Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy, and Escape from Tibet - Tapa dura

"Shelf Awareness""A shattering tale that will appeal to readers of all things about Tibet, mountaineering, human rights and the preservation of cultural integrity." "Kirkus""Green's steely, factually dense analysis of this unlawful conspiracy sheds light on a perennial human-rights crisis.... In clear, concise prose, the author deliberates over China's stranglehold on Tibet, its systematic dismantling of the indigenous culture and the terror tactics employed on families." The Bookseller"A gripping tale of routine murder that would have gone unreported but for the fact that a group of Western clumbers were silent witnesses to the killing of a young Tibetan woman attempting to cross the border into India." Mikel Dunham, author of "Buddha's Warriors""Once in a while, a book comes along that transcends its region-specific subject matter and addresses universal questions with calm moral clarity. "Murder in the High Himalaya" is such a book. It is a mesmerizing alpine adventure of horrifying consequences, a sober look at China's crimes against humanity, and a reality check on the so-called heroics of Westerners who belong to the elite mountaineering community." "Macleans""Who spoke out and who did not, and why, is at the heart of one of the most unsettling books of recent years." "Economist""By personalising Namtso's life and death, Mr Green has conjured in the flesh an otherwise anonymous figure from Tibet's shadows" "Daily Beast""Brilliantly told.... Captivating." "The Economist," June 11, 2010"By personalising Namtso's life and death, Mr Green has conjured in the flesh an otherwise anonymous figure from Tibet's shadows." "The Daily Beast," June 18, 2010"Brilliantly told.... Captivating." "The Spectator "(UK), June 17, 2010"A word is missing from the subtitle of Jonathan Green's shocking expose cowardice. It shines out of his story of the murder of the 17-year-old Tibetan nun, Kelsang Namtso.... The core of this book is Kelsang's murder and its implications, which Green "Who spoke out and who did not, and why, is at the heart of one of the most unsettling books of recent years." Economist"By personalising Namtso's life and death, Mr Green has conjured in the flesh an otherwise anonymous figure from Tibet's shadows" Daily Beast"Brilliantly told.... Captivating." The Economist, June 11, 2010"By personalising Namtso's life and death, Mr Green has conjured in the flesh an otherwise anonymous figure from Tibet's shadows." The Daily Beast, June 18, 2010"Brilliantly told.... Captivating." The Spectator (UK), June 17, 2010"A word is missing from the subtitle of Jonathan Green's shocking expose cowardice. It shines out of his story of the murder of the 17-year-old Tibetan nun, Kelsang Namtso.... The core of this book is Kelsang's murder and its implications, which Green, an experienced journalist, recounts vividly and with scrupulous attention to evidence... In this book he shows himself to be a first-class reporter." Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2010 Shelf Awareness"A shattering tale that will appeal to readers of all things about Tibet, mountaineering, human rights and the preservation of cultural integrity." Kirkus"Green's steely, factually dense analysis of this unlawful conspiracy sheds light on a perennial human-rights crisis.... In clear, concise prose, the author deliberates over China's stranglehold on Tibet, its systematic dismantling of the indigenous culture and the terror tactics employed on families." The Bookseller"A gripping tale of routine murder that would have gone unreported but for the fact that a group of Western clumbers were silent witnesses to the killing of a young Tibetan woman attempting to cross the border into India." Mikel Dunham, author of Buddha's Warriors"Once in a while, a book comes along that transcends its region-specific subject matter and addresses universal questions with calm moral clarity. Murder in the High Himalaya is such a book. It is a mesmerizing alpine adventure of horrifying consequences, a sober look at China's crimes against humanity, and a reality check on the so-called heroics of Westerners who belong to the elite mountaineering community." Macleans

The murder of a young Tibetan nun by the hands of Chinese border guards at the rooftop of the world offers a unique parable for the tale of modern Tibet. In August 2006, two young Tibetan women left their hillside village in Biru county to make their way to Dharamsala India. Frustrated by their inability to practice the tenets of Buddhism or Tibetan culture under oppressive Chinese rule, best friends Dolma and Kelsang were determined to secure their right to freedom-and sought comfort in the fact that they might seek counsel with their exiled spiritual leader, his Holiness the Dalai Lhama. Through a secretive underground network of Tibetan guides, the two friends, along with four dozen other refugees, embarked on a perilous journey that would lead them to Nepal along a dangerous former trade route: the Nangpa La Path, through Cho Oyu Mountain. On September 30, 2006, after weeks of harrowing travel, as they were nearing the border of Nepal, the band of refugees was fired at by the Chinese Army Guards. Kelsang, sick, frost-bitten, and delirious in the high altitude was struck by a bullet from behind. Her death was not unusual in its circumstance: Chinese police are instructed to take any measures necessary to protect the border of Tibet. What was unusual on this freezing September morning was that a gaggle of Western climbers, stationed on Cho Oyu's advance base camp, had silently witnessed the event. One of them was Louis Benitez-a fearless Colorado mountain guide who led Himalayan trips for wealthy western thrill seekers. Another was Sergui Matei, a Romanian hiker, who captured Kelsang's murder on video. Both men had a choice-to preserve their climbing careers and turn a blind eye-or to alert the world to the grand scale of human injustice played out daily in Tibet. In "Murder in the High Himalayas", intrepid journalist Jonathan Green investigates the clash of cultures at the rooftop of the world. As he gains entrance to a fascinating network of Tibetan guides and safe-houses operating in the name of freedom, investigates the tradition of extreme mountaineering in Chinese-occupied Tibet, and establishes contact with surviving refugees (including Dolma), he affects a rare, and lasting parable for the plight of modern Tibet.