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Riots in Skardu Updates from Skardu, Pakistan August 6, 1999
The first climbers of the season here were the Mujhadeen, who entered the 5,000meter peaks in early April, have been returning to Skardu. And two days ago, unfortunately, they shot a local village womanthat caused a great commotion here. The local people, over 5,000 of them, went to the Mujhadeen camp and were threatening to start a fight with them. The Mujhadeen was then asked to leave town by the army.
Yesterday, the whole town of Skardu went on strike: there was a riot and burning of tires in the main bazaar area. So, everyone was kind of hunkered down. The army has detained 15 Mujhadeen and the others were given the deadline of 10 o'clock last night to all leave town. So, today it is very peaceful again in town. It was rather amazing to see the unity in the local people here. These are Balti people, communal people, who have migrated from Tibet 600 to 800 years ago. Upon hearing that this woman had been shot, they were definitely aroused and decided to kick the people out of town.
Four Austrians Summit Broad Peak
Michael Koblmuller Dies
Edi heard about the accident on July 28th; the accident occurred on July 26th. Edi made an amazing trip from Broad Peak over to Deron in three days. He walked day and night and took a bus from Skardu. He was in the last helicopter search that went to Deron, but unfortunately he didn't find his son Michael, who was on Deron Peak (7,266 meters) on July 26th. He was quoted in The Nation, a Pakistani newspaper (article by Asin Awan), as saying, 'It was a catastrophe and a great tragedy. We have previously summited as a fatherson team on Dhaulagiri in 1996 and summited together on Shishapangma in 1998.' So they were very experienced climbers.
Lowe, Synnott and Ogen in Skardu
Alex had a large fall right near the summit, hurt his elbow and his pelvic area, but he's recovering. The team is now heading back to Islamabad by flight, and after a day in the States, they're all heading to the trade show. Alex is very modest about his climb, but it is truly one of the great climbing accomplishments of the century. Right now they are very anxious to get home. Jared has a sixmonthold son at home, and Alex, of course, is anxious to get back to his three boys and wife, Jen, in Bozeman, Montana.
Greg Mortenson, MountainZone.com Correspondent
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