'Free Tibet' shirt leads to two-year ban

The Nepal government has slapped a two-year ban on an American climber for breaking its policy about anti-China activities.

It is the first ban in mountaineering history of the Himalayan nation, which boasts eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks.

The ministry of tourism, culture and civil aviation imposed the ban on American William B. Holland as part of the government’s policy to uphold the "One China" policy of its northern neighbour China.

China regards Tibet as an inalienable part of the communist republic and Nepal’s government has pledged to support the policy and to not allow its soil to be used for anti-China activity.

Holland became a victim of this policy in May when, under pressure from China, Nepal first put a temporary curb on expeditions to Mount Everest — the world’s highest peak — and stepped up security in the Everest area to prevent mountaineers from taking part in any pro-Tibet demonstrations.

Holland was detained at the Everest base camp after security personnel found a "Free Tibet" T-shirt in his backpack. He subsequently was turned away and deported.

In a bid to prevent him from embarking on any more pro-Tibet activity in Nepal, and also to deter other mountaineers from taking up the Tibet cause, Nepal has imposed a two-year ban on the American, which prohibits him from climbing any peak in Nepal.

A Nepali trekking agency that handled logistics for the expedition of which Holland was a member, was fined $155, also a first in Nepal.

Nepal also has banned Josef Kubica from Slovakia for two years for being caught without a climbing permit. Kubica was found heading towards Mount Everest without paying a permit fee.

The high fee at times leads to shoe-string budget climbers trying to sneak up to the peaks without a permit.

In the past, at least two mountaineers reportedly froze to death on Nepal’s Himalayan ranges. They were climbing in stealth in a bid to dodge the authorities and could not be rescued in time.

Following intense criticism, Nepal opened the route to Mount Everest after the Olympic Torch reached the 8,848-metre summit safely. However, China is yet to open the northern route to the peak via Tibet.