Should we support the maoist?

[7days]

In recent days we have been hearing Maoist have entered into the political scenario and have also joined the government.

Also,we have been hearing that they have not yet stopped violence.America has issued a travel advisory to it's citizen ,quoting not to travel in Nepal,and also they have listed maoist in the terrorist catogery.

We all have faced many difficulties during the previous period when there was scarcity of tourist in Nepal.We all should be concerned and should always be well informed.

Is our country working out the peace process properly?Are all citizens safe.We have been hearing that the maoist have been collecting NRS.500 per head from all tourist travelling from the araniko highway.Tour operators include such amount in the tour packages of the tourist.Is anyone aware of such activities?

[yakshaver]

In recent days we have been hearing Maoist have entered into the political scenario and have also joined the government.

Also,we have been hearing that they have not yet stopped violence.America has issued a travel advisory to it's citizen ,quoting not to travel in Nepal,and also they have listed maoist in the terrorist catogery.

We all have faced many difficulties during the previous period when there was scarcity of tourist in Nepal.We all should be concerned and should always be well informed.

Is our country working out the peace process properly?Are all citizens safe.We have been hearing that the maoist have been collecting NRS.500 per head from all tourist travelling from the araniko highway.Tour operators include such amount in the tour packages of the tourist.Is anyone aware of such activities?


I guess it is easy to give direct and cliche answers to your questions. I don't think any trekker wishes to support a movement wich has used violence and coercion as means of gaining political advantage (As it turns out, the Maoists have lost a lot of support from ordinary Nepalis due to their behaviour over the last few years...).

The issue with paying 500 rupees is a moot one. Pragmatically, a tourist who wishes to see the beauty of Nepal and interact with it's friendly people, will probably not take too much of a dogmatic attitude. Thay will just fork the money and enjoy the trip (Ultimately the Nepali Government, asks for all sorts of taxes and fees, and so do other national and local governements in many tourist areas around the world... So another 15 dollars here or there is no big deal to most foreign tourists).\

The subject with the USA and their travel advisory is a laughable one. If you were to take it seriously half of the world is full of "terrorists" and you would not get out of bed, and definitelly not out of your house - for fear of "terrorists". USA and Australia have been doing this for years now. If I was to attach any shred of credibility to their idiotic travel advisories, I would not have travelled to Nepal (seven times in the last ten years). I would not have had the oportunity to know Nepal and it's amanzing people. Lukily, I and many others, had more sense than give the drivel in the GovernmentTravel Advisory more than a cursory glance, and then laugh about it. Or cry, thinking about how many others potential visitors staid away from Nepal because of the silly advisory board.
The Maoists have not taken western hostages, not for any political or monetary gain. The Nepali Governtment is not calling them terrorists. King Gyanendra has done so in the past, for a year or two, under severe pressure from the Americans... It did not do him any good.
This kind black-or-white thinking, easily labelling people as "terrorists" or goodies and badies, this stuff is not good for anyone. Nepal would do well to stay away from this mentality. I belive they have done well until now in this regard.

[Oli]

Should we trust the Maoists? No, not really. Not until they have demonstrated that they have truly renounced violence and extortion with menaces to further their ends, and the start making a reasonable contribution in the government.

I was in Nepal a year ago and witnessed the Janaandolan II revolution, everybody seemed so pleased that the end of the war was in sight and full of hope. But I've just been back and am sorry to report that little progress has been made.

It took a whole year before the Interim Government was decided and the Maoist leadership entered Singa Durbar, and I am disappointed to note that some of them have been very disruptive in their participation during debates in the house. There is too much argument about the authority of the Interim Govt to declare a Republic. And more arguments over a deadline for the Constituent Assembly rather than on how to conduct a fair and representative election.

Apparently the 'top level' leaders of the Maoist party do not really have too much control over the leaders of the more militant (and criminal) cadre out in the country, or the division leaders can't control the troublemakers in the mob.

It is very saddening to see that there is still so much violence around the country. During the War most of the battles were up in the hills, now they are down on the Tarai. Before the was the Maoist army, now there is the Young Communist League.

And there are also the Madhesi who are doing just the same as the Maoists both in parliament and also out in the country with their more militant cadres creating mayhem. Highway blockades and burning down government offices & police stations is not helping to reestablish peace and the rule of law.

The matter of foreign government travel advisories is a difficult issue, for me they cause more problems than they are worth. But on the matter of the Americans calling the Maoist "terrorist" - I read that they are denying a visa to one of the MPs who is hoping to form part of a delegation to visit the UN in New York.

"Is our country working out the peace process properly?"
Discussion, compromise and patience are what is required, not all this hardline posturing.

"Are all citizens safe."?
Sadly not. :( But still tourists are as relatively safe as we previously have been, just don't trek alone and give puja before getting on a bus. ;)

I am looking forward to returning some time next year, and I sincerely hope that you will have made more progress towards peace and stability.

[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 ?

[Oli]

The Maoists are not hostile towards trekkers, unless they resume their extortion racket and you refuse to pay. Generally they are no threat to tourists, but they do frequently call for "bandhas" (strikes) that can be rather inconvenient. You might do your trek with no sign of Maoists along the trail but get to the roadhead and find there is a bandha and no transport back to Pokhara.

Also note that there are elections scheduled for November - expect all sorts of political agitation up to and around that time.

I am rather disappointed to read that the Maoists have just announced they are to withdraw from the Interim Government, and they are not expected to do well at the elections. This does not bode well, but it doesnt necessarily mean you have to change your plans and avoid Nepal as long as you are prepared to make allowances for the occasional unexpected inconvenience.


Maoists 'quit Nepal government' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7000252.stm) (BBC)

[bampoo]

I am in a bit of dilemma now whether to continue with the venture or not. What will you suggest?

[Oli]

Well.... thats your call. Do you have your flights booked already? Does your travel insurance cover you should you decide to cancel?

As things stand right now, I would not be canceling my plans. But then I was in Kathmandu in April/May 2005 during Janaandolan II (the most recent "revolution"), I did not feel the need to curtail my holiday and leave the country and never felt any personal danger.

I just checked the UK Foreign Office travel advice for Nepal (http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386271) - they aren't warning against travel to Nepal, just the usual "be careful" caveats. Note that if your FO travel advice says "do not go here" then that would most likely void all your insurance cover unless you are already in the country when the warnings are raised. This is, IMHO, the biggest and most frustrating factor - political strife in Kathmandu could mean that they cant send a helicopter to rescue you from the mountains and your insurance company will fret that they cant provide full cover so they hedge their bets by withdrawing *all* cover.

Even if the elections go pearshaped and the Maoists decide to resume their insurgency then the actual risk to you as a tourist is still fairly slim. All sides in the war have so far been careful to avoid involving tourists in the conflict, but of course there is always a risk of being an innocent victim of collateral damage, those bombs in Kathmandu (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6974946.stm) earlier this month were rather indiscriminate. And if there are bandhas then you will be as inconvenienced as the Nepali.

Of course it is very much your decision, for all the warnings and disclaimers it is still a risk assessment that you have to make yourself. If you do decide to got then have fun and be careful.