40 Years of the PKI
'40 Tahun PKI', compiled by the PKI History Institute (Lembaga Sejarah PKI) for the party's 40th anniversary, Yayasan Pembaruan, Jakarta 1960, following D.N. Aidit's 'Lahirnya PKI dan perkembangannya'. A party-line history from the 1920 founding through the 1926 uprising, Japanese occupation, revolution and the VI Cong
Pravda, 1960: voice of Indonesian mothers; Setiati Surasto of SOBSI
Pravda, No. 40, c. 9 Feb 1960, p. 3 (selected page). Jakarta dispatch 'The voice of Indonesian mothers' (8 Feb): women's-movement activist Sri Slamet, SOBSI National Council member Setiati Surasto and mother Maruto Nitimihardjo welcome Khrushchev's planned visit and general-disarmament proposal. Also a Gromyko-Adam Mal
Pravda, 1960: Setiati Surasto of SOBSI and Indonesian mothers (excerpt)
Keyword-hit excerpt of Pravda, No. 40, c. 9 Feb 1960, 'The voice of Indonesian mothers' (Jakarta, 8 Feb): women's activist Sri Slamet, SOBSI National Council member Setiati Surasto and mother Maruto Nitimihardjo greet Khrushchev's coming visit and back his general-disarmament proposal, framed as the wish of Indonesian
Indonesian Labor Conditions: Unions, December 1960
Short compilation of US embassy telegrams and airgrams (Dec 1960) on Indonesian labour and unions. A 3 Dec telegram reports the South Sumatra-Jambi military command's continued ban on PKI and affiliates including SOBSI, PERBUM, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani after regulation changes; other items concern SOBSI and union cond
US Embassy Despatches on PKI Tactics and the SOBSI Women's Labour Seminar, May 1961
US Embassy Djakarta despatches to the State Department, May 1961. One reports conservative views (Mohammad Roem) that the PKI won a limited victory by gaining legal recognition. The other reports the SOBSI National Seminar on Labouring Women (Jakarta, 11-14 May 1961), attended by Djuanda and Gerwani central board membe
Indo-Viet TU declaration
Tribune (Sydney), 11 Apr 1962, p. 8: Indonesian (SOBSI) and Vietnamese trade unions issue a joint declaration of solidarity against American and Dutch imperialism after talks with a visiting SOBSI delegation of Hartono, Sukirno and Sri Ambar. Vietnamese side hails Indonesia's West Irian decision. Gerwani not named.
Indo-Viet TU declaration
Tribune (Sydney), 11 Apr 1962, p. 8: Indonesian (SOBSI) and Vietnamese trade unions issue a joint declaration of solidarity against American and Dutch imperialism after talks with a visiting SOBSI delegation of Hartono, Sukirno and Sri Ambar. Vietnamese side hails Indonesia's West Irian decision. Gerwani not named.
Communists of Indonesia beloved by the people
Tribune (Sydney), 23 May 1962, p. 9: Laurie Aarons, Communist Party of Australia fraternal delegate, praises the Seventh Congress of the PKI as a mass party (383 delegates, 'two million' members) led by D.N. Aidit, with Sukarno speaking at the closing rally. Lists the mass organisations it leads: BTI, SOBSI and Gerwani
Communists of Indonesia beloved by the people
Tribune (Sydney), 23 May 1962, p. 9: Laurie Aarons, Communist Party of Australia fraternal delegate, praises the Seventh Congress of the PKI as a mass party (383 delegates, 'two million' members) led by D.N. Aidit, with Sukarno speaking at the closing rally. Lists the mass organisations it leads: BTI, SOBSI and Gerwani
West Irian struggle for a healthier economy
Nieuw Guinea Koerier, 23 June 1962, p. 3: Setiati Surasto, an Indonesian delegate at the ILO conference in Geneva, says all progressive forces in Indonesia are uniting against Dutch colonial stubbornness in West Irian and that Indonesia will use other means if peaceful liberation fails, framing it as part of workers' s
With Manipol Strengthen the United Women's Front (Gerwani DPP Plenary, January 1963)
Api Kartini (1963) report by Ratna on the Gerwani DPP Plenary held in Jakarta, 6-10 January 1963, a year after the 4th Congress. Umi Sardjono's general report praised the Irian Barat victory and the end of the state of emergency (1 May 1963), and the plenary resolved to strengthen the Nasakom-based national front, supp
Indonesia Protest at Mass Arrests (News-Mail, 6 February 1963), duplicate OCR
News-Mail (Bundaberg), 6 February 1963, p. 7, AAP-Reuter wire from Jakarta (duplicate OCR of GA-00265, with scrambled columns). SOBSI cabled protest to Singapore over mass arrests of leftists on 2-3 February; Partindo and Gerwani also protested. Also reports Brunei's Sultan warning against Indonesian volunteers and Gen
Indonesia Protest at Mass Arrests (News-Mail, 6 February 1963)
News-Mail (Bundaberg), 6 February 1963, p. 7, AAP-Reuter wire from Jakarta (clean OCR). The SOBSI federation, claiming three million members, cabled Singapore condemning its mass arrests of leftists as a move to quell opposition to Malaysia, and Partindo and Gerwani also protested. The Sultan of Brunei warned against a
Straits Times, 6 Feb 1963: SOBSI protests to Singapore Government over mass arrests
Straits Times, 6 Feb 1963 (lead only). SOBSI cabled a protest to the Singapore government over mass arrests of leftists, speaking for three million Indonesian workers. Matched on Gerwani; the companion Berita Harian item reports Gerwani joined the protest.
Communists in Indonesia: isolated position despite five million followers
Algemeen Handelsblad analysis by a contributor (1963-06-01) on the PKI's isolated position despite about five million followers. It credits the PKI with 1 million members plus 1.5 million in 'the communist women's organisation Gerwani', and discusses food prices, the lifting of the state of siege, SOKSI's rise and West
JPRS 1964: Committee of the SOBSI Fourth National Congress (Setiati Surasto, Sri Ambar)
JPRS translation page (Translations on South and East Asia, no. 66-80, 1964-65, seq 266) listing the committee of SOBSI's Fourth National Congress. The Central Bureau has Moch. Munir as chairman and Mrs Setiati Surasto among the deputy chairmen; Sri Ambar is among the secretaries. Both are women named in the catalogue
Renmin Ribao, 16 May 1964: delegates at the international women workers' conference (Sri Ambar)
People's Daily, 16 May 1964, p. 4: report that Chinese, Indonesian and other delegates at an international women workers' conference upheld an anti-imperialist line against the Soviet delegate and 'Saiyang'. The excerpt quotes Sri Ambar, head of the Indonesian delegation, welcoming efforts for working-class unity and o
Renmin Ribao, 16 May 1964: delegates at the international women workers' conference (Sri Ambar)
People's Daily, 16 May 1964, p. 4: report that Chinese, Indonesian and other delegates at an international women workers' conference upheld an anti-imperialist line against the Soviet delegate and 'Saiyang'. The excerpt quotes Sri Ambar, head of the Indonesian delegation, welcoming efforts for working-class unity and o
Renmin Ribao, 25 May 1964: SOBSI women workers' delegation led by Sri Ambar arrives in Beijing
