Aneta item in De Vrije Pers (14 Jan 1950) listing candidates for the Republican seats in the RIS parliament. Among Masjumi, PNI, PKI and others, "Mrs Moedigdo" (Mudigdio) is put forward for the Partai Sosialis; many other names (Natsir, Sartono, Iwa Kusumasumantri, Yamin). Gerwis/Gerwani is not mentioned.
CIA report, 23 February 1953, on a PKI Surabaya sub-section committees' meeting (Dec 1952) with directives on discipline, cadres and election preparation, including 'more support' for Gerwis. Shows Gerwis treated as a PKI-supported front.
FBIS item (21 Apr 1953): the Jakarta Kartini Day committee closed the 1953 observance with a grand meeting at the State Palace; Mrs Sukarno said Kartini Day's essence is charity and self-improvement and that Indonesian women's supreme duty is to take part in the coming general elections. Background for official women's
De Nieuwsgier, 18 Dec 1953: three Jakarta branches of the PSI protest to Mayor Sudiro that election committees for the Greater Jakarta regencies seat only certain parties and their 'side organisations', naming Gerwis, Wanita Demokrat, Petani, Sobri, Sobsi and PPR as associations with seats. Shows the political contest
Java-Bode, 18 December 1953, p. 2: the PSI's Jakarta Raya branches complain to Mayor Sudiro that the election committees for the 1955 elections are unrepresentative. The PSI coordinator names Gerwis, Wanita Demokrat, Petani, Sobri, Sobsi and PPR among the associations holding seats, calling them auxiliaries of parties.
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 23 Dec 1953, p. 2: PSI branches complain to Jakarta mayor Sudiro that election committees in Jakarta Raya are unrepresentative, dominated by party affiliates; the PSI coordinator names Gerwis, Wanita Demokrat, Sobsi, PPR and others among bodies holding seats.
Monica Felton (WIDF Vice-President) writes in 1954 on the Second Congress of Gerwani, which she attended: 349 delegates, 80,000 members, a meeting with President Sukarno, resolutions on West Irian, the 1955 elections, a nationwide marriage law, democratic rights and support for the government against armed gangs. She s
De Locomotief, 20 Jan 1954: Salatiga municipal council elects a new member of the executive council; Mrs Judodiprodjo of Gerwis receives 1 vote against 6 for Abdulsalam (Pemuda Demokrat) and 4 for Djojopuspito (PIR). Shows a Gerwis woman as a candidate in local government.
De Nieuwsgier, 13 Feb 1954: Jakarta Mayor Sudiro explains the composition of the three regency election committees, giving one seat each to Masjumi, PNI, Gerwis, NU, PKI, PIR, Perwari and others. Gerwis's seat falls from two to one, with a Gerwis woman seated to represent 'socialism'; the Wanita Demokrat seat passes to
Java-Bode, 24 February 1954, p. 2: Medan women's organisations, including Perwari, PPNI, Wanita Rakjat, Ikatan Wanita Rakjat and Gerwis, protested to the resident that women have no seat on the North Sumatra election committee and demanded revision. The resident promised to forward it to the Minister of Justice.
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 3 Mar 1954, p. 3: composition of the North Sumatra election committee announced; women's organisations in Medan including Perwari, Wanita Rakjat, Ikatan Wanita Rakjat and Gerwis protest to the resident that women are not represented and demand revision.
Harian Rakjat, 19 Mei 1954, hlm. 1. Front page for National Awakening Day and the coming election; a women's group representative among speakers at an inter-party commemoration; no Gerwis article.
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
De Vrije Pers item (20 Aug 1954): the PKI central committee announced that Prof. Purbodiningrat, Dr. Tjokronegoro and painter Hendra Gunawan agreed to be on its list of PKI and non-party candidates; it notes that Ir. Taher Thajeb, Mrs. Salawati Daud and Ngantung had earlier agreed.
Java-Bode, 20 August 1954, p. 2: PKI central committee announces non-party figures willing to stand on its list in the coming elections: Prof. Purbodiningrat, Dr Tjokronegoro and painter Hendra Gunawan, adding earlier announced Tahir Thajeb, Salawati Daud and Henk Ngantung. Salawati Daud, a Gerwis-linked figure, appear
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (21 Aug 1954, p.1): the PKI central committee announces that three non-party leaders (Prof. Purbodiningrat, Dr Tjokronegoro and the painter Hendra Gunawan) will appear on its election list, and recalls earlier announcement that Taher Thajeb, Mrs Salawati Daud and Henk Ngantung agreed to stan
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 26 Aug 1954, p. 2: the PKI central committee announces non-party figures Purbodiningrat, Dr Tjokronegoro and painter Hendra Gunawan will stand on its election list, adding that Taher Thajeb, Salawati Daud and Henk Ngantung had earlier agreed to be candidates.
