The [Maoist guerillas in Nepal] rebels stop by teahouses to talk to tourists and ask for donations. Trekkers usually hand over an average of $14. There have been very few reported cases of tourists being pressured after refusing to pay. And those cases have tended to be with individuals who turned out not to be associated with the rebels. Many trekkers are happy to receive the souvenir of a receipt from the Maoists for their donations. Nevertheless, some tourists later complain about having to pay for something that was not included in their package.
I’ve heard of the commericialization of Communist icons after the regime has been discredited, but not before. Have even the Commies become ironic?