Nepal Authorizes Deadly Force to Stop Olympic Torch Protests

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Nepal authorizes deadly force to stop Olympic torch protests
By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago

KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepalese soldiers and police guarding the slopes of Mount Everest are authorized to shoot to stop any protests during China's Olympic torch run to the summit, an official said Sunday.

Chinese climbers plan to take the torch to the summit of Everest — the world's highest peak on the border between Nepal and Tibet — in the first few days of May. During that time, other climbers will be banned from the mountain's higher elevations.

Police and soldiers "have been given orders to stop any protest on the mountain using whatever means necessary, including use of weapons," Nepal's Home Ministry spokesman Modraj Dotel said, adding that the use of deadly force was authorized only as a last resort.

The troops will first try to persuade protesters to leave and will arrest those who don't. If demonstrators defy all nonviolent means of restraint, troops have the option of using their weapons, such as in cases where a large group cannot be corralled. It was unclear if the protesters would have to attack or become violent before force was authorized.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080420/ap_on_re_as/nepal_olympic_torch

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. DEADLY force for a freakin' flame?

Misplaced sense of priorities.

[Hissyspit]

3. They just prove the point of the protesters.

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. Touche.

Damned fools that governments are, they never see that.

[krispos42]

2. I just saw the "Everest" Omnimax movie today

Good luck with that.

[Indi Guy]

4. Chinese Gov -- Snakes on Flame n/t

[ForrestGump]

5. Idiotic enough to try to take the flame up Everest in the first place

Though too many seem to have treated it that way in recent years, Everest is not a nature walk or a playground.

And deadly force to protect the flame, even regardless of the negatives already surrounding this iteration of the Olympics? Totally nuts.

[Javaman]

6. nothing like the spirit and unity of the olympics at the end of a bayonet. nt

[David__77]

8. Well, with wheelchair bound torch bearer roughed up by anti-China protesters...

...I'd say the "human rights activists" are making it pretty easy on the Chinese government.