FO 371/180325: Attempted Coup against Sukarno [16] (1965-1966)
UK Foreign Office file FO 371/180325 (1965), 'Attempted coup against Sukarno [16]': letters and telegrams from Djakarta, NATO Paris, Washington and The Hague, late November 1965 to January 1966. It follows the regional bans of the PKI, Sukarno's Nasakom speeches, Aidit's fate and translated interrogations of Untung and
FBIS-monitored Jakarta radio text (5 Oct 1965) of the Nahdlatul Ulama executive board and affiliates' statement. It cites authorities' 'fact' that Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwani members were brought from afar to be trained at Lubang Buaya where the generals' bodies were found, and asks Sukarno to disband PKI, Pemuda Rakjat,
FBIS-monitored Jakarta radio item (7 Oct 1965): Gertasi, a Gasbiindo transport union and the Progressive Pioneer Youth called for dissolving PKI and its mass organisations. The transport union salutes ABRI for arresting 'members of the people's youth (Pemuda Rakjat) and the Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerwani), both s
Short FBIS item (7 Oct 1965, Jakarta radio): Pemuda Pantjasila's executive board says Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwani 'obviously helped' the 30 September Movement, and asks Sukarno to disband the PKI, its mass organisations and affiliates, revoke permits for Harian Rakjat and Kebudajaan Baru, and purge those involved from st
FBIS item (7 Oct 1965, Jakarta radio): the Perti party's executive board denounces the 'gestapo-style' terror, backs NU and PSII demands that Sukarno dissolve the PKI and its affiliates, listing Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, SOBSI, CGMI, Lekra, and suspends three members, placing the party under Rusli Abdul Wahid. Another ea
Berita Yudha, 8 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 8 Oktober 1965. First issue using 'Gestapu': Gerwani appears five times as an organisation to be dissolved, including Perti, PMKRI and Sarbumusi backing the NU-PSII demand to dissolve 'PKI, PR, Gerwani, CGMI, Lekra'.
Despite appeal for moderation, army hunts communists
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
Self-defence from panic: commentary on the hunt for communists
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
Fears of a New Surge of Red Terror in Indonesia (Evening Post, 11 October 1965), headline clipping
Headline-only clipping 'Fears of a New Surge of Red Terror in Indonesia' from the Evening Post of 11 Oct 1965; no further text.
Fears of a New Surge of Red Terror in Indonesia (Evening Post, 11 October 1965), opening clipping
Opening clipping of the Evening Post article of 11 Oct 1965: mass arrests of Communists continued in Jakarta, with fears of a retaliatory terror campaign; unofficial estimates of 1,500 detained in a week and 2,000 captured in Java. Gerwani is not mentioned in this fragment.
Fears of a New Surge of Red Terror in Indonesia (Evening Post, 11 October 1965), opening clipping (duplicate)
Opening clipping of the Evening Post article of 11 Oct 1965: mass arrests of Communists continued in Jakarta, with fears of a retaliatory terror campaign; unofficial estimates of 1,500 detained in a week and 2,000 captured in Java. Gerwani is not mentioned in this fragment.
FBIS-monitored ANTARA English report (20 Oct 1965): some 100,000 Ansor youths in Jakarta (Taman Suropati) demanded dissolution of the PKI and affiliates for their part in the coup, endorsed the war administrator's suspension decision, said 'CGMI, Gerwani, SOBSI and Lekra were deeply involved in the recent terror moveme
Straits Times, 22 Oct 1965: Red homes wrecked, campaign spreads to Jogjakarta and Celebes
Straits Times, 22 Oct 1965 (lead only). The temporary ban on the PKI and affiliates spread across many regions, with homes of Communists wrecked; the PKI is linked to the failed 1 October coup. Matched on Gerwani as an affiliated organisation.
Seven Student Organizations Establish Front (FBIS, 27 Oct 1965)
FBIS-monitored ANTARA report (27 Oct 1965): seven student and pupil organisations formed a Student Front and called on Sukarno to dissolve the PKI and mass organisations 'such as Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, CGMI, IPPI, SOBSI, HSI', and backed the education minister's suspension of PKI-linked bodies in the ministry. Another
FBIS summary of Manado radio (3 Nov 1965): the North Sulawesi Regional Council pledged to implement Sukarno's 21 October commands and asked him to dissolve the PKI and affiliates including Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, SOBSI, BTI, fishermen's front, HSI, Lekra, CGMI, IPPI, Perhimi and Baperki; it urged purges, and trial of d
FBIS-monitored Manado radio text (3 Nov 1965), released by the 13th Regional Military Command: PKI chapter and affiliates in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi, condemned the 30 September Movement, severed ties with PKI leadership and resigned en masse from 15 October, pledging loyalty to Sukarno. Signatories include represent
ANP news report, 8 November 1965, 15.00 (Indonesia)
Second ANP bulletin of 8 Nov 1965 (Reuters/UPI): soldiers seal off Jakarta's Chinese quarter and search houses; separately about 10,000 women march anti-communist, pledge support to Sukarno and the army, and demand Gerwani's dissolution.
