FINLON critical of US aid project MCC in Nepal

ITAHARI, September 10: Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Litterateur/Writer of Nepal (FINLON), an umbrella organization of indigenous writers and litterateurs, has sounded critical over US aid project Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). 

Issuing a press release signed by its chair Rajan Mukarung on Wednesday evening, FINLON said some provisions of MCC hampered Nepal's national sovereignty. FINLON has said MCC, which selected Nepal in 2011 during transitional phase, is suspicious.  

FINLON has claimed MCC also affects Nepal's non-alignment foreign policy increasing long-lasting impacts of what it calls 'American imperialism'. 

''US officials have said MCC is part of Indo Pacific Strategy of US,'' said the release, ''This has entered into Nepal to make US-friendly strategic grounds in Nepal.''
 
FINLON has also accused that MCC favors multinational companies and stays above Nepal's prevalent laws. FINLON has said that MCC prioritizes on the acquisition of lands to grab natural resources of those countries in many parts of the world, which, if it implemented in Nepal, have adverse effects on its indigenous nationalities going against international conventions where Nepal is also a signatory. 

FINLON said rights of indigenous nationalities on water, land and forest must not be compromised at any cost in the name of MCC.