Timor-Leste has scrapped a plan to give its lawmakers free cars after thousands of people took to the streets to protest against it. On Tuesday, demonstrators burned tyres and set a government vehicle alight, while police responded with tear gas - hours later, the government bowed to public pressure and dropped the plan.
Despite this, many returned to the streets, with one protester telling the BBC that they estimated a turnout of around 2,000 demonstrators in the capital Dili on Wednesday. Although 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 faced angry demonstrations against the perceived excesses of lawmakers. One student reported being hit by tear gas while protesting near her university, expressing her anger that lawmakers wanted luxury cars while their citizens continue to suffer.
Lawmakers in Timor-Leste earn an annual basic salary of $36,000, significantly higher than the national average income of around $3,000. The proposal to buy new cars is not new, as there have been consistent demonstrations against free cars for lawmakers since the 2000s. However, unrest has intensified recently due to growing inequality and unemployment.
Parliamentarians voted unanimously on Tuesday to scrap the plan for Toyota Prado SUVs for the country's 65 MPs, but skepticism remains about the government's commitment to abandoning the policy. Protesters are also pushing for the reform of laws that guarantee lifetime pensions for former MPs.
Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia, with more than 70% under the age of 35, and is often viewed as a beacon of democracy despite facing significant poverty. Protests have become a normalized part of political expression in Dili, with ongoing demonstrations reflecting wider discontent with governmental actions and privileges enjoyed by lawmakers.
Despite this, many returned to the streets, with one protester telling the BBC that they estimated a turnout of around 2,000 demonstrators in the capital Dili on Wednesday. Although 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 faced angry demonstrations against the perceived excesses of lawmakers. One student reported being hit by tear gas while protesting near her university, expressing her anger that lawmakers wanted luxury cars while their citizens continue to suffer.
Lawmakers in Timor-Leste earn an annual basic salary of $36,000, significantly higher than the national average income of around $3,000. The proposal to buy new cars is not new, as there have been consistent demonstrations against free cars for lawmakers since the 2000s. However, unrest has intensified recently due to growing inequality and unemployment.
Parliamentarians voted unanimously on Tuesday to scrap the plan for Toyota Prado SUVs for the country's 65 MPs, but skepticism remains about the government's commitment to abandoning the policy. Protesters are also pushing for the reform of laws that guarantee lifetime pensions for former MPs.
Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia, with more than 70% under the age of 35, and is often viewed as a beacon of democracy despite facing significant poverty. Protests have become a normalized part of political expression in Dili, with ongoing demonstrations reflecting wider discontent with governmental actions and privileges enjoyed by lawmakers.
