Abrupt change in Indonesia's political situation: Suharto takes control, mass arrests, PKI offices burned
Xinhua survey in Renmin Ribao (20 Oct 1965, p. 1) of Indonesia's first three weeks after 30 September, from Chinese-side sources: Suharto takes control, mass arrests (3,000 by 17 October), PKI headquarters burned, Harian Rakjat closed, universities shut, anti-Chinese incidents. Gerwani appears in the NU demand to disso
Suharto's radio speeches and statements: Lubang Buaya well (snippet)
Snippet-only Renmin Ribao extract (20 Oct 1965, p. 3) from the compilation of Suharto's radio statements. Visible text is from his 4 October Lubang Buaya speech: the well site was an Air Force volunteer training centre with Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani activists, and arrested Gerwani trainees in Cirebon said they came fro
Suharto's radio speeches and statements of 1, 3 and 4 October 1965
Renmin Ribao (20 Oct 1965, p. 3) reprints Suharto's RRI statements of 1, 3 and 4 October 1965: he takes interim army leadership, calls the September 30th Movement counter-revolutionary, and at Lubang Buaya on 4 October says the well lay near an Air Force volunteer training centre with Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani activist
Jakarta commander's decisions suspending the PKI and mass organisations (snippet)
Snippet-only Renmin Ribao extract (20 Oct 1965, p. 3) of the Jakarta Military Region commander's decisions of 18 October 1965 temporarily suspending the PKI, Pemuda Rakyat, Gerwani, BTI, CGMI and other organisations in Jakarta and environs; truncated. Full text is GA-01988.
Two decisions of the Jakarta commander suspending the PKI and its mass organisations
Renmin Ribao (20 Oct 1965, p. 3) prints, from Radio Republik Indonesia, two decisions of 18 October 1965 by Jakarta commander Umar Wirahadikusumah: temporary suspension of all activities of the PKI, Pemuda Rakyat, Gerwani, BTI, CGMI and others; and a duty on leaders (Gerwani included, down to branch level) to report to
Berliner Zeitung, 20 Oct 1965, p. 5: Communist Party of Indonesia banned
Berliner Zeitung, 20 October 1965, p. 5: TASS/ADN brief "KP Indonesiens verboten" from Djakarta. The Jakarta military governor (OCR: Birahadikusumo, i.e. Umar Wirahadikusumah) issued a temporary ban on the PKI and its "affiliated organisations" in the Jakarta area, explicitly listing Pemuda Rakjat and "Gerwani (Fraueno
Neues Deutschland, 20 Oct 1965, p. 1: Communist Party of Indonesia banned in Djakarta
Neues Deutschland, 20 October 1965, p. 1: ADN/TASS report 'KP Indonesiens in Djakarta verboten'. Jakarta's military governor, Maj.-Gen. Umar Wirahadikusumah, issued a temporary ban on the PKI and its affiliated organisations for the Jakarta area, explicitly naming Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani (women's organisation), the p
Izvestiia, 4 Nov 1965: In Indonesia (Kowani expels Gerwani)
Izvestiia, 4 Nov 1965, p. 2, international commentary: Antara reports the Congress of Indonesian Women (Kowani) expelled the CPI's women's organisation Gerwani; also Supreme Court dismissals, 57 PKI deputies suspended (Lukman, Njoto), about 3,000 arrested near Yogyakarta, and books of 'implicated' authors removed from
The Economist, 6 Nov 1965, p.594, 'Rings on a tree trunk', from a special correspondent in Jakarta: the army-inspired anti-communist campaign has gained its own momentum, with raids on PKI offices, arrests, 26 Antara correspondents detained, Aidit in hiding, Sukarno declaring Central Java in a 'state of war'. Wall graf
South China Sunday Post-Herald, 7 Nov 1965, p.30 (Reuter, Djakarta, 6 Nov): the Armed Forces bulletin says nine 'suicide squad' members of Gerwani, the Communist Women's Organisation, were killed by troops after standing in the path of army tanks in Solo, jeering and turning their backs when asked to leave. The item al
Sukarno will act against Reds (The Hindustan Times, 7 November 1965)
The Hindustan Times, 7 Nov 1965 (Reuter, Bogor, 6 Nov): Sukarno promises action against the PKI while the army hunts its members; Subandrio reports Sukarno scolding Njoto for the party's 'childish disease'. The armed forces bulletin says nine Gerwani 'suicide members' were killed by paratroopers when they blocked the r
Words and deeds of the Indonesian army: Suharto's Bandung speech (snippet)
Snippet-only Renmin Ribao extract (7 Nov 1965, p. 5) from Suharto's 30 October Bandung speech: the September 30th Movement as a play with Untung and some officers in the lead, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani members in supporting roles, and the PKI as staff; truncated. Full text is GA-01990.
