11 July 2008
Nepal bans climbers for two years over Tibet
(IANS) The Nepal government has, for the first time, imposed a two-year ban on two Western climbers. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation imposed the ban on American William B. Holland after he was detained at the Everest base camp in May with a 'Free Tibet' T-shirt in his backpack. He was subsequently turned away and deported from Nepal. The Nepali authorities have imposed a two-year ban on the American, which prohibits him from climbing any peak in Nepal. In an unprecedented move, the local trekking agency that handled logistics for Holland's expedition was fined Nepali Rs.10,000 (UK£77; US$155; EUR€98). The second Westerner to receive a two-year ban was Josef Kubica from Slovakia who was caught on Everest without a climbing permit.