Nepal police fire tear gas, water cannon to disperse protest against US funded projects
Nepal protest
Policein Kathmandufiredteargasandwatercannontodisperseprotesters opposed to a U.S.-fundedinfrastructure programme that was set to be presented in parliament for ratification on Sunday, witnesses and officials inNepal's capital said.
Someprotesters were injured in the clashes, they said.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government aid agency, agreed in 2017 to provide $500 million in grants to fund a 300-kilometre (187 mile) electricity transmission line and a road improvement project inNepal.
Government officials said the grant will not have to be repaid and comes with no strings, but opponents say the agreement would undermineNepal's laws and sovereignty as lawmakers would have insufficient oversight of the board directing the infrastructure project.
Major political parties including members of the ruling coalition are split over whether to accept or reject the U.S. grant money.
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The U.S. Embassy inNepaldescribed the $500 million MCC grant as "a gift from the American people and a partnership between our nations that will bring jobs and infrastructure toNepaland improve the lives ofNepalis."
"This project was requested by theNepali government and theNepali people and designed to transparently reduce poverty and grow the economy ofNepal," the embassy said in a statement issued late on Saturday.
"WhetherNepali leaders ratify MCC is a decision forNepalto make, as a sovereign democratic nation, andNepal's decision alone," it added.
Watch |Nepal PM Deuba fails to garner consent for MCC as coalition divided over the grant
Nepalrelies heavily on foreign aid, and donors coordinate development aid policy through theNepalDevelopment Forum, whose members include donor countries and international financial organisations.