Re: Daniel Lak's 'Lak in Lukla' (#166). The reason there is no curfew in Namche is because the national park headquarters has a well-prepared 150-strong presence under a major. Maoists dare not attack the base because of the absence of an escape route.

It is the curfew in Lukla that helps filter any would-be Maoist from reaching Namche. If, as Lak seems to suggest, the APF is pulled out from Lukla, the airport and the entire Khumbu region would be vulnerable. Also, Lak says porters frequent the poll house looking for work. Actually sirdars hire porters at about 10-11AM after the clients arrive in the morning.

Mingmar Sherpa,
by email