Maoists intensify extortion from trekkers in the Everest region

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 10, 2006

Kathmandu- Nepal's Maoist insurgents, despite agreements with the seven ruling parties, have intensified their extortion drive against trekkers in the highly popular Mount Everest region, a newspaper report said Tuesday. The Nepali-language daily Kantipur reported that the Maoists were collecting 2,500 Nepalese rupees (about 35 US dollars) from each tourist entering the Everest region, about 150 kilometres north-east of the capital.

Under the 25-point ceasefire agreed upon between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the Maoists in May, the Maoists were to stop all abductions and extortion. But they were reported to be continuing abductions and forced "donations" from trekkers.

According to Kantipur, the Maoists collected the money from the tourists at Manjo, the main entry point to the Everest region.

Tourism entrepreneurs have complained that the Maoist extortion is creating a sense of insecurity in the area.

"Tourism is the mainstay of the Khumbu (Everest area) economy," said on businessman.

"Tourists pay 1,000 rupees (about 14 dollars) to the Everest National Park. In addition, they have to pay aircraft boarding taxes at Kathmandu airport. Tourists are being taxed at every point," complained Dimanuru Sherpa of Cho Oyu Trekking.

About 3,500 trekkers visit Everest in each of the three tourist seasons, making it the most popular trekking route in the Himalayan kingdom.

According to reports, extortion money collected from trekkers was the main source of income for Maoists in the hilly regions.

Reports of extortion from the trekkers came even as Nepal's apex tourism body, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), announced that despite the relative peace in the country the tourist arrivals in September fell by 7.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to the data released by the NTB, 25,484 tourists entered Nepal in September compared to 27,511 tourists in September last year.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency