Het Vaderland front-page report (22 Jan 1960) on Indonesia's economic collapse: rupiah worth a tenth of its 1958 black-market value, gold price soaring, kerosene shortages keeping Jakarta children from school, Chinese converting rupiah to goods, falling rubber output. Newspapers across the spectrum criticise Sukarno's
Het Vaderland front-page report (4 Jun 1960): Sukarno returns from a world tour to an airport welcome whose approved slogans include 'Indonesian women condemn the Dutch provocation', which observers see as a diversion from the growing Democratic League opposing Guided Democracy. Also covers an Indonesian protest note a
De Tijd/De Maasbode Reuter item (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno chaired the new 15-member national defence council as supreme commander to plan the "return" of West New Guinea. It notes that at the opening of the Gerwani congress he announced again he would "use armed force to liberate West Irian".
De Volkskrant report (15 Dec 1961) on Sukarno's speech to what it calls the fourth congress of Gerwani, "the communist-controlled" women's movement, convened on women's role in the West Irian struggle. He rejected talks with the Netherlands, said power is created by politics, and promised armed force if the UN accepted
De Waarheid, 15 Dec 1961, p. 4: report that President Sukarno addressed the Gerwani congress on Thursday, rejecting the Luns policy on West Irian, calling force 'probably the only language imperialists understand' and urging mobilisation of national unity among nationalists, religious groups and communists, before his
Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant, 15 December 1961: Reuters report that Sukarno chaired the first meeting of a 15-member national defence council as supreme commander for the 'return' of Western New Guinea. At the opening of the Gerwani congress he again said he would use armed force to liberate West Irian.
Ons Noorden (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno, speaking at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says the Dutch understand only force, refuses to invite talks on West Irian, announces his command to start the struggle on 19 December (Trikora) and threatens armed force if the UN approves occupation. The paper calls Gerwani commu
Overijsselsch Dagblad (15 Dec 1961), duplicate of the Ons Noorden item: Sukarno, at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says Dutch imperialists understand only force, rules out talks and announces the 19 December command for the West Irian struggle. Gerwani is described as communist-controlled.
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (15 Dec 1961): at the opening of the Gerwani congress in Jakarta, Sukarno says the Dutch understand only force, rejects 'external' self-determination for New Guinea, and urges housewives not to worry over rice and oil shortages. Also the new defence council meets under his leadership. Paper ca
ANP radio bulletin, 16 Dec 1961: a two-line fragment saying a minister spoke at a conference of the Indonesian women's organisation Gerwani about measures against the Dutch, with banners in Yogyakarta demanding Western New Guinea. Evidence of Gerwani's role in the West Irian campaign.
De Nieuwe Limburger, 18 Dec 1961: Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, says Indonesia would have to act militarily if the Dutch grant independence to a 'Papua state'; Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea is due 19 December (the Trikora). Shows Gerwani as a platform for the West Irian confr
De Waarheid, 18 Dec 1961, p. 6: mainly the Dutch Reformed Church's call for special prayer on West Irian. The last paragraph notes that in Jakarta Foreign Minister Subandrio spoke on West Irian at the congress of the 'large progressive women's movement Gerwani', after Sukarno's address the previous week stressing unity
Het Rotterdamsch Parool item (18 Dec 1961, p.2): at a conference of the 'nationalist' women's organisation Gerwani, Foreign Minister Subandrio says Indonesia would have to take military action if the Netherlands tries to give independence to Western New Guinea, calling it forced military confrontation, and that Sukarno
De Waarheid, 8 May 1962, p. 2: report that Sukarno withdrew four bills on representative bodies (under which only one-third of the People's Congress, parliament and regional councils would be elected, the rest appointed) after protests first from the PKI, SOBSI, women's movement Gerwani and Pemuda Rakjat, later PNI and
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
Algemeen Dagblad feature by H.N. Appel from Jakarta (1964-04-10) on Indonesia's new elite, its revolutionary rhetoric and economic hardship. Briefly describes women as playing a small, decorative role in a 'men's society', noting Sukarno's second wife Hartini at a party. Gerwani is not mentioned.
