National Symbols
Flag
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 centre 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 upper right end of the flag. The remaining part of the flag is red.
- Yellow - the traces of colonialism in Timor-Leste's history;
- Black - the obscurationism that needs to be overcome;
- Red - the struggle for national liberation;
- White - peace.
in "Constituição da República Democrática de Timor-Leste", Parte 1, Artigo 15º
National Anthem
“Pátria” is the national anthem of the República Democrática de Timor-Leste. Composed in 1975 by Afonso de Araújo with words by Francisco Borja da Costa, “Pátria” was adopted with the Restoration of Independence in 2002, as the national anthem.
Fatherland, fatherland, East Timor our Nation
Glory to the people and to the heroes of our liberation
Fatherland, fatherland, East Timor our Nation
Glory to the people and to the heroes of our liberation
We vanquish colonialism, we cry:
down with imperialism!
Free land, free people, no, no no to exploitation.
Let us go forward, united, firm and determined
In the struggle against imperialism,
the enemy of people, until final victory,
onward to revolution.
National Emblem
The National Emblem is called Belak and symbolizes the land globe where the territory of Timor-Leste is included. It represents national unity;
Symbolic Elements
The white color of the centre of the circumference, the star and the rays symbolize peace. The white rays of the star represent the light of solidarity and the determination to bring peace all over the world. The five ends of the white star symbolize the light of generosity and honesty that guide the People towards Peace; | |
The Mount Ramelau insignia is reproduced on the white field at the centre of the inner circumference, painted in ruby in its periphery, and in black in its central part. This latter part is contoured by a golden yellow line. The yellow line, the strips and the borders of the book, the batar fulin (corn cob) and the háre fulin (ear of rice), the toothed wheel, the rama-inan (arch) and the diman (spear) symbolize the Wealth. The black color in the central part of Mount Ramelau, the automatic rifle and the letters of the book, symbolize the obscurantism to be overcome. The red contour of the Mount Ramelau, the letters, the rims, the contours of the strips and the book, symbolize the love for the motherland and the struggle for national liberation; | |
The set of four angles referred to in the Mount Ramelau insignia symbolizes the principle of the separation of powers and the interdependence of the organs of sovereignty of the State; | |
The set composed of the open book, the toothed wheel, the batar fulin and the háre fulin is regarded as a symbol for wisdom and people's capacity of developing education, culture, social justice, agriculture and industry; | |
The set consisting of the automatic rifle (AK-47/Galaxi model), the rama inan (arch) and the diman (spear), symbolizes the values of centuries of resistance struggle for national liberation and the people’s self-defense for the honor and dignity of the sovereignty of the State; | |
The motto UNIDADE, ACÇÃO, PROGRESSO, (UNITY, ACTION, PROGRESS) represents the basic values of politics and moral underpinning the nation’s and people’s life. |