70 million workers and 80 million women protest against colonial war
De Waarheid report (6 Jan 1949) on international protests against the Dutch "Christmas" military action in Indonesia: the WFTU statement, and the WIDF telegram and letter to the Security Council on behalf of 80 million women including its Indonesian and Dutch affiliates. Also covers Security Council scheduling and Mini
Delegates to World Peace Congress
Nieuwe Courant, 3 November 1950: conference of the Committee for World Peace in Yogyakarta, attended by branches and representatives of Kowani, Gerwis, Front Pemuda Indonesia, BTI, Sobsi, Pesindo and others. It endorsed the Prague appeal, proposals for the London congress (five-power peace, Dutch army withdrawal, no fo
'World Peace' (peace conference in Yogyakarta)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (4 Nov 1950, p.2): a World Peace Committee conference in Yogyakarta approved the Prague appeal, proposed demands for the Nederlandse army's withdrawal from Indonesia and an end to foreign interference (Irian, Moluccas) for a London congress, and reported 180,000 signatures. Delegates include
Shen Zijiu and others to represent WIDF at Indonesian women's congress (Renmin Ribao, 20 November 1950)
Short Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 20 Nov 1950 (p. 4): Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke and Qi Yun of the All-China Democratic Women's Federation, with secretary Zhou Shumin, leave Beijing on 17 Nov as WIDF representatives to attend the All-Indonesian Women's Congress to open in Jakarta on 24 Nov. Early evidence of WIDF links to In
Shen Zijiu and others to represent WIDF at Indonesian women's congress (Renmin Ribao, 20 November 1950)
Short Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 20 Nov 1950 (p. 4): Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke and Qi Yun of the All-China Democratic Women's Federation, with secretary Zhou Shumin, leave Beijing on 17 Nov as WIDF representatives to attend the All-Indonesian Women's Congress to open in Jakarta on 24 Nov. Early evidence of WIDF links to In
Fifth Women's Congress opened in Jakarta (KOWANI)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (28 Nov 1950, p.2): the KOWANI 5th women's congress opens in Jakarta with about 200 delegates; Mrs Pudjobuntoro says the struggle continues until Irian returns. Preliminary papers: Miss Soesilowati on elections and women in parliament, Mr Nani Suwondo on marriage, Miss Suwarti on labour and
Indonesia refuses visas, Chinese women's delegation returns to Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 6 January 1951)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jan 1951 (p. 4): the Chinese women's delegation (Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke, Qi Yun) sent for the WIDF to the All-Indonesian Women's Congress could not attend because the Indonesian government refused entry visas despite repeated negotiations with the Indonesian consul in Hong Kong. They reported to WIDF and r
Indonesia refuses visas, Chinese women's delegation returns to Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 6 January 1951)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jan 1951 (p. 4): the Chinese women's delegation (Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke, Qi Yun) sent for the WIDF to the All-Indonesian Women's Congress could not attend because the Indonesian government refused entry visas despite repeated negotiations with the Indonesian consul in Hong Kong. They reported to WIDF and r
Merdeka, 10 March 1951: 'Gelanggang Wanita' women's column
Merdeka, 10 Mar 1951, p. 3: women's column reporting that Jakarta's International Women's Day on 8 March 1951 was not commemorated by Indonesian groups for lack of Kowani consensus, while 1,500 Chinese women met with Ny. Aidit of Gerwis present.
Abadi, 16 May 1951, p. 2: First International Children's Day
Abadi, 16 May 1951, p. 2: Antara report that International Children's Day (1 June), proposed by WIDF, would be celebrated in Indonesia for the first time by a Jakarta committee with Gerwis and SOBSI as secretariat.
Indonesia celebrates International Children's Day: 25,000 came instead of 4,000
De Waarheid, 19 Jul 1951, p. 5: correspondent's report on Indonesia's first International Children's Day, held in Jakarta on 1 June 1951 with some 25,000 children instead of the expected 4,000. Initiated by the young women's organisation Gerwis, supported by Chinese groups, Pemuda Rakjat, SOBSI and the Peasants' Union
Neues Deutschland, 5 Mar 1952, p. 5: Mass meetings in Indonesia
Neues Deutschland, 5 March 1952, p. 5: ADN dispatch from Jakarta, 'Massenversammlungen in Indonesien', within a roundup on International Women's Day. Preparatory committees plan mass meetings on 8 March and a signature drive for a five-power peace pact, and petitions demanding an end to restrictions on democratic right
Abadi, 10 March 1952, p. 3: International Women's Day in Jakarta
Abadi, 10 Mar 1952, p. 3: Antara report on Jakarta's International Women's Day celebration by nine women's organisations with Gerwis as general secretariat (about 1,000 attended, incl. MPs Mudigdo and Susilowati); Perwari asks for a woman minister.
