Dictatorial powers for President Sukarno (Madiun affair)
Indische Courant voor Nederland front page (29 Sep 1948) on the Madiun affair: the KNIP working committee grants Sukarno full emergency powers for three months (25-1); Hatta blames 'PKI-Musso'; arrests of FDR communist leaders in Magelang, curfews in Kediri; Solo youth back the government. Soewarti of the labour party
Republican deliberations (arrest of Francisca Fanggidaej after Madiun)
Het Dagblad (Batavia) report (4 Dec 1948, p.1) on republican cabinet deliberations and arrests of communists after Madiun. It reports Francisca Fanggidaej, once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI, was captured with Colonel Djokosoejono and Politburo member Sardjono, and, per her statement, that 23 women were with Amir Sj
No measures against Tan Malaka's group (arrests after Madiun)
Indische Courant voor Nederland (11 Dec 1948, p.2): Republican officials deny measures against Tan Malaka's Gerakan Revolusi Rakjat, though Ibnu Parna was arrested. It details arrests of communist leaders: Colonel Djokosoejono, PKI politburo's Sardjono and Francisca Fanggidaej (once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI); p
Irian must belong to Indonesia!
De Locomotief, 13 Mar 1950 (Aneta): RIS parliament unanimously adopts a motion that Irian be linked to Indonesia within a year, and the government accepts it. In the defence-minister Q&A, it is noted that the Defence Ministry has asked the NIT government about the arrest of Salawati Daud, still unanswered; Supomo repor
Renewed tension in Makassar: four ex-guerrilla battalions failed to surrender
Nieuwe Courant, 20 August 1951: report of renewed tension in Makassar after four CTN ex-guerrilla battalions failed to appear for their 17 August incorporation into the APRI, leaving with cash, uniforms and trucks meant for Kahar Muzakkar; Col. Kawilarang announces strict measures. The text ends with Pedoman Rakjat say
The arrests in Indonesia: PKI calls for struggle against fascism
De Waarheid, 31 Aug 1951, p. 3: near-verbatim PKI Central Committee statement on the Sukiman government's August 1951 mass arrests, calling them a drift to fascism and a staged 'coup' pretext. It lists Gerwis among organisations whose members were arrested or searched, demands release of all detainees and urges an anti
Works of Marx confiscated (question by Suwarti in parliament)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (15 Sep 1951, p.2): communist MP Suwarti questions the government on the recent confiscation of Karl Marx's books, asking on which legal article the measure rests after the attorney general's spokesman claimed it was lawful. Context for the 1951 anti-communist round-up; identification of Suw
Readers' opinions: Gebeo and Luna
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad readers' page (1951-11-01, p. 3); mostly a letter about street lighting. A final news item says the Gerwis central board supports Tan Po Goan's parliamentary interpellation on the security action and demands release of all persons detained in the August 1951 raids.
Meeting with tears: East Java committee of victims of the August raids
De Vrije Pers item (24 Mar 1952): the East Java Committee of Victims of the August Raids met in Surabaya with thirty residency delegates and PKI and Gerwis Surabaya branches; reports on detainees moved many to tears. A resolution urged speedy release, support for families, payment of civil servants' salaries and visiti
Release of detainees requested
Java-Bode, 25 Mar 1952, p. 2: East Java conference of the Committee for Victims of the August Raid in Surabaya with PKI and Gerwis delegates; resolution demands release of Kediri detainees, support for families and visiting rights. Same text as the Indische Courant item of 29 Mar 1952.
Release of detainees requested
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 29 Mar 1952, p. 3: East Java conference of the Committee for Victims of the August Raid, in Surabaya on 23 March, attended by PKI and Gerwis delegates; resolution urges release of Kediri detainees, support for their families and visiting rights. Also a Lombok famine-relief item.
Harian Rakjat, 11 July 1952: DPR versus Persaja; Mrs Mudigdio on security section
Harian Rakjat, Jakarta, 11 July 1952 (full issue; p. 4 relevant). Parliamentary report in which Ny. Mudigdio is named as a member of the DPR security section during a debate on the prosecutors' association (Persaja) and on political activity by public officials. The issue otherwise has no Gerwis or Gerwani material.
Something is not right
Java-Bode, 27 Aug 1952, p. 2: Miss Sulami, secretary of the Surabaya committee for victims of the August raids, says something is wrong with the arrestees' release, blames the Sukiman-Wibisono policy and RTC, and says the raids were a general attack on the anti-imperialist people.
