we determined this by talking to people coming after (but faster) than us.

The YCL at Tal gives you a paper explaining the "voluntary donation" and deploring that some claim it is not voluntary -- but then they go ahead and insist that the donation is NOT optional. Real BULLS*&@#. According to the peace agreement, they are not supposed to do this anymore but they certainly are continuing.

The police in Chame were not interested...

If it is any consolation, the Maoists are also collecting "donations" from Nepalis on the roads in trucks, etc -- this practice comes and goes depending on the police and politicians cracking down -- but it reappears.


The above notwithstanding, the maoists are no reason to not go -- Nepal remains a great place to visit. Your presence definitely helps the locals.

(FYI, the biggest problem on AC for independent trekkers and groups of 3-2-4 trekkers are the large number of huge groups 14-20 people taking over and filling lodges... not the maoists)

[Lars]

Not a paisa to The Maoists

I am happy to report that we did not pay a single paisa
to The Maoist extortionists on our recent 25 day trek
around The Annapurnas, and to The Annapurna Sanctuary.

We met with them on three different occasions and applied
various tactics to fend them off. At Tal I told them "No
f-ing way, you guys are in the governement now". Between
Kagbeni and Marpha we waved at them and shouted "Namaste,
Namaste" at the top of our lungs, and zoomed past before
they had time to organize a block. Just before Birethanti
we had deviced a more elaborate plan and with a very German
accent informed them that "Ve haf already paid in Damphus!",
while not slowing down at all. Fortunately the bandits were
already busy with a group from the Czhech Republic, and
never really had a chance with us.

I owe a thank you to Sharon for inspiring us to try
to avoid feeding these thieves any more money. They are a
nuisance to all of us and their methods are outrageous. Just
imagine what it would be like if any "political party" in the
west tried a similar plan and flagged down all foreigners to
demand money.

As long as they get away with it they will never stop. We owe
it to ourselves and fellow trekkers to try as good as we can
to put an end to these involountary "donations".

[Sujoy]

Hi,

thks for the input Lars.. if I understand right the Maoist checkpost is before Birethanti on the trail between Tirkedhunga and Birethanti.. does any know if they have any such check ponts in the Annapurna sanctuary trail.. e.g between Birethanti and Syuli Bazar or Phedi to Dhampus, Landrung, Ghandrung etc?
Someone who has been to the Sanctuary in Oct - Nov 07?
Thks
Sujoy

[Lars]

if I understand right the Maoist checkpost is before Birethanti on the trail between Tirkedhunga and Birethanti.. does any know if they have any such check ponts in the Annapurna sanctuary trail.. e.g between Birethanti and Syuli Bazar or Phedi to Dhampus, Landrung, Ghandrung etc?
Someone who has been to the Sanctuary in Oct - Nov 07?
I came from Syuli Bazaar towards Birethanti. They were just half an hour or
so before Birethanti. That was the only place we saw them on our Sanctuary
trek. I heard though that they are indeed in Damphus, but I never went there.

Lars
Benares

[thesilvertops]

If we all said "No" it would bring it to a halt. The difficulty is getting all trekkers to do the same and I think that groups will just cough up.

They can't beat us all up and Prachanda has repeatedly said that donations are voluntary and that tourists will not be harmed.

[Sujoy]

I found them on the trail to Pothana after Dhampus and at the Sanctuary Lodge near Birethanti.
I had a long argument with them near Dhampus. There were seven of us including two children. After a long negotiation they agreed to take Rs 800 nepali for all of us. Their demand was Rs 2000!
I may have got away without paying anthing but was worried about the kids. They had also outnumbered us.
If I was trekking on my own I would have walked past and hoped for the best.
Having said that I found in their receipt book "donations" upto Rs 2000 from single trekkers.
It seems that most people would want to avoid the hassle and arguments and just pay them.
At Birethanti they did not seem too interested and we just walked past.
I dont think this will stop in a hurry
Sujoy

[thesilvertops]

If the maoists rejoin the government in the next few days then there should be pressure on them to behave and to stop their criminal activities.

Let's hope so.