Gerwis sends Suwarti and Darmini to child-defence conference in Vienna (Harian Rakjat, 8 April 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 8 Apr 1952, p.3-4: Gerwis, led by Umi Sardjono (PB Gerwis), hosts a reception in Jakarta for organisations and officials, including Health Ministry's Dr Syulianti, to prepare a national committee for child defence; Trimurti speaks on child labour and schooling. Gerwis delegates Suwarti and Darmini (alrea
Dissolution meeting of the 8 March Committee at Gerwis building, Mrs Sutanti Aidit (Harian Rakjat, 19 April 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 19 April 1952. On p. 5 a short report says the 8 March (International Women's Day) Committee held its dissolution meeting at the Gerwis building, Gang Lontar, Jakarta, chaired by Ny. Sutanti Aidit of Gerwis; delegates of Gerwis, Pemuda Puteri Indonesia, Perwari, PWKI and other women's bodies adopted a re
Suwarti, MP and chair of Gerwis, on the peace committee (Harian Rakjat, 3 May 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 3 May 1952. On p. 3 Suwarti, MP and general chair (ketua umum) of Gerwis, is listed among the Indonesians invited to join the preparatory committee for the Asia-Pacific Peace Conference, alongside Siauw Giok Chan, Ir. Setiadi and others. Pp. 2-3 also report May Day 1952 rallies where Gerwis marched with
False accusations: Gerwis answered by Mrs Roosevelt
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1952-05-19, p. 2): Eleanor Roosevelt replied to a letter Gerwis gave her in Jakarta in April, rejecting its claim that UN forces used bacteriological weapons in Korea, denying that the UN suppresses peoples' freedom, and disputing its account of Palestinian Arab displacement. Shows Gerwis's Co
Gerwis International Children's Day: no central committee
Java-Bode, 26 May 1952, p. 2: Gerwis announces it will celebrate International Children's Day on 1 June with other organisations but form no central committee this year, leaving it to branches; the Jakarta children's week was an experiment approved at the Kongres Wanita Indonesia conference.
Harian Rakjat, 30 June 1952: Suwarti returns from the Vienna conference
Harian Rakjat, Jakarta, 30 June 1952 (full issue; p. 1 relevant). Reports that Suwarti, MP, sent by Gerwis in April to the Vienna conference on children's rights, returned to Jakarta; she describes contacts with WIDF, contrasts socialist and capitalist countries, announces the Peking peace conference, and complains tha
Suwarti's lecture on the Vienna and Peking conferences (Harian Rakjat, 26 July 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 26 Jul 1952, p. 4: report of a lecture in Jakarta by Suwarti, chair of Gerwis (PB Gerwis) and MP, on the Vienna Congress for the Defence of Children (April 1952) and the Peking Asia-Pacific peace preparatory conference (May 1952), both attended by her. Darmini also attended Vienna; student Amran attended
Francisca Fanggidaej leaves for Copenhagen (Harian Rakjat, 28 July 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 28 Jul 1952, p. 4: brief news note that Francisca Fanggidaej was to leave for Copenhagen at the invitation of the preparatory committee of an international youth conference, as part of an Indonesian national youth delegation. Pemuda Rakyat approved her departure; the planned 19th departure was cancelled
Letter from Trees Sunito to the Dutch Women's Movement
De Waarheid, 24 Feb 1953, p. 3: letter from Trees Sunito-Heyligers to the NVB executive, sent by KLM post between Dhahran and Karachi on her way to Indonesia after the family's expulsion. She thanks the NVB for the send-off, says she felt bound to the Netherlands of the peace movement and the February strike, and expec
Death of J.V. Stalin: condolence from Indonesian women (Gerwis)
De Waarheid, 17 Mar 1953, p. 3: one-sentence Jakarta dispatch (9 March) that the Indonesian women's federation Gerwis sent a condolence telegram to the Anti-Fascist Committee of Soviet Women on Stalin's death. Evidence of Gerwis's ties to the Soviet women's committee.
Indonesian committee for the International Women's Congress
De Waarheid, 17 Mar 1953, p. 3: Jakarta dispatch (9 March) that a committee was formed in Indonesia to send a delegation to the International Women's Congress in Copenhagen (WIDF, 1953), chaired by Rasuna Said, with Artinah Samsudin vice-chair, Umi Sardjono secretary, Maruto Nitimihardjo and Hanafi treasurers. Document
Indonesian committee for the International Women's Congress (full page, 17 Mar 1953)
Full De Waarheid page, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 3), mostly unrelated news (Japan, other items). Indonesia-related snippets: a strike at Jakarta's Anker brewery, the closure of the US information bulletin, Gerwis's condolence telegram on Stalin, and the committee, with Umi Sardjono as secretary, to send an Indonesian delegation
World mourns Stalin, including Gerwis telegram (Renmin Ribao, 17 March 1953)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 4), roundup of world mourning for Stalin: Togliatti's article and Brazilian, French and British tributes. In the Indonesia section the PKI issued a proclamation and held a memorial meeting (Sudisman eulogising), Harian Rakjat and other papers eulogised him, and Gerwis sent a telegram of gr
World mourns Stalin, including Gerwis telegram (Renmin Ribao, 17 March 1953)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 4), roundup of world mourning for Stalin: Togliatti's article and Brazilian, French and British tributes. In the Indonesia section the PKI issued a proclamation and held a memorial meeting (Sudisman eulogising), Harian Rakjat and other papers eulogised him, and Gerwis sent a telegram of gr
Women's congress in Jakarta initiated by Gerwis
De Nieuwsgier, 31 Mar 1953: on Gerwis's initiative a conference of women's organisation representatives from across Indonesia will meet in Jakarta on 2-3 April to collect data on Indonesian women's social, economic and political struggle, discuss the WIDF world women's congress in Denmark in June and consider sending a
Conference of the Indonesian women's movement
Short item, Java-Bode, 1 Apr 1953, p. 2: Gerwis takes the initiative to hold a conference of women's organisations in Jakarta on 2-3 April, ahead of the world women's congress in Denmark, to discuss sending a delegation; press conference on 4 April.
Indonesia takes part in the International Women's Congress
De Nieuwsgier, 7 Apr 1953: the conference of women's organisations held on Gerwis's initiative on 2-3 April in Jakarta decides, among other things, to send an Indonesian delegation to the WIDF-organised world women's congress in Denmark on 6 June (the Copenhagen congress).