Indonesian occupation flags in East Timor

Timor Timur

Last modified: 2023-12-27 by zachary harden
Keywords: timor timur | occupation | saret | unamet |
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• Indonesian provincial flag (1975-1999)
• No specific integrationist flag
• Flags in the (rejected) SARET
• Integrationist flag-like pattern

• East Timor
• East-timorese historical flags
• Provinces and cities of Indonesia

Indonesian provincial flag (1975-1999)

I had located several months ago the provincial flag of East Timor when it was part of Indonesia as its 27th province named Timor Timur I added it to my site flag of Indonesian province of Timor Timur to 1999. (I thought that I had bookmarked the website I accidentally found it one while looking for another flag, but I cannot locate it again now. I think the site was in Russian… I am sorry for not having the source, but I did not want to hold this up any more and forget about it all together.) I did see the 1975-1999 Coat of arms of East Timor under Indonesia [in this flag on orange].
Ben Cahoon, 02 May 2008

No specific integrationist flag

As mentioned at the time, and as would have been expected, the integrationists, militias and other pro-Indonesian people used exclusively the undefaced Indonesian flag.
Jorge Candeias, 04 Jan 2000

In issue 3 of Flaggenmitteilung (first issue 1976, undated) is quoted a «Provisional Government of East Timor» led by Arnaldo do Araujo, after the fall of the Fretilin government, used, of course, flag red over white according photo in National Zeitung, Basel, issue 15, dated 15 January 1976. I assume that this incorrectly named government led by Apodeti (integrationist party), which used surely same [some?] flag.
Jaume Ollé, 28 August 1999 and 11 January 2009

The provisional government of East Timor under president Arnaldo dos Reis Araújo was a puppet regime under the Indonesian occupation (17th December 1975 – 17th July 1976) beside, the FRETILIN government. Arnaldo dos Reis Araújo, member of APODETI, became later the first Indonesian governeur in Timor Timur.
J. Patrick Fischer, 11 January 2009

Flags in the (rejected) SARET

According to Article 20 of the Constitutional Framework for a Special Autonomy for East Timor (i.e. the Indonesian proposal to form a “Special Autonomous Region of East Timor”, SARET), the region «may adopt its own coat of arms», while the «Indonesian national flag »…« shall be flown».
Jan Zrzavy, 14 Aug 1999

Chapter III
Symbols of Identity

Article 20

The SARET may adopt its own coat of arms. The Indonesian national flag and Indonesian national anthem "Indonesia Raya" shall be flown and performed at such places and occasions as required by the existing laws and practices.

Article 21

The SARET may participate under its own name, with the concurrence of the Central Government, in international cultural and sports events in which other non-state entities participate.

Integrationist flag-like pattern

I saw also a flag-like device in a cap consisting of a representation of the Indonesian flag with a seal-like device (if I recall correctly this device was, at least sometimes, the same symbol used in the ballots themselves for the autonomy) centered on the white field, but I never saw any flag that corresponds with this cap.
Jorge Candeias, 04 Jan 2000