Protest Erupts in Another Asian Nation

Thousands of people in East Timor have taken to the streets to protest the government’s decision to purchase cars for Members of Parliament (MPs) free of cost. Facing intense public opposition, the East Timorese government has cancelled the plan to provide MPs with new vehicles.

According to reports by BBC, the protests escalated on Tuesday as thousands of demonstrators set tyres on fire and attacked a government vehicle. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds. Within a few hours of the unrest, the government announced the cancellation of the car purchase plan for MPs.

Despite the government’s reversal, protests continued on Wednesday in the capital city, Dili. A BBC source reported that around 2,000 people marched through the streets demanding accountability.

Initially, the demonstrations were focused solely on the government’s plan to buy cars for MPs. However, the protestors later expanded their demands to include the abolition of lifelong pensions for former MPs.

In recent months, youth-led protests have challenged governments across Asia, from Nepal to Indonesia. East Timor has now witnessed similar public mobilisation.

An anonymous student participating in the protests told BBC that he had been affected by tear gas in front of his university. He expressed his frustration, saying: “The people are struggling, yet MPs want to buy luxurious vehicles for themselves.”

According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2023), East Timorese MPs earn an annual salary of USD 36,000, which is ten times higher than the country’s average income of approximately USD 3,000.

However, plans to purchase vehicles for MPs are not new. For several years, citizens have protested against government proposals to provide cars to MPs. For example, in 2008, the police arrested several students who opposed a plan to buy vehicles worth USD 1 million for MPs.

Cesario Cesar, a protest leader, said: “People are facing numerous challenges—education, water, sanitation—there are insufficient facilities. Yet MPs are making laws for their own benefit. We consider this unfair.”

He added that MPs currently have government-provided vehicles, which are still in good condition. Nevertheless, the government planned to provide them with new Toyota Prado SUVs.

According to the United Nations, over 70% of East Timor’s population is under 35 years old. Despite being one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations, East Timor is often cited as a comparatively strong example of democracy.

Former minister and President of the Institute of Politics and International Affairs, Fidelis Leite Magalhães, told BBC: “People understand that protesting is a normal part of democratic governance here. Everything in Dili is proceeding normally.”

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Source: BBC