Compiled by Outside Online

November 28, 2001 Violent clashes between Maoist rebels and government forces in Nepal have prompted the U.S. State Department to strongly caution Americans about travel to the Himalayan nation.

According to a Tuesday announcement, the American Embassy in Kathmandu has severely restricted travel outside the Kathmandu Valley by American officials. The State Department also encouraged Americans to carefully consider the risks of nonessential travel to the country. American civilians within Nepal, including those in Kathmandu, should exercise caution, avoid demonstrations, and closely monitor the situation, as no region is considered safe at this time. To date no American citizens have been attacked.

Nepal's King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency on Monday after Maoist rebels attacked a number of military outposts over the weekend. The fighting marked an end to a four-month-old cease-fire agreement between the Maoist Communist Party of Nepal and the Nepalese government. The state of emergency allows the government to use the army to hunt down Maoist rebels for the first time.

The Maoist Nepal Communist Party withdrew from politics in 1996 and began a series of guerilla raids in the Nepal countryside in hopes of overthrowing the government. Until last week, the attacks had been aimed only at police outposts, and not at the army.

In May, Outside contributing editor Patrick Symmes traveled deep into the rebel-held Rolpa district, attending a rally of some 1,000 Maoists (see "The Last Days of the Mountain Kingdom," Outside magazine, September 2000).

Prime Minister Shere Bahadur Deuba, who took office in July on a promise to make peace with the Maoists, expressed his frustration in a statement to the nation posted on NepalNews.com. "We showed utmost flexibility to bring the Maoist group that was expanding its activities through violence for the past six years into the mainstream of politics. But the Maoist terrorists totally ignored our honest efforts and people's wishes."

According to The New York Times, Maoist rebel leader Prachanda issued a statement last Wednesday, accusing the government of not seriously committing to peace talks and arguing that "the rationale for a cease-fire no longer existed."

Last Sunday, rebels attacked governmental buildings in the Solukhumba district, an area popular with tourists and also home to many climbing Sherpas, The Times reports.

The State Department says that the Maoists have called for a general strike on December 7, and for continued violence.

According to NepalNews.com, air and ground attacks are being launched against the rebels and the government has decided to mobilize all aspects of the armed forces to assist the police in stopping the violence.