Police in East Timor engage in conflicts with demonstrators due to a proposed acquisition of automobiles for members of Parliament.
East Timor, Southeast Asia's youngest country, is currently grappling with high levels of political unrest in its capital, Dili. The source of contention is a plan to buy Toyota Prado SUVs for each of the 65 members of parliament, a move that has been met with strong opposition from several political parties.
The 2025 budget, which includes funding for the vehicles, was previously approved by the opposition parties. However, they have now turned against the plan, calling for its cancellation. Over 2,000 protesters, mostly university students from the capital, gathered to oppose the plan, carrying a banner urging authorities to "Stop thieves."
The demonstrations have resulted in clashes between police and protesters, damage to government property, and the burning of tires. East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta has stated there would be "no tolerance" of violence during the demonstrations, and has urged for peace and dialogue.
Activist Domingos de Andrade has urged for the decision to purchase the car to be taken by the president of the National Parliament. He argues that the funds could be better spent addressing the country's pressing issues, such as high inequality, malnutrition, and unemployment.
The economy of East Timor is heavily reliant on oil, but the country continues to struggle with these social issues. The opposition parties have announced they will ask parliament to cancel the plan, and protesters have vowed to continue their rallies until the plan is formally scrapped.
The plan to buy SUVs for parliament members remains a contentious issue in East Timor, with both protesters and opposition parties arguing that the funds could be better spent addressing the country's pressing social and economic issues. The government has not yet commented on the possibility of cancelling the plan.
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