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Topic:Civil Unrest
Protesters hit the streets of Dili for a second straight day on Tuesday. (AFP: Valentino Dariell de Sousa)
Protesters have taken to Timor-Leste's capital for a second-straight day angry over plans to buy MPs 65 new cars.
Police clashed with protesters, who lit a car on fire and threw projectiles outside the nation's parliament.
Protesters have vowed to continue rallying until the plan is scrapped.
Protesters in Timor-Leste have vowed to continue rallying until a plan to buy new cars for MPs is overturned, as demonstrators clashed with police on the streets of the nation's capital.
Timor-Leste's prime minister called on protesters to resist violence after demonstrators in Dili burned tyres, a government vehicle near the parliament building and hurled rocks toward police officers, who responded with tear gas.
About 2,000 protesters, roughly double the number who took to the streets on Monday, gathered near the National Parliament to oppose a plan to procure Toyota Prado SUVs for each of the 65 members of parliament.
Protesters set a government car on fire on Tuesday. (AFP: Valentino Dariell de Sousa)
It followed a similar protest on Monday, which prompted several political parties to announce they would ask parliament to cancel the plan.
Those same parties had previously approved the 2025 budget that included the funding for the vehicles.
Protesters have vowed to continue their rallies until the plan is formally scrapped.
"We want the decision to purchase the car to be cancelled. This decision needs to be taken by the president of the national parliament," activist Domingos de Andrade, 34, told reporters Tuesday.
Protesters carried a banner urging authorities to "Stop thieves".
Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta told reporters on Tuesday that there would be "no tolerance" of violence during the demonstrations.
In a joint statement on Monday, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, the Democratic Party and the Enrich the National Unity of the Sons of Timor said the vehicles for lawmakers "did not reflect public interests" and pledged they would ask parliament to walk back on the plan.
Timor-Leste, South-East Asia's youngest country, gained independence from Indonesia in 2002.
The former Portuguese colony grapples with high inequality, malnutrition and unemployment, with an economy heavily reliant on oil.
Deadly riots erupted in neighbouring Indonesia last month after a video of a police vehicle running over a motorcyclist ignited public anger over lawmakers' lavish perks, low wages and unemployment.
AFP/ABC
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Civil Unrest
Timor-Leste
Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War
Topic:Arts, Culture and Entertainment
Topic:Mining and Metals Industry
Topic:Courts
Topic:Civil Unrest
Topic:Courts
Topic:Civil Unrest
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