^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

The new flag debate (East Timor, 1999-2001)

(Note: Most of the contents of this page was contributed in the 1998-2001 period. They portrait discussions and uncertainty about the then future flag of East Timor and we opt to change them only minimally. See here material about current east-timorese flags. — Ed.)

How things turned out
The pre-independence situation
Which flag for independent East Timor?

See also:

East Timor

How things turned out

As at midnight on 19 May 2002 East Timor (Timor-Leste) becomes independent.
Andrew Leith, 04 May 2002

Following the (overwhelming) victory of FRETILIN in the parliamentary elections, the constitutional assembly restored all the symbols from the 1975 independence, including the flag.
Jorge Candeias, 20 May 2002

The pre-independence situation

Currently [1998-2001], as the territory is under a UN mandate, East Timor has no flag of it’s own.
Jorge Candeias, 17 Jan 2000

Currently East Timor [1998-2001] has no status (legally I guess it might have reverted to the status of before the invasion) and is waiting for the UN to set up the successor of the INTERFET, since this is merely a military mission and it’s successor (known here as the phase III of the agreement between Portugal and Indonesia) will have also administrative powers, which INTERFET does not have.
Jorge Candeias, 20 Oct 1999

A flag for independent East Timor?

Constitutional Commisioners will on Thursday present (UN governor) Sérgio Vieira de Mello with reports from each of East Timor's districts on the issues that people would like to be considered by the future Constituent Assembly when drafting a Constitution. (…) Among the prevalent issues discussed at the hearings were the political system, currency, and flag East Timor should adopt; (…) and the official language.
Jan Zrzavy quoting from UNTAET briefing of 2001.08.14, 16 Aug 2001

I’m still curious about which flag receives the status of national flag in the end: the red-yellow-black arrowhead or the blue-white-green of the FALINTIL/CNRT. Both have a big support within the people and both have an honourable tradition of resistance. I’d bet on the blue-white-green, but I wouldn’t bet much.
Jorge Candeias, 22 Oct 1999

The "new" flag of East-Timor (blue-white-green) is not having any popular acceptance. Instead all the flags seen in demonstrations (both in the territory and in Portugal) are red with the black and yellow triangles and the white star.
Jorge Candeias, 08 May 1999

The UNAMET (U.N. mission in East Timor) decided to illustrate the two options in the coming referendum on the future of the territory (or popular consultation, as they call it) with flags. The "yes" to the autonomy will be illustrated with the indonesian flag, while the "no" to the autonomy (which implies independence) is to be illustrated by the flag of the C.N.R.T.. This