Flag of East Timor
Encyclopedia
The flag of East Timor
(Português
: Bandeira de Timor-Leste) (also known as Timor-Leste) was adopted in 2002. It is the same as the 1975 flag.
At midnight on May 19, and during the first moments of Independence Day
, 20 May 2002, the United Nations Flag
was lowered and the flag of an independent East Timor was raised.
As per the Constitution
of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, the yellow (PMS 123) triangle represents "the traces of colonialism
in East Timor's history". The black triangle represents "the obscurantism that needs to be overcome"; the red (PMS 485) base of the flag represents "the struggle for national liberation
"; the star, or "the light that guides", is white to represent peace
.
. This flag was originally the flag of CNRT (National Council of East Timorese Resistance) Conselho Nacional de Resistência Timorense. Because of CNRT's popularity, there was a consensus of the participants of the Convention to adopt their flag as a temporary flag for East Timor. It was replaced by the former design of 1975 in 2002.
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
(Português
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
: Bandeira de Timor-Leste) (also known as Timor-Leste) was adopted in 2002. It is the same as the 1975 flag.
At midnight on May 19, and during the first moments of Independence Day
Independence Day
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's assumption of independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another nation or state, and more rarely after the end of a military occupation...
, 20 May 2002, the United Nations Flag
Flag of the United Nations
The flag of the United Nations was adopted on October 20, 1947, and consists of the official emblem of the United Nations in white on a blue background. The emblem's design is described as:...
was lowered and the flag of an independent East Timor was raised.
As per the Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, the yellow (PMS 123) triangle represents "the traces of colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
in East Timor's history". The black triangle represents "the obscurantism that needs to be overcome"; the red (PMS 485) base of the flag represents "the struggle for national liberation
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
"; the star, or "the light that guides", is white to represent peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
.
Official description of the flag
According to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Part I, Section 15:- "The national flagNational flagA national flag is a flag that symbolizes a country. The flag is flown by the government, but usually can also be flown by citizens of the country.Both public and private buildings such as schools and courthouses may fly the national flag...
is rectangular and is formed by two isosceles triangles, the bases of which are overlapping. One triangle is black and its height is equal to one-third of the length overlapped to the yellow triangle, whose height is equal to half the length of the Flag. In the center of the black triangle there is a white star of five ends, meaning the light that guides. The white star has one of its ends turned towards the left side end of the flag. The remaining part of the flag is red."
Other flags
A different flag had been suggested by the representatives of the Timorese political parties and organizations during the first East Timorese National Convention held in April 1998 in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. This flag was originally the flag of CNRT (National Council of East Timorese Resistance) Conselho Nacional de Resistência Timorense. Because of CNRT's popularity, there was a consensus of the participants of the Convention to adopt their flag as a temporary flag for East Timor. It was replaced by the former design of 1975 in 2002.