South Asian Business news and information

So, the climbing has been put on hold temporarily. The tragedy of the matter is, this is the best time to climb the Mount Everest. The weather is suitable. For this decision, Nepal will lose a lot of money.  BBC reports:

Climbers will be banned from going beyond Everest's base camp until 10 May, Nepal's tourism minister said.

Beijing is thought to be concerned that a protest may coincide with plans to take the Olympic torch up the mountain.

Tibetans have stepped up agitation against Chinese rule as Beijing gets ready to host the Olympics in August.

Buddhist monks have been demonstrating in and around Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet region.

The Tibetans both in Nepal and Lhasa are now protesting for the autonomy of Tibet. Now, it has taken a new height. Nepal’s Tourism minister, Pritivi Subba Gurung, on the request of Chinese government, ordered the tour guides not to go beyond the Sagarmatha base camp. Last year, a Tibetan climber, along with five US mountaineers, went to the summit and unfurled banners for Tibetan independence.

Many Nepalese tour guides are very much unhappy with this decision. Nepal is situated on the southern side of the Himalayas which is more popular to the climbers. Because of this decision, Nepal tourism sector will lose a lot money. Still, it had to take steps because China is a very powerful neighbor and Nepal can not afford to get into any problem with such a country.

Related articles:

BBC

Guardian

The New York Times

Associated Press

The New York Times

Voice of America