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Tocantins (Brazil)

Last modified: 2010-07-10 by ian macdonald
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[Flag of Tocantins (Brazil)]7:10 by André Pires Godinho
Adopted 17 November 1989

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About the Flag of Tocantins

The following are the substantive parts of the state flag law, law no 094/89 of 17 November 1989, and the state's official interpretation as transcribed on www.brasilrepublica.hpg.ig.com.br:

Art. 2 - The flag of the State of Tocantins will have the following geometric description: A rectangle with the proportions of 20 units of length [fly] by 14 of width [hoist]. In the upper left and lower right corners, two right triangles with legs of 13 (thirteen) and 9.1 (nine and one-tenth) units, in the colors blue and yellow respectively. [To clarify, the triangles are 13 units on the fly and 9.1 units on the hoist.] The white bend [sinister; Portuguese original says "barra"] resulting from this division is charged with a stylized yellow sun with 8 large points and 16 smaller points, four and 2.3 units of radius [respectively].
The following "Justificatory Memorial" that apparently supported the original adoption of the flag (including the etymology of the word bandeira and noble sentiments about flags generally, which I omit) is quoted on the brasilrepublica page:
The proposed flag represented here carries the message of a land "where the sun rises for all." The sun, of golden yellow, sending forth its rays upon the future of our state, is placed on a white bend, symbol of peace, between the fields of blue and yellow, colors that express respectively the waters and the rich soil of Tocantins.
Joseph McMillan, 9 July 2002

Construction Sheet for the Tocantins State Flag

[Tocantins (Brazil) Construction Sheet]by André Pires Godinho

History of the State of Tocantins

In the nineteenth century, Joaquím Teotônio Segurado, head of the oligarchs, exercised autocratic control over the colonial society, installing in 1821 an autonomous government in São João das Palmas (called the Autonomous Government of Palmas). This could not be sustained, but the autonomist desire was not turned off, and finally the recent eighth Brazilian constitution established the State of Tocantins, responding to the petitions of a local movement headed by José Wilson Siqueira Campos, a political veteran. The flag is based on the colors used in the 19th century.
Jaume Ollé, 2 July 1996