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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 055442 
 
C O R R E C T E D   COPY - HYPERLINK-PARAGRAPH 008 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC NP
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - NEPAL 
 
¶1.  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the 
risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when 
traveling in country.  The Department of State remains 
concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges 
American citizens to obtain updated security information 
before they travel and to be prepared to change their 
plans on short notice.  This replaces the Travel Warning 
for Nepal dated November 21, 2008 and updates safety and 
security information. 
¶2.  Political violence remains a problem in Nepal.  The 
Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, 
continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of 
violence, particularly in rural areas.  Youth groups from 
the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress 
(NC) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), have 
also formed and clashes continue among these political 
rivals.  Violent actions by multiple armed splinter 
groups in the Terai region along the southern border with 
India remain a significant concern. 
¶3.  Protests, demonstrations and disruptions frequently 
occur.  The May 4, 2009 resignation of the Prime Minister 
and the resulting caretaker government has created an 
environment of increased political instability and the 
potential for demonstrations to be called without advance 
notice.  During demonstrations, protestors have used 
violence, including damaging vehicles, throwing rocks, 
and burning tires to block traffic.  Given the nature, 
intensity, and unpredictability of disturbances, American 
citizens are urged to exercise special caution during 
times when demonstrations are announced, avoid areas 
where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming, 
avoid road travel, and maintain a low profile.  Curfews 
can be announced with little or no advance notice. 
American citizens are urged to consult media sources and 
to register with the Embassy (see instructions below) for 
current security information. 
¶4.  Crime in the Kathmandu Valley, including violent 
crime and harassment of women, continues to rise. Police 
resources to combat such crime are limited.  Police have 
reported a number of robberies by armed gangs, sometimes 
resulting in injury to the victims.  Petty theft and 
muggings occur in popular tourist areas such as Pokhara 
and the Thamel area of Kathmandu.  Visitors to Nepal 
should practice good personal security when moving about, 
especially at night, and avoid walking alone after dark, 
carrying large sums of cash, or wearing expensive 
jewelry.  In several reported incidents tourists have had 
their belongings stolen from their rooms while they were 
asleep. There has been an increase in the number of 
fraudulent schemes perpetrated against tourists.  These 
schemes involve requesting the traveler's assistance in 
establishing shipping routes, or business contacts with 
the United States or other countries, involving jewelry, 
antiquities, or carpets, promising huge returns. Solo 
trekkers have been robbed by small groups of young men, 
even on some popular trails.  There have been reports of 
groups, primarily the Maoist Young Communist League, 
stopping foreign tourists along some popular trekking 
routes to extort money as donations to a political party, 
or toll for passage.  Political parties or community 
groups frequently call strikes, or bandhs, and have 
threatened physical violence to Nepalis and non-Nepalis 
alike for violating these strikes. 
¶5.  Travel via road in areas outside of the Kathmandu 
Valley is hazardous due to erratic drivers and frequent 
road accidents.  Public transportation, such as 
 
STATE 00055442  002 OF 002 
 
 
microbuses and tuk tuks, should be avoided because they 
are often overfilled, driven unsafely, and mechanically 
unsound.  American citizens should use taxis with meters 
or negotiate a price with the taxi driver before starting 
a trip. 
¶6.  Most U.S. official travel outside the Kathmandu 
Valley, including by air, requires specific clearance by 
the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Officer.  As a 
result, The U.S. Embassy's ability to provide emergency 
assistance to U.S. citizens may be limited.  Active duty 
U.S. military and Department of Defense contractors must 
obtain U.S. Embassy clearance in advance for official and 
personal travel to Nepal. 
¶7.  The U.S. Government's designation of the Communist 
Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a "Specially Designated Global 
Terrorist" organization under Executive Order 13224 and 
its inclusion on the "Terrorist Exclusion List" pursuant 
to the Immigration and Nationality Act remain in effect. 
These two designations make Maoists excludable from entry 
into the United States without a waiver and bar U.S. 
citizens from transactions such as contribution of funds, 
goods, or services to, or for the benefit of, the 
Maoists. 
¶8. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe 
Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov.  Americans 
living or traveling in Nepal are encouraged to register 
with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's 
travel registration website 
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs  . The 
Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is 
located at Maharajgunj.  The telephone number is 977-1- 
4007200, 4007201.  The number for after-hours emergencies 
is 977-1-4007266, 4007269.  The fax number is 977-1- 
¶4007281.  The Consulate's e-mail address is 
consktm@state.gov and its Internet web page is 
http://nepal.usembassy.gov. U.S. citizens should also 
consult the Department of State's latest Country Specific 
Information for Nepal and the Worldwide Caution, 
available at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date 
information on security can also be obtained by calling 
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada 
or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a 
regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are 
available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, 
Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 
 
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