Flag of East Timor
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| Use | National flag and ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 28 November 1975 (de facto) 19 May 2002 (de jure) |
| Design | A red field with the black isosceles triangle based on the hoist-side bearing a white five-pointed star in the center superimposed on the larger yellow triangle, also based on the hoist-side, that extends to the center of the flag. |
The national flag of East Timor (Portuguese: Bandeira de Timor-Leste) was adopted in 2002. It is the same as the flag originally adopted when the country declared its independence from Portugal in 1975, nine days before being invaded by Indonesia. At midnight on 19 May 2002, and during the first moments of Independence Day the next day, 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.
According to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, Part I, Section 15:
The national flag of Portugal (the current version, adopted in 1911, is pictured) was used by East Timor as Portuguese Timor (1702–1975)
A 1965 proposal for a flag of Portuguese Timor (never adopted)
Flag of East Timor as the province of Timor Timur, during Indonesian occupation (1976–1999)
The Flag of the United Nations, used by East Timor under UN administration (1999–2002)
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