The emblem, also known as Belak (Tetum for "Disk"), was introduced on 18 January 2007 by Law 2/2007, replacing the coat of arms based on the shield of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), which had been used since independence in 2002.
The emblem, also known as Belak (Tetum for "Disk"), was introduced on January 18, 2007, by Law 2/2007, replacing the coat of arms that had been in use since independence in 2002. This replaced the CNRT's shield-based coat of arms.