Kathmandu Blockade Continues

Trekkers contemplating a visit to Nepal for the autumn treking season which begins in October will be watching the Maoist situation with concern.

As we told you last week, Maoist insurgents have imposed a blockade on traffic movements in and out of the capital Kathmandu cutting supplies of food and other goods to the capital to a trickle and preventing buses from running. The sieges has now been running for five days and although military helicopters are safe-guarding the movement of essential supplies into the capital, most lorry drivers are, reportedly, refusing to contemplate the journey.

According to reports in the Guardian newspaper, a series of bombs in the capital along with the shooting of a policeman at the weekend have further brought home the seriousness of the situation and the shortage of food and other supplies has driven up prices in Kathmandu's shops. In contrast, a BBC news story, says that more truckers are defying the blockade

Meanwhile, the website Nepalnews.com, reports that the government's Information Minister is accusing the international media of spreading rumour. "There is no truth in news reports that say Kathmandu is under siege," he's reported as saying. The site also reports that tourism operators are concerned that the international media reports are exagerating the problem and that together with government travel advisories, are damaging tourism.

There are also claims that the rebels have pledged not to 'target ambulances, tourist vehicles and vehicles carrying media personnel even during their `blockade.' This would be in keeping with the Maoists' declared policy of not targeting foreign visitors and trekkers.

If you're planning a trekking trip to Nepal, we'd advise you to keep a close eye on what's happening, but to bear in mind that the insurgents have repeatedly pledged not to target tourists.