ANP news report, 8 November 1965, 18/19.00 (Indonesia)
Third ANP bulletin of 8 Nov 1965: troops seal Jakarta's Chinese quarter; about 10,000 women march in support of Sukarno and the army against the PKI. Their resolution demands the dissolution of Gerwani and government takeover of communist-run schools, linking the attack on Gerwani to its educational work.
Another demonstration against the PKI (women cheer Suharto)
Het Parool wire report (9 Nov 1965) under 'Women cheer Suharto': 100,000 anti-communist demonstrators in Jakarta demand a ban on the PKI and 'crushing' of the 30 September movement; the army searches a Chinese quarter. Thousands of women marched to National Front headquarters; Suharto thanked them for loyalty to the ar
Another demonstration against the PKI: women cheer Suharto
Het Rotterdamsch Parool report (9 Nov 1965, p.1) under 'Women cheer Suharto', same wire text as other Dutch papers: 100,000 anti-communist demonstrators in Jakarta demand banning the PKI; the army searches a Chinese quarter; thousands of women march to the National Front HQ, are addressed by Suharto and cheer him, repr
Neue Zeit, 11 Nov 1965, p. 2: State of war lifted
Neue Zeit, 11 November 1965, p. 2: ADN/TASS item 'Kriegszustand aufgehoben'. Sukarno lifted the state of war in Jakarta imposed after the 'Movement of 30 September'; persecution of communists continues, with 346 party members arrested in Tangerang, 125 people 'including twelve women' in a Central Java town and 40 in Be
Neues Deutschland, 11 Nov 1965, p. 7: Sukarno criticises the press
Neues Deutschland, 11 November 1965, p. 7. ADN dispatch from Djakarta under 'Sukarno kritisiert Presse': Sukarno lifts the state of war in the capital; Antara reports arrests of PKI members (346 in Tangerang, 125 people including twelve women in a Central Java town, 40 in Belawan); 102 parliamentarians removed; Sukarno
Neues Deutschland, 24 Feb 1966: Njono firmly defended the Communist Party
Page 7 of the SED daily Neues Deutschland, 24 Feb 1966, with a commentary and an ADN dispatch on the death sentence passed on PKI Politburo member Njono on 21 Feb. The dispatch says his defence counsel, Frau Sunito (Trees Sunito), also showed the accusations to be groundless. The commentary condemns the killings of Com
Neues Deutschland, 24 Feb 1966: Njono firmly defended the Communist Party
Page 7 of the SED daily Neues Deutschland, 24 Feb 1966, with a commentary and an ADN dispatch on the death sentence passed on PKI Politburo member Njono on 21 Feb. The dispatch says his defence counsel, Frau Sunito (Trees Sunito), also showed the accusations to be groundless. The commentary condemns the killings of Com
Angkatan Bersendjata, 22 June 1966
Angkatan Bersendjata, 22 Juni 1966. Reports the MPRS endorsing Supersemar and calls for a total communism ban; an Antara item from Palu says Laskar Ampera 'secured' eight PKI remnants including three members of Gerwani's leadership.
Students Demand Trial for Mrs Hartini Sukarno (Press, Christchurch, 8 October 1966), photograph clipping
Photograph-only clipping from the Press (Christchurch), 8 Oct 1966: demonstrators with banners and flags in Jakarta, one banner partly legible; illustrates the students' demand to try Hartini Sukarno for patronage of Gerwani. No caption text in this clipping.
A Fighting Editor: Jogjakarta (Canberra Times, 3 April 1967)
Canberra Times, 3 Apr 1967, p. 2: Creighton Burns profiles Jussac Margo Rahardjo, editor of Pelopor Jogja, a former Radio Australia announcer turned anti-Communist propagandist. In 1965 local authorities, he says, used Gerwani, which then controlled the Jogjakarta federation of women's associations, as 'the lever' to p
A Fighting Editor: Jogjakarta (Canberra Times, 3 April 1967), duplicate
Canberra Times, 3 Apr 1967, p. 2: Creighton Burns profiles Jussac Margo Rahardjo, editor of Pelopor Jogja, a former Radio Australia announcer turned anti-Communist propagandist. In 1965 local authorities, he says, used Gerwani, which then controlled the Jogjakarta federation of women's associations, as 'the lever' to p
Review of Indonesian and Malayan Affairs, 1967-68, p. 271: the Yap Thiam Hien affair and Trees Sunito
Page 271 of the Sydney-published Review of Indonesian and Malayan Affairs (vols 1-2, 1967-68), on the arrest and release of lawyer Yap Thiam Hien. It reports Djohan Arifin's claim that the Mahmillub trials had been infiltrated by the 'FKI', referring to Trees Sunito (Njono's defence counsel) and Yap, which Mahmillub ch
FBIS Daily Report, 24 Jul 1968: Woman communist leader captured (Madame Sri Sukatno, South Blitar)
FBIS Daily Report (24 Jul 1968) relaying Antara: Madame Sri Sukatno, described as a woman communist leader, was arrested at Pasiraman, South Blitar, in a mopping-up operation, per the army paper Angkatan Bersendjata. She is called a Politburo member, head of the Central Committee section on armed peasants and a Pemuda