Coat of arms of East Timor

The national emblem of East Timor (officially: Timor-Leste) is one of the national symbols of East Timor.

Current emblem

The emblem was introduced on 18 January 2007 by the Law 02/2007. It is based on a design first used when the country unilaterally declared independence on 28 November 1975.

Design

The center of the coat of arms shows the outline of the highest mountain in East Timor, the Tatamailau (''Foho Ramelau''), on a white background in the national colors "ruby red" on the outside, black on the inside with a thin golden-yellow border. It is shaped like a square pyramid with three corners pointing down and one pointing up. The edges are arched.

In the center of the top corner of the mountain is a five-pointed white star. One of the points of the star, without touching it, points to the top corner of the mountain. Out of the star come five white, pyramidal rays, ending at the top of an open book located in the upper part of the black part of the mountain.

The book has a ruby ​​red cover, the edges are golden yellow. There are four black lines on the right side of the book and five on the left. There is a golden yellow band at the bottom of the pages. The book is in front of a golden yellow cog wheel standing on a golden yellow pedestal. To the right of the gear wheel and book is an ear of rice with two leaves and eleven grains, to the left is a corncob, also with two leaves. Both are golden yellow and turned tip down.

Below the gear and book is a white-rimmed Kalashnikov with butt to the left and barrel to the right. The barrel is slightly higher than the butt, but does not touch the gear. A golden-yellow, Timorese spear (''diman'') lies behind the weapon , the tip of which points to the left.

Below the rifle, in the middle of the black part of the mountain, is a yellow-gold, Timorese bow (''Rama-inan''), the string of which points upwards.

Below the outline of the mountain is a wavy, "light red" framed, white banner on which the new national motto is written in ruby ​​red in Portuguese : "Unidade, Acção, Progresso". This band runs in waves parallel to the edge of the mountain outline.

Mount and banner are surrounded by two thin dark red rings. Between the circles is the official country name in Portuguese República Democrática de Timor-Leste on a white background with ruby ​​red writing in the upper part . The inscription runs on the ring from the level of the lower left corner of Mount Tatamailau to the level of the lower right corner. In the lower part of the ring is the abbreviation of the country name RDTL.

Meaning

The coat of arms symbolizes the globe with the country of East Timor and at the same time stands for national unity. The white background color within the ring, star and rays symbolizes peace. The yellow in the coat of arms signifies wealth, black symbolizes the eclipse that must be conquered, and red represents love of homeland and the struggle for national liberation.

The five points of the star symbolize the light of generosity and honesty leading the people to peace. Its rays represent the light of solidarity and the will to bring peace to the whole world.

The four corners of the outline of Mount Tatamailau represent the principle of the separation of powers (president, parliament, government and judiciary) and the independence of state organs.

The open book, cogwheel, ear of rice and corncob symbolize wisdom and the people's ability to advance in the fields of education, culture, social justice, agriculture and industry.

The rifle, spear and bow represent the values ​​of the people's centuries-long struggle for national liberation and self-defense for the honor and dignity of East Timor's sovereignty.

The motto in Portuguese is "''Unidade, Acção, Progresso''" ("Unity, Action, Progress").

Previous emblems

Portuguese colonisation (1935–1975)

In 1935, the Portuguese colonies were officially assigned coats of arms that followed a standard design pattern. The arms of Portuguese Timor followed the same format of other Portuguese colonies (later overseas provinces) with the territory being represented by the black and white Dominican cross in recognition of the role played by the Dominican Order in converting the East Timorese to Roman Catholicism.

File:Brasão de armas do reino de Portugal (1485).svg, Coat of Arms of Portugal in Portuguese Timor (1520–1975)
File:Provisional Coat of Arms of the Colony of Timor.svg, Coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (1933–1935)
File:Coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (1935-1951).svg, Coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (8 May 1935 – 11 June 1951)
File:Coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (1951-1975).svg, Coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (11 June 1951 – 28 November 1975)
File:Lesser coat of arms of Portuguese Timor.svg, Lesser coat of arms of Portuguese Timor (1935–1975)

Unilateral declaration of independence (1975)

After East Timor unilaterally declared independence on 28 November 1975, the Democratic Republic of East Timor used a national emblem similar to the current emblem that was adopted in 2007.

File:Emblem of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (1975).png, Emblem of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (1975-1976)

Indonesian occupation (1975–1999)

Indonesia invaded East Timor on 7 December 1975, established a puppet government and annexed it the following year as its 27th province of Timor Timur.

The province of Timor Timur had its own emblem which remained in use until Indonesia rescinded its annexation in 1999. The emblem, in the Indonesian heraldic style, consisted of a golden shield containing wreaths of wheat and cotton enclosing a blue roundel containing a stylised traditional Timorese house. This was surmounted by a blue shield depicting a gold star representing the faith in one God. Below the roundel appeared a traditional Timorese headdress (Kaibauk) bearing the inscription "Timor Timur". The Tetum motto "''Houri Otas, Houri Wain, Oan Timor Asswa'in''" translated as "From the ages past, from today, we are Timorese warriors.https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYIqN5bbY8g/VvFIaQUaHRI/AAAAAAAAWS0/x_Cwn2YU91E-FcvY6Gw-8-42FaAlrwcDA/s1600/Lambang+Timor+Timur.JPG

File:Coat of arms of Timor Timur.svg, Emblem of the claimed Timor Timur Province during Indonesian occupation (1976–1999)

United Nations Administred East Timor (1999–2002)

United Nations Administered East Timor used the emblem of the United Nations with the legend ''UNTAET'' below for official Purposes. The initial transitional administration formed in July 2000 used a logo depicting a map of Timor Island with East Timor highlighted with the words ''East Timor'' superimposed above and the legend ''East Timor Transitional Administration'' below. Following elections held August 2001, the newly established transitional government used a seal depicting an outline of the island of Timor, a crocodile, traditional head-dress and tais patterns. The seal included the words ''Timor Lorosa’e'' and ''Governu'' in Tetum or ''Timor Leste'' and ''Governo'' in Portuguese.

File:UNTAET logo.png, Emblem of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) (1999-2002)
File:East Timor first transitional government logo.png, First emblem of United Nations Administered East Timor (2000-2001)
File:Coat of arms of East Timor (UNTAET).svg, Second emblem of United Nations Administered East Timor (2001-2002)

First post-independence emblem (2002–2007)

The first emblem of post-independence East Timor contained the shield of the ''Conselho Nacional de Resistência Timorense'' (National Council of Timorese Resistance). The main elements were two crossed '' Suriks'' (traditional Timorese swords), together with a spear, a star, and two arrows. The country's title, in Portuguese, is on a blue ring around the shield and a sun with 14 rays. The motto in the banner translated as: "Honour, Homeland, and People".

File:Coat of arms of East Timor (2002–2007).svg, First emblem of independent East Timor (2002–2007)

Subnational emblems

Some of the Municipalities of East Timor have adopted their own emblems.

File:Emblem of Aileu.png, Aileu
File:Coat of Arms of Baucau.jpg, Baucau
File:Emblem of Cova Lima.jpg, Cova Lima (former)
File:Cova Lima.jpg, Cova Lima (current)
File:Emblem of Oecusse.png, Oecusse
File:Administração Município Viqueque.jpg, Viqueque

See also

* Flag of East Timor

Sources

Law 02/2007, National symbols of Timor-Leste

References

{{Coats of arms of Asia

National symbols of East Timor
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