China confirms Clara's feat

China confirms Clara's feat

JAKARTA (JP): Clara Sumarwati, the first Indonesian and
Southeast Asian woman to reach the 8,848-meter summit of Mt.
Everest, has received a certificate from The Mountaineering
Association of The Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of
China.

The certificate reads "This is to certify that on September
26, 1996 Miss Clara Sumarwati (Indonesian) has reached the
altitude of 8,848.13 meters above sea level on an expedition to
Peak Quomalong Ma of Mount Himalaya."

A fax of the certificate was released to the media yesterday
in order to counter any doubts that Clara had not actually
reached the peak on her own. Skeptics said that Kaji Sherpa, the
most acclaimed Himalaya guide, had dragged Clara to the peak.
(arf)