The protest, which moved from the Government Palace to the Indonesian Embassy in Farol on Thursday afternoon, was part of an international West Papua solidarity movement that included similar action across Indonesia and West Papua on the same day.

The protestors are calling for independence from Indonesia for the people of West Papua.

Police made arrests for failing to have permission to hold the protest, obstructing traffic and breaches of the peace. Those arrested were from the Progressive Student Movement (KEP) and included 39 men and seven women.

A spokesperson for KEP,  Adriano da Costa, said they made the demonstration to show that Timorese youth were in solidarity with the people of West Papua.

Costa said it was important West Papua knew that Timor-Leste stood with them in their fight for independence, as the people of Papua had done for Timor-Leste’s own fight to be a sovereign nation.

Police told the Independente that people have a “right to express themselves” but they must get permission from the police to hold demonstrations in public. 

"As long as they meet all these requirements, PNTL is ready to carry out security, but because KEP did not fulfil this requirement the PNTL is boycotting their activities,” Armando Monteiro, the Commander of National Police in Dili, said.

Monteiro confirmed that protest organisers had met with PNTL and submitted a letter of request to conduct the protest, but that their demand had been rejected for “legal” reasons.

He said submissions to hold public protests must be made at least five days before the proposed day of action.