Page 217 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Asia

East Timor

Ratio: 2:3 Adopted: May 20, 2002 Usage: National and Civil

Black represents the Red stands for the
oppression of the past struggle for national
liberation
The white star
symbolizes hope

Yellow represents the
wealth of the country

East Timor voted for independence from
Indonesia in 1999. A UN administration was in place
until official independence on May 20, 2002.

At midnight on May 19, 2002, the SYMBOLISM OF THE FLAG
UN flag was removed from outside The black triangle represents the
the government offices in Dili, the darkness of four centuries of colonial
capital. The new country, now oppression under the Portuguese.
officially recognized as a national The golden-yellow arrowhead recalls
state, has its own parliament, its own the long struggle for independence,
president, and its own flag. as well as the hope of the country’s
future prosperity. The red field
NEW STATE, OLD FLAG reflects the blood shed by the
The flag illustrated above is actually Timorese people on their journey
the flag designed by the Fretilin toward autonomy—a symbol which
party for the “Democratic Republic has taken on greater poignancy since
of Timor” in 1975, following the the referendum for independence and
transition from Portuguese colony to the massacre of thousands of East
independence. However, the infant Timorese by pro-Indonesian militias
nation’s subsequent invasion and in 1999. The white of the star
occupation by Indonesia led to the symbolizes peace, while the star itself
adoption of that country’s flag for the represents the guiding light which
last quarter of the twentieth century. gives hope for the future.

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