Police arrest protesters against MCC Compact from TIA

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police today arrested people protesting in front of Tribhuvvan International Airport (TIA) against Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.

Amid the government preparing to ratify the MCC Compact through the next parliamentary meeting, discussions, celebrations, debate and protest have intensified, especially in the Kathmandu Valley.

The protest comes at a time when Fatema Z. Sumar, Vice-President of Department of Compact Operations at the Millenium Challenge Corporation is visiting Nepal this week. They staged protest in front of country’s only international airport with slogans: “We hate MCC, Go back MCC, Get out MCC, Reject MCC”.

Earlier on Monday, the US Embassy in Nepal had said that the US supports fact-based public discourses on MCC. Citing that the right to peacefully express one’s views is intrinsic to democracy, the Embassy tweeted, “We are a strong supporter of free speech & public discourse based in fact, including on MCC. The US has been a partner of Nepal and its people for decades & will always support its long-term prosperity.”