MPs, human rights activists criticise ETimor student arrests

Updated July 10, 2008 16:55:33

Student protests in East Timor continue, with 53 arrested in the past few days. [AFP]

Student demonstrations are continuing in East Timor with at least 53 students now arrested.

The week-long protests are over a government decision to buy cars for each of the tiny nation's 65 members of parliament.

Radio Australia's Stephanie March reports that those arrested are in police custody and face charges of disobedience, which carries a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment.

Police say the protests at the univeristy are illegal because they are too close to the national parliament.

MP Fernanda Borges believes the students have a right to protest.

"I was hoping with the assistance of the UN there would have been more attempt at talking to the students to convince them that this was not appropriate and find other compromise ways to handle the problem as opposed to just picking them up and arresting them," he said.

The Fretilin opposition party is backing a statement from human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, which calls for the group to either be charged immediately or released.

The Fretilin opposition party is backing Amnesty International's call for the group to either be charged immediately, or released.

They face charges of disobedience, which carries a maximum penalty of 6 years imprisonment.