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Timor-Leste's government canceled a plan to provide lawmakers with free cars after widespread protests. Thousands demonstrated, burning tires and clashing with police. The protests, initially focused on the cars, broadened to include demands for the abolishment of lifetime pensions for former lawmakers. This unrest reflects a wider trend of youth-led protests against perceived government excess in Asia. While the car plan was scrapped, some protesters remain skeptical, citing concerns about corruption and inequality in a country where the average income is a fraction of a lawmaker's salary.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.