Words and deeds of the Indonesian army: Nasution and Suharto statements reprinted
Renmin Ribao (7 Nov 1965, p. 5) reprints Indonesian army statements from radio and Antara: Nasution's 25 October speech on 'slander' and purges, Suharto's 30 October Bandung speech calling the PKI the 'protagonist' and Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani members 'supporting roles' of the movement, an army information chief's int
The Hindustan Times, 8 Nov 1965: the Bali war administrator has suspended the PKI and affiliates, including Gerwani (Women's Movement), Pemuda Rakjat, students' association, peasants' union and SOBSI, with daily reporting to the military, removal of signboards in five days and a curfew from 3 Nov. It notes Sukarno was
The Times of India, 8 Nov 1965, p.1 (Jakarta, 7 Nov): the PKI and affiliated mass organisations in Bali, including Gerwani (Women's Movement), Pemuda Rakjat, Lekra, BTI, student, teachers' (PGRI) and SOBSI unions, have been suspended; leaders must report daily and a curfew applies. Sukarno says he is considering bannin
Sukarno given list of suspected MPs; women demonstrate against Communists (South China Morning Post, 9 November 1965)
South China Morning Post, 9 Nov 1965, p.20 (Jakarta, 8 Nov): Sukarno is given a list of suspected PKI members of parliament; about 10,000 housewives, girl students and actresses marched to Suharto's HQ and the National Front office shouting support for Sukarno and the armed forces, denounced Gerwani, 'the PKI's women's
The Guardian, 9 Nov 1965, p.12 (BUP/Reuter, Jakarta, 8 Nov): about 10,000 Indonesian women and girls, led by drummers and majorettes, marched from Suharto's headquarters to the National Front office shouting support for Sukarno and against the Communists, and called for the dissolution of Gerwani, 'the Communist women'
The Irish Times, 9 Nov 1965, p.44: Sukarno tells his Cabinet communism should not be suppressed but the PKI need not be kept; 102 MPs are listed for investigation; Malaya's Tunku accuses Subandrio of involvement in the coup. About 10,000 housewives and women students marched in Jakarta led by drum majorettes, demanding
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
Pravda, 17 Nov 1965, p. 1: 'Situation in Indonesia', Gerwani banned in the Moluccas
Pravda front page, 17 Nov 1965: TASS dispatch 'The situation in Indonesia'. Reports 62 MPs removed after the 30 September Movement, 315 arrests in Jepara, and that Brig. Gen. Busiri temporarily banned the PKI, SOBSI, Gerwani ('Gervani') and BTI in the Moluccas.
Hamilton Spectator, 19 Nov 1965, p.6: Arthur Dommen (Los Angeles Times) on the 'Indonesian mystery' of the 30 September movement in central Java: Pemuda Rakjat raids on police posts at Boyolali and Klaten (22 Oct), army claims about 1,000 raiders killed, arms from China and guerrilla plans. The wartime-quality OCR name
Girl admits role in coup (South China Morning Post, 20 November 1965)
South China Morning Post, 20 Nov 1965, p.20 (Jakarta, 19 Nov; UPI/AP via Antara): a girl captured near Bandung admitted taking part in the killing of the six generals at Lubang Buaya and among those who shot the Army commander, and admitted membership of Gerwani, the Communist women's auxiliary. The item also reports a
Izvestiia, 22 Nov 1965: Sukarno meets commanders; anti-communist campaign continues
Izvestiia, 22 Nov 1965, p. 1, TASS: Sukarno at Bogor condemns journalists spreading 'fables' about 'atrocities' of the 30 September movement, orders a civil-service purge under Subandrio; a second item gives arrests (1,600 in South Kalimantan), citing Antara that all those arrested are members of PKI, Gerwani, Pemuda R
Gudok, 23 Nov 1965: In Indonesia (TASS on arrests)
Gudok, 23 Nov 1965, p. 4, TASS dispatch from Jakarta: military and right-wing forces continue the anti-communist campaign, with arrest figures (1,600 in South Kalimantan; 1,630 in Wonogiri, 820 in Sragen, 711 in Boyolali, over 2,200 in Klaten), citing Antara that all those arrested are members of PKI, Gerwani, Pemuda R
Berliner Zeitung, 23 Nov 1965, p. 5: Further reprisals
Berliner Zeitung, 23 November 1965, p. 5: ADN/BZ brief "Weitere Repressalien" from Djakarta. Citing the Indonesian press, it reports further reprisals by military authorities and civilian right-wing circles against progressive forces, and quotes Antara that all arrested persons belong to the Communist Party, the women'
Neues Deutschland, 23 Nov 1965, p. 7: New reprisals in Indonesia
Neues Deutschland, 23 November 1965, p. 7: ADN report 'Neue Repressalien in Indonesien' from Jakarta citing the Indonesian press: 1,600 detained in the South Borneo military district and 1,630 arrested in Wonogiri near Surakarta. Antara states all those held belong to the Communist Party, the women's organisation 'Gerw
Neue Zeit, 27 Nov 1965, p. 4: Strength lies in unity: twenty years of the Women's International Democratic Federation
Neue Zeit, 27 November 1965, p. 4 (women's page): 'Die Kraft liegt in der Einigkeit', a history of 20 years of the WIDF (IDFF). Indonesia appears once, in a list of imperialist armed aggressions (Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaya, Korea) against which the WIDF organised protests. The article also stresses the DFD's role and I
The masses did not rise (The Hindustan Times, 8 December 1965)
The Hindustan Times, 8 Dec 1965, Dennis Bloodworth (Singapore), 'PKI Debacle I: The Masses Did Not Rise': analysis of why the PKI collapsed after the 1 Oct coup: overrated membership, reliance on Sukarno and on army and air force penetration, no general strike, SOBSI dissolving. It reports Untung's alleged claim that m
Army plans to kill P.K.I. for ever (The Scotsman, 8 December 1965)
The Scotsman, 8 Dec 1965, Dennis Bloodworth, 'Army plans to kill PKI for ever': Suharto and Nasution press to destroy the PKI while Sukarno refuses to ban it; the article analyses the PKI's miscalculations. It repeats the slander that six generals were mutilated by 'doe-eyed girls' of the PKI's 'Gerwani' women's moveme