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Tibet violence threatening Everest expeditions

    Melbourne: Several expeditions to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, are being cancelled due to the Chinese Government's restrictions over access to Tibet. Himalayan expedition organisers are calling off plans to send clients up the Tibetan side of the peak. Russell Brice, a New Zealander, and leading Himalayan expedition organiser, said that other organisers were also cancelling their trips. "I cancelled my expedition three days ago. I think most people on the north side are cancelling and some are trying to shift to the south side'' of the mountain in Nepal, the APP quoted Brice, as saying. Brice said he was cancelling the expedition trip because he had not yet received his licence. "It's very difficult to find out what's going on, to find out what is true and what is a rumour,'' he said. "We can't blame the China Tibet Mountaineering Association because there are factors involved that are way beyond their control,'' he added. Brice also revealed that the agencies "might try and shift their expeditions to the south side, but other people are worried about overloading on the south side'' in Nepal. "Leaders and western guides from three expeditions are already here and we don't know what to tell them,'' said Ishwori Poudel, who runs an expedition firm. On March 18, the Nepalese Government had clarified that it has not imposed any ban on climbing the Mt Everest as requested by the Chinese Government. China has already announced a ban on mountaineering expeditions until May 10 and had asked Nepal not to issue any permits until that day.
-Mar 22,  2008