For the second day in a row, East Timor’s capital, Dili, became the epicenter of anger and unrest as police clashed with demonstrators on September 16 over a controversial government plan to buy luxury SUVs for lawmakers in one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations. The protests highlight a deepening disconnect between the country’s struggling population and political elites accused of prioritizing personal comfort over public welfare.

Over 2,000 people – predominantly university students – rallied outside the National Parliament, chanting slogans and carrying banners that read “Stop thieves.” Demonstrators lit tires on fire, set a government vehicle ablaze near the parliament compound, and pelted police with rocks. Security forces responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The protests were triggered by a government procurement plan that allocated funds to purchase Toyota Prado SUVs for each of the 65 members of parliament. The move came as a shock to many citizens, considering that East Timor continues to grapple with widespread poverty, food insecurity, and chronic unemployment.

Domingos de Andrade, a 34-year-old activist, summed up the protesters’ demands: “We want the decision to purchase the car to be canceled. This decision needs to be taken by the president of the National Parliament.”

The outcry has placed immense pressure on East Timor’s political establishment. In a rare show of unity, three influential parties – the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), the Democratic Party, and the Enrich the........

© Blitz