Posted: Mar 15, 2006 10:25 am EST
(MountEverest.net) Nepal is looking much like it did one year ago. Once again, Maoists have called for a “decisive battle,” in order to force King Gyanendra to give up absolute power over the country.

The opposition has blocked all roads in and out of Kathmandu as well as other major cities in Nepal. The blockade is planned to last for three weeks, and will be followed by an indefinite bandh (general strike).

Deserted roads

Traffic was scarce in Kathmandu yesterday. Army patrols checked all vehicles coming in and out of the city – they counted barely one hundred during the entire day.

According to Kantipur Online, highways linking major towns across the country are virtually deserted. The Maoists reportedly torched one truck attempting to transport goods into the capital and even held the driver prisoner.

Bad for visitors – worse for locals

However inconvenient the circumstances may be for foreign visitors (mostly delays and difficulties to get out of KTM) – the situation is far worse for locals.

Transportation of goods is virtually paralyzed and is expected to cause major shortages of basic supplies in cities all over Nepal. Locals told NepalNews that there was already a shortage of cooking gas and other necessities in the market even though the Maoist-imposed blockade had barely begun.

Various political parties, human rights groups and civil society leaders have asked the Maoists to withdraw their blockades. Even the off-parliament “seven-party alliance” leaders, currently in New Delhi (India), are reportedly negotiating with the rebels.

No disagreement accepted among Maoists

Even the Maoist themselves are experiencing dissent among their own ranks. But they've been quickly silenced.

Chairman of the CPN-Maoist Prachanda expelled two central members of the party, tagging them as “deserters of the revolution and servants of the autocratic monarchy and counter-revolution.” The two Maoist leaders accused Prachanda and another top leader of adopting nepotisms at the party’s top decision-making levels.

Whilst blockades remain, climbers should expect delays if they plan to move by car. If this is the case, it is essential they travel in convoys, and in vehicles clearly identified as tourist transport. Russian Alex Abramov and one of his guides were hit by a bomb last year on their way to the Tibetan frontier. The car they were driving had no identification.

Other options climbers might consider is flying from Kathmandu to other towns such as Pokhara (for those climbing on Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu), Lukla (for those heading for Everest and the Khumbu valley mountains), or Taplejung (for Kangchenjunga expeditions). Expeditions attempting Everest from Tibet might consider flying to Lhasa. Airports worked during last year’s Bandh, although with delays and overbooked flights.

Foreign visitors to Nepal are being strongly urged to inform their consulates about their travel plans in the country, as well as their expected date of arrival back in KTM.

Finally, as we always advise, ask your local outfitter and follow their instructions – they are perfectly aware of the situation and will suggest the safest option in each case.

The Maoists, who have been waging an armed rebellion against the Nepalese government since 1996, announced a unilateral ceasefire in September 2005.

Supposedly, Maoists wouldn’t attack politicians or civilians; Kathmandu would be free of strikes and road blocks. However, Prachanda warned that the Maoists would continue to defend their positions in rural areas. As a result, clashes between army troops and rebels continue in villages – and foreigners are still forced to pay a ‘revolutionary tax’ when entering Maoist-controlled areas - which include virtually all the valleys except for the Khumbu. King Gyanendra, holding absolute power since February 1, 2005, refused to hold peace talks with the Moaists as they had offered. Thus the cease-fire ended.

Since the return of hostilities, fierce clashes have taken place in highly populated areas, OCHCR said. Both sides have used public buildings and schools, putting the lives of civilians in danger.

The inner conflict in Nepal has taken about 13,000 lives. One of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal's economic crisis continues to deepen. More and more empowered Nepalese are fleeing the country and looking for safe haven and work abroad.

The question is, if Nepal is headed for the same destiny as Tibet -only in a different version. The prosperous Khumbu Valley is one of the few districts that has still managed to stave of the Maoists. If they gain control of the country, Communist rule often involves land reforms - i.e. "confiscation" of private property. Should that happen, climbers and trekkers will face entirely different tea houses in the picturesque Sherpa valleys of Nepal.

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