China asks Nepal to ban Everest climbs

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA

Katmandu, March 14: China has asked Nepal to not allow climbers to scale Mount Everest during the popular spring season, officials said on Friday, as Beijing grows increasingly concerned over possible Olympics protests on the world’s highest peak. Beijing may be worried that Tibetan activists will disrupt its plans to carry the Olympic torch up to Everest’s 8,850-metre summit. China has not released an exact date for the planned ascent, but preparations point to late April or early May. Nepalese officials said a decision should be reached soon on whether to approve Beijing’s request to shut down climbing on Everest until May 10. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said China made the request in February.

Expeditions from the Chinese side of the peak have already been banned until May 10, with authorities saying they are concerned about "heavy climbing activities and pressure on the environment." Everest straddles the political border between Chinese-controlled Tibet and Nepa. (AP)

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Burma grants visa to UN rights expert

Geneva, March 14: The outgoing UN expert on human rights in Burma said on Friday he is being granted a visa by the country’s military rulers to see what progress has been made since his last visit in November.

"I have good news for you... Today the visa has been issued and my passport will be returned this afternoon," special rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro told journalists in Geneva. "That’s a wonderful surprise." News of the visa came mid-way through a press conference at which Mr Pinheiro elaborated on his report this week to the Human Rights Council which was sharply critical of Burma. Mr Pinheiro, a Brazilian diplomat and legal scholar, said he did not know when he would go to Burma, or whether he would prepare a new report — given that his seven-year mandate expires in March.

Burma’s representative on the Human Rights Council had stated that his government could not grant a visa as it was too busy preparing a constitutional referendum in May designed to pave the way for elections in 2010. (AFP)