People's Daily, 25 May 1964, p. 3, a Xinhua report of 24 May: a SOBSI women workers' delegation led by Sri Ambar, SOBSI national council member and head of its women workers' department, arrives in Beijing with other foreign union delegates. Only an excerpt was retrieved. Sri Ambar Rukmiati is identified via the catalo
Renmin Ribao, 25 May 1964: SOBSI women workers' delegation led by Sri Ambar arrives in Beijing
People's Daily, 25 May 1964, p. 3, a Xinhua report of 24 May: a SOBSI women workers' delegation led by Sri Ambar, SOBSI national council member and head of its women workers' department, arrives in Beijing with other foreign union delegates. Only an excerpt was retrieved. Sri Ambar Rukmiati is identified via the catalo
Renmin Ribao, 27 May 1964: Beijing women workers welcome delegates to the international women workers' conference
People's Daily page 3, 27 May 1964 (excerpt only): hundreds of women workers in Beijing held a get-together for visiting delegates from Indonesia, Japan and British Guiana after an international trade-union conference on women workers' problems. The Indonesian delegation is the SOBSI women workers' delegation headed by
Renmin Ribao, 27 May 1964: Beijing women workers welcome delegates to the international women workers' conference
People's Daily page 3, 27 May 1964 (excerpt only): hundreds of women workers in Beijing held a get-together for visiting delegates from Indonesia, Japan and British Guiana after an international trade-union conference on women workers' problems. The Indonesian delegation is the SOBSI women workers' delegation headed by
Renmin Ribao, 29 May 1964: Vice-Premier Chen Yi receives foreign trade-union delegates (SOBSI women's delegation)
People's Daily, 29 May 1964, p. 3, Xinhua report of 28 May: Vice-Premier Chen Yi received the SOBSI women workers' delegation led by Sri Ambar, visiting China after an international trade-union conference on women workers, and spoke cordially with all members. The sweep identifies her as Sri Ambar Rukmiati (the excerpt
Renmin Ribao, 29 May 1964: Vice-Premier Chen Yi receives foreign trade-union delegates (SOBSI women's delegation)
People's Daily, 29 May 1964, p. 3, Xinhua report of 28 May: Vice-Premier Chen Yi received the SOBSI women workers' delegation led by Sri Ambar, visiting China after an international trade-union conference on women workers, and spoke cordially with all members. The sweep identifies her as Sri Ambar Rukmiati (the excerpt
Pravda, 23 Jan 1965: Setiati Surasto at WFTU; Indonesia leaves the UN
Pravda no. 23, 23 January 1965 (full issue). Page 1 lists guests at a Kremlin luncheon for the WFTU Executive Bureau, including WFTU secretary Setiati Surasto and SOBSI deputy chairman Murdjoko. Page 3 reports Indonesia's notice of withdrawal from the UN over Malaysia's Security Council seat. No Gerwani content beyond
Telegram 1168 to Secretary of State, 23 Oct 1965
US Embassy telegram 1168, 23 Oct 1965: anti-communist unions demand dissolution of the PKI and SOBSI from Labour Minister Sutomo, who hesitates; Army liaison approached. Labour-front context; no Gerwani content.
Hungarian press, 23 Oct 1965: WFTU secretariat incl. Setiati Surasto (Indonesia)
Hungarian daily Dunántúli Napló, 23 Oct 1965 (snippet only). A list of WFTU secretariat members includes Setiati Surasti of Indonesia, alongside Dragoi (Romania), Chen Ji (China) and Mohammed Al[...]. It shows Setiati Surasto, a woman trade unionist named in the catalogue, still listed in the international secretariat
Telegram 1290 to Department of State, 1 Nov 1965
US Embassy telegram 1290, 1 Nov 1965: labour attache's Palembang visit finds 600 communists jailed, SOBSI officials at Shell, Stanvac and PUSRI arrested, and concern for American oil staff. Context on arrests in the oil sector.
Moscow's dispute with Peking: Soviet-Chinese controversies at the WFTU congress (NZZ, 10 Nov 1965)
Neue Zurcher Zeitung report (signed T. R., 10 November 1965) on the WFTU congress in Warsaw, overshadowed by the Soviet-Chinese conflict. Among the eight secretariat members elected is Setiati Surasto (Indonesia); the Indonesian delegation is said to have backed the Chinese line. This documents her international trade-
Telegram 212 (Joint Sitrep 22), US Consulate Surabaya, 27 Dec 1965
US Consulate Surabaya Joint Sitrep 22, 27 December 1965: killings continue more discreetly, NU campaign to 'exterminate PKI' covers East Java, Madiun prisoners delivered to civilians. Regional context; no Gerwani content.