KATHMANDU, JULY 30Sherpa Tourism Entrepreneur Association of Nepal today asked the government to take immediate legal action against celebrated climber Nirmal 'Nims' Purja for his alleged involvement in unethical mountaineering practices.
Nims Purja shuts down Thamel store, removes Everest video Tourism Dept for banning Nims Purja from running expeditions in Nepal Submitting a memorandum to the Minister of Defense Manbir Rai, the largest umbrella organization of Sherpa tourism entrepreneurs demanded that the government ban Nims from engaging in unethical activities in the name of climbing mountains.STEAN President Pemba Sherpa 'Sangam' stated that Sherpa tourism entrepreneurs and climbers wanted Nims Purja to be banned from mountaineering activities in Nepal, as he tarnished the image of the Sherpa community and the country by promoting unethical activities in the name of climbing mountains in Nepal.
Nims tarnished Nepal's mountaineering industry's image by circulating a misleading video of rope slicing above the south summit on Mt.
Everest, the memorandum reads.Sherpa climbers, who are the backbone of mountain climbing in Nepal, took the issue very seriously as they are responsible for fixing routes in the mountains, it added.
Following widespread criticism, Nims removed the controversial video clips that he had posted about Everest from his social media.
Nims had accused Sherpa climbers of slicing ropes in a video he posted on his social media, claiming that ropes along the Everest summit above the balcony area were cut to prevent him from making the summit.
His video quickly went viral, drawing immediate but critical reactions from the world's mountaineering community about Everest climbing and rope-fixing Sherpas.
"It seems that Nims removed the video clips from his social media to influence government officials who plan legal action against him," STEAN states.Holding illegal training for its climbers above the base camp, commandeering an unauthorized chopper flight to/from Camp II, and evading tax in the name of being a non-resident Nepali (British Citizen) are some of the offenses that Nims committed, the document further states.STEAN also reminded the minister that the Department of Tourism has already forwarded all details to the concerned ministry recommending stern action against Nims.
"Nims has, however, been trying to bribe the government officials," President Sherpa said.Demanding stern action against Nims Purja and his company, Elite Exped, for violating mountaineering rules of the country, STEAN also mentioned that Nims evaded millions in rupees of mountaineering royalties.
Nims Purja has also been accused of sexual assault and harassment by at least two foreign women climbers, the memorandum reminds.Nearly two years have passed since a massive fire engulfed a residence in Kapan where Nims had rented the bungalow's ground floor for the Elite Exped office.
"Nims has refused to compensate Tanka Ghising, the bungalow owner," according to the memorandum."I will raise the issues with the Council of Ministers as soon as possible," Minister Rai said, while receiving the memorandum.
Rai, who hails from the mountainous district of Solukhumbu, also convinced the STEAN team that he would do his best to protect the rights of Sherpa climbers and entrepreneurs."The STEAN team also held an informal meeting with the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey this morning," Sherpa said, adding that the team briefed the minister on the details about the wrongdoings committed by Nims.
Minister Pandey also acknowledged their concerns and agreed to address the issues at the earliest, according to Sherpa."Nims Purja is disrespecting the sacrifices of Sherpa climbers," the STEAN President said, adding that the Sherpa community and climbers stood together against such exploitation and ensured that they would always foil any attempts to exploit their community for personal gain.
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