On June 20th in Katmandu, Nepali police fired rubber bullets at protestors, used water cannons, and tear gassed the crowd. These aggressive control tactics injured numerous people during the protests, as well as in the general clashes that occurred through the duration. Protestors pushed against barricades that had been set up to encourage peaceful assembly, which Nepal recognizes as a human right, and also threw rocks at the police. Both parties suffered injuries and acute stress from the violence.
Nepali protesters are upset over their government’s most recent deal with the United States. Nepal signed a deal with a U.S. aid agency called The Millennium Challenge Corporation in 2017, obtaining a grant of $500 million towards a road improvement project and the construction of a new 187-mile electricity transmission line. The grant is “a gift from the American people and a partnership between our nations that will bring jobs and infrastructure to Nepal and improve the lives of Nepalis,” the U.S. Embassy in Nepal said. “This project was requested by the Nepali government and the Nepali people and designed to transparently reduce poverty and grow the economy.”
The grant is officially active until February 28th, 2022, so opposing groups, including these protesters, are continuing to try and stop the aid from being granted.
It seems odd that people would protest financial assistance given to their own country, but many Nepalis fear that the grant comes with strings attached. Washington claims that the funds do not need to be repaid and denied any hidden conditions of the deal, but nevertheless, $500 million is a large sum to give away without a catch.
China is one of the groups opposing the deal. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called the aid package an example of “coercive diplomacy and actions that pursue selfish agendas at the expense of Nepal’s sovereignty and interests.”
These fears are not invalid. Rather, they are backed by historical evidence. When wealthy and developed countries offer aid to another country, it is often to promote their own national interests. Many foreign journalism organizations have received millions of dollars in aid from the U.S. government in order to promote a positive image of the United States in foreign media. For example, when trying to promote national interests in Chile during the U.S.-backed military coup by conservative Gustavo Pinochet, the U.S. used C.I.A. funding for a conservative newspaper called El Mercurio, supporting the new regime by posing as a genuine Chilean news outlet.
Despite the protestors’ valid caution, the violence and pain the protests have caused are unacceptable. The clash is a by-product of the constant battle between China and the U.S., and Nepali civilians and law enforcement are paying the price. To reach the best outcome, Nepal should put the U.S. aid to effective use and the U.S. should uphold its promise not to coerce the Nepali government. Using this deal as leverage would only further conflict in Nepal and Nepali mistrust of the United States.
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