Demonstrations banned: Surabaya refuses permission for 7 September rally
De Vrije Pers item (4 Sep 1952): Surabaya authorities refused permission for the 7 September demonstration for August-raid detainees; a delegation of Mrs. Tam, Mrs. Talia and Miss Sulami left for Jakarta to seek a presidential audience, and Tam and Sulami with Miss Warmi and Mr Fatkali were to go on to the "communist p
Arrest of Sunito and Go Gien Tjwan: countermeasures demanded in Indonesia
De Waarheid, 9 Dec 1952, p. 4: Jakarta dispatch on reactions to the Dutch arrest of Indonesians Sunito and Go Gien Tjwan in Amsterdam and action against PKI representatives Aidit and Njoto. The PKI Central Committee calls it arbitrary and urges reprisals; Gerwis also asked the government for counter-measures. A Dutch p
Two PvdA board members resign; photo of Trees Sunito-Heyligers
De Waarheid, 10 Feb 1953, p. 1: two items. A brief note that the Wormerveer PvdA chairman and a board member resigned, and a photo caption showing Trees Sunito-Heyligers with her two children waiting for the bus to Schiphol, where she and Go Gien Tjwan were closely guarded before deportation to Indonesia. Only the capt
Plea of Affandi Ridhwan: 'Acted solely with government approval'
Java-Bode, 27 May 1953, p. 2: report on the Bandung trial of Affandi Ridhwan, charged with cooperating with Darul Islam, who argued he acted with government approval. He invoked Minister Leimena's contacts with RMS bands and Mrs Salawati Daud's negotiations with Kahar Muzakkar's bands. Salawati Daud is the only link to
Defence requests release (trial of Affandi Ridwan)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (2 Jun 1953, p.2): trial of Affandi Ridwan in Bandung; in his plea he asks why he should be punished for negotiating with Kahar Muzakar's bands with central government approval, if Leimena contacted RMS bands and Mrs Salawati Daoed negotiated with Kahar Muzakar. Defenders Kasman Singodimedjo
'Acted solely with government approval'
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 3 Jun 1953, p. 3: in his Bandung trial for cooperation with Darul Islam, Affandi Ridhwan argues he acted with government approval, citing Leimena's contacts with RMS gangs and Mrs Salawati Daud's negotiations with Kahar Muzakkar's gangs; counsel Kasman Singodimedjo asks for acquittal.
Demonstration (against Dulles)
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 12 March 1956: short item on the Jakarta airport demonstration against Dulles, where about two dozen Indonesians shouted 'Abolish SEATO' and a young woman of the left-leaning Gerwani threw a paper at his car and was detained.
Economic aid offered to Indonesia (Dulles in Jakarta)
Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, 13 March 1956: report on US Secretary of State Dulles's visit to Jakarta, where about two dozen demonstrators shouted 'Abolish SEATO' and a young woman of the left-leaning Gerwani threw a paper at his car and was detained for questioning. Dulles also met Sukarno, discussed New Guinea and off
High Commissioner absent at Dulles's arrival
Nieuwsblad van het Zuiden, 13 March 1956: report on Dulles's arrival in Jakarta (no Dutch high commissioner present), his statement, and an airport incident in which a young Gerwani woman threw a paper at his car and was detained. Also Sukarno's accepted invitation to the US and discussion of New Guinea and economic ai
Dulles in Indonesia: America offers Jakarta economic aid
Nijmeegsch Dagblad (13 Mar 1956) on John Foster Dulles's brief Jakarta visit and offer of economic aid. A young woman belonging to Gerwani, among about two dozen demonstrators shouting 'Abolish SEATO', threw a piece of paper at his car and was detained for questioning.
Indonesian parliament wants more concrete Sukarno-Hatta cooperation
Ons Noorden (27 Sep 1957) on the parliamentary debate after the national consultation conference. PKI MP Suharti Suwarto sharply criticised the revolutionary councils in Sumatra and Celebes for arresting local communist leaders, warning the conference decisions cannot work until they are freed. Other speakers urge Suka
SOBSI, Partindo and Gerwani protest to Singapore government (Berita Harian, 1963)
Berita Harian, 6 February 1963, p. 3: SOBSI, Partindo and Gerwani send a protest to the Singapore government over the previous week's arrests of left-wing figures (Operation Coldstore); SOBSI blames the British and Tunku Abdul Rahman. The clipping is damaged and ends abruptly; Gerwani is only one of three protesting bo
SOBSI protest to Singapore government over mass arrests (Straits Times, 1963)
The Straits Times, 6 February 1963, p. 10, Reuters: SOBSI cables the Singapore government protesting the mass arrests of left-wing people the previous weekend and demanding release of detainees; Partindo and the Gerwani Women's Movement 'have also protested'. Brief mention of Gerwani among Indonesian left organisations
Pravda, c. 27 Oct 1965: The Situation in Indonesia
Pravda, c. 27 October 1965 (No. 300), 'The Situation in Indonesia': two short TASS dispatches from Jakarta dated 26 October. They report Sukarno and Subandrio on the 30 September Movement and ongoing repression of the PKI. Gerwani is mentioned once, among organisations banned by military authorities in North Sulawesi a
ANP news report, 10 October 1965 (Indonesia: arrests continue)
ANP radio bulletin, 10 Oct 1965: arrests continue in Jakarta; among arrested communists are members of Gerwani, 'said to be responsible' for the killing/mutilation of the six generals (garbled in source). Also reports Njoto's reported arrest, soldiers at Hotel Indonesia and 1,500-2,000 arrests in Java in a week. An ear
ANP news report, 11 October 1965 (Indonesia: Gerwani headquarters burned in Aceh)
ANP radio bulletin, 11 Oct 1965: the army arrests all PKI board members in Bandung, and in Aceh demonstrators burned down the headquarters of Gerwani. Also notes the evacuation of American embassy families from Jakarta. Early evidence of anti-Gerwani violence outside Java.
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