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Lack of information hinders rescue bid of German national

Interpol, Nepal had carried out the search operation of missing German lady
Kristina Kovacevic for two weeks but lack of detailed information has brought the operation to a stand still. The whereabouts of the Kovacevic, said to be missing from Khumbu region, is still unknown.

Talking to the Nepalnews, high-ranking official at the Interpol, Nepal said that they had started the search operation with just her name and passport number as their obligation of finding out the foreign nationals missing in the country.

Kovacevic, who had gone for trekking in the region alone, as claimed by her sister Caroline Stallcup, presently in Kathmandu to find her missing sister, is said to have undermined the basic requirements for high altitude trekking which was the main reason behind the lack of her own information.

According to Mohan Sapkota, Director at the Department of Immigration (DoI), there is no information about Kovacevic because she had gone to the region alone and not through any trekking agency. "We received this information from outside sources including the media and Stallcup," Sapkota said.

Sapkota said that the trekking alone and not going through any trekking agency itself is against the norms of the trekking guidelines in Nepal. However, Stallcup maintains that it is not only her sister who trekked alone in the region. 'It is not only my sister who went there alone. In fact, I just met a Swiss national for possible information who also visited the region alone and returned without any obstacle," Stallcup said.

According to Director Sapkota, the foreign national who breaches the high altitude trekking norms could be liable for the fine up to rupees 50,000 and imprisonment up to five years period.

Whatever the consequences may be, the major issue is Kovacevic is missing and needs to be found. Kovasevic's younger sister Stallcup visited the German embassy in Kathmandu yesterday seeking help for a rescue bid. "The embassy here is not ready to give me any financial support but the embassy has vowed to coordinate with Interpol in the search operation," she said.

Meanwhile, Secretary at the Embassy of Germany, Kathmandu, Heike Widmer said that the embassy had already started its coordination with the Interpol, Nepal. "We have been working with the Nepalese authority and the Interpol by providing them the necessary information instrumental for the search operation conducted by the Interpol," she said.

Widmer said that the German embassy has a obligation to find the missing German national and the embassy is doing everything possible. " But things has to be done in a systematic way according to the rule of law," she added. She said the German embassy is acquiring necessary information from Germany and coordinating with Interpol.

Stallcup is also satisfied with the way Interpol is conducting the operation and hopes that the Interpol will be able to trace her sister as soon as possible. Nevertheless, Stallcup is carrying out her own search operation and is heading to Lukla today. nepalnews.com up May 16 06