Miranda Branco, the Deputy Chairman of Fretilin, said that over 42 per cent of Timorese children are living in homes with incomes below the poverty line, depriving many of proper nutrition, and putting them at risk of long-term health problems and proper development.

Over two-thirds of Timorese families experience at least one month of chronic food insecurity, the majority from rural areas.

"This is a warning to Timor-Leste,” Branco said in National Parliament on Thursday.

As the ruling coalition government unveils its celebration plans for the 20th anniversary of when Timorese people were consulted about their desire for independence in a popular referendum on 30 August, Branco warned of the “many” Timorese living in poverty whose situation must be reflected on, and changed. 

“This is a problem for our country,” he said.

Some 46 per cent of children under five experience chronic malnutrition in Timor-Leste.

Fretilin calls for sweeping action by the government. He said that a combination of supporting growth of domestic tourism, agriculture and manufacturing sectors and improving the quality of education would help increase household incomes and create sustainable employment options. Over 70 per cent of first grade students cannot read or write, according to a recent World Bank report.

"The increase in unemployment levels is high in Timor-Leste. There are now many young people who attend high school and get a tertiary education who are not working,” Branco said. “Only 27-30% of tertiary graduates are employed and 40% of them are working as farmers.”

Branco said the government has put “very little” funding into building local employment opportunities, compared to its spending on development of the oil and gas industry and investment in mega infrastructure projects, costing over US$14 billion.

He said that in the past decade the government had accumulated over US$400 million in bank loans from the Asian Development Bank and other banks.

Branco questioned what “significant change” this investment had delivered for the people of Timor-Leste.

"There is no balance because all goods are imported from abroad while Timor-Leste has not produced goods,” he said. “This is a problem.”

Branco said Fretilin was proud to celebrate popular consultation day but warned that after twenty years of independence the nation’s development must be enjoyed by all people.