English text of the PKI programme (Fifth National Congress, 1953): Indonesia as semi-colonial and semi-feudal after the Round Table agreements, with demands on land, labour and democracy. Background on PKI aims.
De Locomotief, 10 Mar 1953: International Women's Day in Salatiga was marked by a baby show with 150 babies, explained by the federation chair Mrs Hadisukotjo. Separately, Gerwis held a well-attended meeting where a Jakarta central board delegate talked about her experiences at the world congress in Vienna (the 1952 Co
De Waarheid, 10 Jun 1953, p. 5: air-mail report from Copenhagen on the Third World Congress of Women (WIDF): 1,700 delegates from over 80 countries, opened by Eugenie Cotton, with speeches by Chinese and Soviet delegates and a Dutch delegate. Delegates from Korea, Malaya and Vietnam were refused entry. Indonesian deleg
De Vrije Pers fragment (17 Sep 1953) on trade-union reactions to the Sarbupri plantation workers' strike. It notes that the BTI's second congress, attended by SOBSI, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwis representatives, declared solidarity with the strike and instructed its branches to support strikers.
Special issue of Bintang Merah with documents of the PKI Fifth National Congress (Jakarta, 16–20 March 1954): congress report, greetings from sixteen foreign communist parties, and a 400,000-strong closing rally.
De Waarheid, 14 Apr 1954, p. 5: report on NVB chair Rie Lips and British writer Monica Felton arriving in Jakarta for the second Gerwis congress, warmly welcomed. Lips described Dutch women's protests against the colonial wars and support for conscientious objectors. The opening reception was attended by Jakarta mayor
Tribune (Sydney), 12 May 1954, p. 11: Allison Dickie, Union of Australian Women delegate, reports on the 1954 Indonesian women's congress. She describes Gerwis, the league of women 'more politically awake', whose work helped hundreds of thousands become literate and from which Gerwani developed; the six-day Gerwani Nat
Tribune (Sydney), 12 May 1954, p. 11: Allison Dickie, Union of Australian Women delegate, reports on the 1954 Indonesian women's congress. She describes Gerwis, the league of women 'more politically awake', whose work helped hundreds of thousands become literate and from which Gerwani developed; the six-day Gerwani Nat
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: short note that the recent congress of the Indonesian women's movement unanimously decided to change the name Gerwis to Gerwani, because 'Gerwis' (aware women) implied that only aware women could join, whereas every Indonesian woman should be able to become a member. Key evidence for the
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: Rie Lips's account of her Java trip: plantation workers' wages (about 3 rupiah per day), child labour on tea and rubber estates, and volunteer village schools. Quotes the Gerwani congress appeal that those who can read should teach others; Soviet delegate Alexandra Kolopowa speaks; photo
Townsville Daily Bulletin classified-advertising page, 22 May 1954, p. 7: mostly unrelated ads. A Building Workers' Industrial Union notice invites members and families to a film display and address on Monday 24 May by Mrs Dickie, wife of Rev. Dickie, 'just returned from the Indonesian Women's Congress'. Also a politic
De Locomotief, 29 July 1954: the Salatiga branch of Gerwani, with Central Java provincial delegates and BTI, SOBSI and women's organisation representatives, discusses implementing the latest congress decisions. Sub-branches will be set up in every subdistrict capital. Gerwani fields no candidates in the elections but i
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-11-30, p. 2): two-day congress of Gerwani's Bandung branch ('formerly Gerwis') sends sympathy to Maisoeri, a sixteen-year-old in South Sumatra jailed for refusing a forced marriage to a sixty-year-old, and calls for abolishing forced marriages. It also demands bans on 'modern dances' and
English edition (Jajasan Pembaruan, 1958) of the PKI CC Sixth Plenum documents (Jakarta, 31 Mar–3 Apr 1958), chiefly D.N. Aidit's report 'The New Phase', delivered during suppression of the PRRI/Permesta rebellion. Background on PKI strategy.
Tribune magazine page, 1 Oct 1958, p. 6: Mary Lester (Union of Australian Women, Perth) reports on the Fourth World Congress of Women (WIDF, Vienna, June 1958; 76 countries). Themes: atomic-test ban, status of women, children's education. Indonesia appears only in passing: two women MPs from Indonesia, with Indian and
Tribune magazine page, 1 Oct 1958, p. 6: Mary Lester (Union of Australian Women, Perth) reports on the Fourth World Congress of Women (WIDF, Vienna, June 1958; 76 countries). Themes: atomic-test ban, status of women, children's education. Indonesia appears only in passing: two women MPs from Indonesia, with Indian and
Compiled text of PKI Sixth National Congress documents (Jakarta, 7–14 Sept 1959) from Bintang Merah: Aidit's opening speech, the CC general report 'Untuk Demokrasi dan Kabinet Gotong Royong', and other speeches and reports.