Despite this, many returned to the streets, with one protester telling the BBC that they estimated a turn out of around 2,000 demonstrators in the capital Dili on Wednesday. Though the protests were initially triggered by the cars, they have now expanded to cover calls to remove lifetime pensions for retired lawmakers.
The unrest comes as governments across Asia, from Nepal to Indonesia, have been rocked by angry young protesters taking aim at the perceived excesses of lawmakers. One student said she was hit by tear gas while she was in front of her university campus, expressing anger at lawmakers who want to buy luxury cars for work while their people are still suffering.
Lawmakers in Timor-Leste earn an average annual salary of $36,000, which is more than 10 times the country’s average income. This disparity has fueled discontent, leading to calls for reform of government privileges.
Parliamentarians voted unanimously on Tuesday to scrap the plan to buy new Toyota Prado SUVs for each of the country’s 65 MPs. However, skepticism remains among protesters about whether the decision will actually be implemented.
Timor-Leste stands out with over 70% of its population under the age of 35 and is characterized as one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, battling high inequality and unemployment.
Fidelis Leite Magalhães, a former minister, noted that protests in Dili are becoming a normal part of the democratic process, reflecting a society fed up with corruption and inequality.
As neighboring countries like Nepal and Indonesia face similar unrest, the sentiment for change resonates strongly in Timor-Leste, highlighting the growing resolve among younger generations to challenge government actions that they perceive as self-serving.
