MOUNTAINEERING NEWS ITEM

Pro-Tibet US Mountaineer Deported

FRIDAY, 2 MAY 2008
Submitted By: Prem Pant

Nepal government has deported a foreign mountaineer as a part of quelling any anti-China movement in Nepal.

American citizen William Brant Holland, 28, was returned by the security force last week, after he was discovered carrying 'Free Tibet' banner along with his mountaineering accessories. Holland was punished after he failed to abide by the terms and conditions that he had agreed while receiving climbing permit, ministry sources said.

The decision to deport the mountaineer was taken at the secretary level as per the mountaineering regulation. The mountaineer has also been barred from taking part in any mountaineering activities in Nepal for the next two years. Likewise, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) has also sought clarifications from the agency that was handling Holland's expedition. Right after the decision, Holland left for Bangkok on Monday.

China plans to take the Olympic torch relay to the summit of Mt. Everest next month. Suspecting disturbances in the torch relay, China didn't issue any permits to climb Mt. Everest from Tibetan side this year and also asked Nepal not to issue any permits. However, Nepal issued climbing permits with precondition that no climbing parties go beyond the Camp II before May 10. The Nepal government has also deployed security forces at Camp II to ensure that no one goes beyond Camp II before May 10.

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