CIVICUS discusses recent protests in Timor-Leste with Domingos de Andrade, known as Ameu, Case Coordinator of the civil society organisation Rede ba Rai (‘Network for Land’) and Nelson Roldão, an activist involved in several campaigns, including in support of the right to self-determination in West Papua. Both are members of Timor-Leste University Students (EUTL) and were arrested by police during the protests.

Student-led protests erupted in Timor-Leste in September over parliament’s plan to purchase luxury vehicles for lawmakers on top of longstanding privileges for political elites. Police responded with violence and arrests, but protesters succeeded in forcing the government to scrap the unpopular policies, including lifetime pensions that had been in place for nearly two decades. The Timor-Leste protests have come as part of wave of Generation Z-led mobilisations in several Asian countries and around the world.

What sparked the protests?

Parliament’s decision to purchase 65 luxury cars for members of parliament worth US$4.2 million triggered the protests. Combined with longstanding benefits such as lifetime pensions, established by law in 2006, and various privileges granted to the president, governors and court officials, this created growing anger.

Many believe lawmakers are stealing public funds through laws they orchestrated themselves. This is happening in a context where most people experience poverty. Malnutrition is growing and lack of job opportunities are forcing many young people to leave Timor-Leste.

The contrast between elite privilege and public hardship brought together a broad coalition. Although student organisations, particularly EUTL and the Progressive Student Movement, led the protests, participation was broad, with civil society groups such as Humanist Force and the Social Resistance Movement also mobilising. Alongside students, churchgoers, farmers, public transport drivers, traders, unemployed young people, urban poor people and youth organisations striving for national liberation all joined in.

What did protesters demand?

Protesters gathered outside parliament to call for the repeal of the lifetime pension law and an end to state-funded privileges. They also called for changes to the law on assemblies, which bans protests within 100 metres of public buildings. In the capital, Dili, this rule effectively prevents protests due to the concentration of government buildings in the city centre. Protesters also demanded that the government and parliament allocate more funds to agriculture, education, health and infrastructure.

How did authorities respond?

On the first day of protests, 15 September, police allowed us to hold protests in front of the National University of Timor-Leste, located opposite parliament. While students were in dialogue with lawmakers, police turned violent and fired teargas to disperse the crowd.

We believe intelligence officers acted as provocateurs, throwing stones from the back. Police then brutally fired at and physically assaulted the protesters. Many suffered head and leg injuries and broken bones. Some protesters fainted due to the effects of teargas.

On the second day, police tried to block and disperse the protest in front of parliament, increasing tensions. A government car was set on fire and unidentified people threw stones at the police. Police then arrested 12 protesters and detained them for hours, supposedly for criminal identification, before releasing them.

What did have protests achieve?

The government bowed to public pressure and scrapped the plan to give lawmakers free cars. More importantly, after 17 years of mobilisation the government finally reversed the lifetime pension allowances for lawmakers, former presidents, prime ministers and cabinet ministers. Parliament agreed to abolish the pensions following negotiations with students.

Now we need support from the international community and international advocacy groups to monitor government actions, particularly regarding human rights violations. We also need solidarity when we mobilise to protect those who are arrested and to hold police accountable for violence.