De Nieuwsgier item (15 Dec 1954, p. 1) listing new non-party candidates on the PKI list for the 1955 elections (Affandi, Basuki Resobowo, Witarsa and others). Earlier non-party names include Mrs. Salawati (Salawati Daud), Henk Ngantung and Mrs. S.D. Susanto.
CIA study, May 1955, surveying PKI organisation and history before the 1955 elections, with a short section on Gerwani among eight front organisations (pp. 49-50) and PKI foreign channels. Earliest extended US assessment of Gerwani as a PKI front.
1955 article by Suharti (Suharti Suwarto), Vice-President of Gerwani, based on her speech at the WIDF Council in Geneva. Links the Bandung Conference to peace; says Gerwani had 281,000 members; calls for reunion of Western Irian; reports women's election preparations, winning the right to be polling officers, support f
The Observer, 16 Jan 1955, p.7, Rawle Knox, 'Djakarta Postpones the Evil Day': impressionistic report from Jakarta on a lively, disorderly capital, the Ali Sastroamidjojo government's dependence on Communist support, Sukarno's drift from impartiality, the delayed first election and anti-Dutch boycotts. A passing quote
De Waarheid, 22 Jan 1955, p. 5: feature on preparations for Indonesia's first general elections, with voter registration, party symbols for illiterate voters, the PKI-and-independents list and attacks on it from Masjumi and PSI. It names independent candidates, among them Salawati (Daud), described as a guerrilla leade
Harian Rakjat, 31 Jan 1955, p. 2: local-news page. A short item reports a lecture by Ny. Suharti of DPP Gerwani on the coming general elections, among a series of PKI-linked election lectures and rallies in Jakarta; Gerwani lectures are also announced for 17-22 February. Most of the page is unrelated Indonesian and for
Harian Rakjat, 23 Feb 1955, p. 3: PKI's list of candidates for the 1955 election (nos. 94-117 visible, with party and non-party 'takberpartai' candidates). No. 100 is Sulami, independent, general secretary of DPD Gerwani East Java; no. 101 Suwarinah, member of DPD Gerwani East Java. Same page: Ny. Mudigdio, vice-chair
Harian Rakjat, 10 Mar 1955: PKI candidate list for the 1955 election with PKI and non-party candidates for Sumatra and elsewhere. No. 11 is Nn. Maimunah (PKI), state high-school teacher and member of DPD Gerwani Sumatera Tengah, Bukittinggi. Also lists trade-union, BTI and Perbum figures; the rest of the page is film a
Harian Rakjat, 17 Mar 1955, p. 3: PKI candidate list (Sulawesi/Maluku section). No. 5 Ny. Charlotte Salawati (non-party, former deputy mayor of Makassar); no. 12 Sorongan Helena (non-party, Gerwani leader in North Sulawesi); no. 6 Henk Ngantung. Page also has sports and anti-atomic-weapons items.
Harian Rakjat, 21 Mei 1955, hlm. 1. Front page with the CC PKI anniversary message 'Perluas persatuan untuk menang dalam pemilihan umum'; women appear only in cartoons; no Gerwani item.
Harian Rakjat, 21 Mei 1955, hlm. 2. News page including World Peace Council prizes for 1954 (Joris Ivens) and election-sign vandalism; no Gerwis or Gerwani item.
Harian Rakjat, 22 Mei 1955, hlm. 3: halaman khusus HUT ke-35 PKI. Special anniversary page including 'What non-party PKI candidates say': three women candidates on the PKI list for the 1955 election, with 'Emansipasi bagi kaum wanita, kata Setiati Surasto'.
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1955-05-31, p. 2): PKI election rally at Tegallega, Bandung, with tens of thousands present. Candidates Eddy Abdurrachman and Mrs. Suwarti open, she stressing women's interests; D.N. Aidit criticises post-RTC governments and the Madiun executions of Musso and Sjarifuddin without trial. Archive