De Telegraaf report (1 Feb 1965) on Indonesia's rapprochement with China, quoting Sukarno's CBS interview and Subandrio's Peking visit. Gerwani is not named; Hartini Sukarno is quoted at a women's movement gathering calling for common struggle with "Chinese comrades" in 1965.
Short ANP wire item in Amigoe di Curaçao, 20 May 1965: Gerwani urges President Sukarno to ban the Murba party for good, calling it 'anti-Sukarno, anti-communist and anti-Nasakom'. Murba had been provisionally banned in January 1965. Shows Gerwani as a PKI-aligned political voice in the Nasakom polarisation.
De Telegraaf item (7 Oct 1965) on General Suharto's television statement: the generals' bodies were found near the air-force base where Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani volunteers were trained, and an arrested female volunteer in Cirebon reportedly said volunteers came from Central Java. An early press link of Gerwani to the
Het Rotterdamsch Parool/ANP report (7 Oct 1965, p.1): Jakarta television showed a film of the exhumation of seven officers from the well at Lubang Buaya, with Suharto, voice trembling, saying the bodies were found near the air-force base training Pemuda Rakjat men and 'Gerwani' (for women) volunteers. A female voluntee
Leeuwarder Courant, 7 October 1965, p. 1: report on the exhumation of the seven murdered army officers from the Lubang Buaya well and the generals' funeral, with Nasution's escape and Lt Tendean's death. It relays Suharto's televised claim that the bodies lay next to a base where the air force trained Pemuda Rakjat and
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (7 Oct 1965): Jakarta TV shows exhumation of the generals' mutilated bodies from the Lubang Buaya well; Suharto says they were found near the air-force base where Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani volunteers were trained, citing an arrested female volunteer from Cirebon. Also the generals' funeral and
Algemeen Handelsblad (1965-10-09), concluding part of 'Backgrounds of the rebellion in Djakarta': surveys PKI under Aidit, PNI infiltration (including its women's movement), PKI campaign against village ulama, the banned BPS and the army's rising role under Nasution. Names S.K. Trimurti as wife of Sajuti Melik and chai
De Nieuwe Limburger, 11 Oct 1965 (ANP/UPI/AFP): despite Sukarno's call for moderation, the army starts a nationwide drive against the PKI. On Saturday a Muslim crowd plundered the houses of Aidit and Njoto and the Gerwani building; about 2,000 arrests near Jakarta; 44 parties demand a PKI ban. Early report of attacks o
De Telegraaf report (11 Oct 1965) that the army arrested over 1,500 communists, including Col. A. Latief; it states Gerwani members among the arrested "are said to be responsible for the torturing to death of the generals." Early Dutch-press repetition of the Gerwani slander.
De Volkskrant commentary (11 Oct 1965) warning that the hunt for communists could drive Aidit's followers to armed self-defence. It describes Muslim demonstrators wrecking Aidit's and Njoto's houses and then "the headquarters of the communist women's organisation Gerwani", and army occupation of PKI headquarters in Ace
De Waarheid, 19 Oct 1965, p. 3: report, citing foreign agencies, that Jakarta garrison commander General Umar Wirahadikusumo provisionally banned the PKI in and around Jakarta, along with SOBSI, Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani and some student groups, and ordered their leaders to report to police or military posts before 24 Oct
Leeuwarder Courant, 19 October 1965, p. 3: per Radio Jakarta the garrison commander Umar Wirahadikusumah temporarily banned the PKI in Jakarta and its allied organisations, including Sobsi and Gerwani, the latter accused of taking part in the torture and murder of six generals. Army 'cleansing operations' continue; Sub
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (19 Oct 1965): Jakarta denies soldiers searched the Chinese embassy, as Beijing protested. Reports Maj.-Gen. Umar Wirahadikusumah's temporary ban in the Jakarta district on the PKI and affiliated bodies including Pemuda Rakyat, SOBSI and Gerwani; leaders have five days to report. Army reported
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (19 Oct 1965): Jakarta denies soldiers searched the Chinese embassy, as Beijing protested. Reports Maj.-Gen. Umar Wirahadikusumah's temporary ban in the Jakarta district on the PKI and affiliated bodies including Pemuda Rakyat, SOBSI and Gerwani; leaders have five days to report. Army reported