Flag of Timor-Leste

Flag origins

Timor-Leste's flag has a red field, overlapping yellow and black hoist triangles and a white star. Article 15 of the Constitution assigns yellow to the traces of colonialism, black to obscurantism and oppression to be overcome, red to the liberation struggle, white to peace, and the star to a guiding light. The design was used at the declaration of independence on 28 November 1975, before Indonesia's invasion that December.

Flag story

Two dates are significant: 28 November marks the 1975 declaration, and 20 May the restoration of independence in 2002. Indonesia invaded on 7 December 1975, nine days after the declaration. Occupation, resistance and UN transitional administration followed. The restored state revived the earlier flag; a 2025 decree also regulates raising and lowering it for both commemorations.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Timor-Leste — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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