JPRS Translations on South and East Asia No. 101: Indonesian press, October 1965 (dismiss Gerwani from the women's movem
JPRS Translations on South and East Asia No. 101: selected Oct 1965 Indonesian press items. Gerwani-related: Duta Masjarakat (16 Oct) 'Dismiss Gerwani from Women's Movement' saying members trained at Lobang Buaja and urging Kowani (chair Hurustiati Subandrio) to act; 11 Oct 'Gerwani and Pemuda Rakjat in Disguise' (clai
Dramatic funeral in Jakarta: lieutenant saved Nasution's life
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
While Sukarno keeps silent, 1,500 communists arrested; Gerwani blamed for torture
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.
Java ruled by the army
Friese Koerier ANP/Reuters wire report (11 Oct 1965, p.1) on the situation in Java after the 30 September coup attempt: 90% of rebels reportedly arrested, Muslims looting the homes of Aidit and Njoto and the Gerwani headquarters. It adds that among arrested communists are Gerwani members 'said to be responsible for the
Indonesia: Army nets 1,500 Reds (New York Herald Tribune, European ed., 11 October 1965)
New York Herald Tribune (European ed.), 11 Oct 1965, Reuters report 'Army Nets 1,500 Reds' from Djakarta. Says the army arrested at least 1,500 Communists, including members of 'the Gerwani Communist women's movement, some members of which are alleged to have tortured the six army generals', plus PKI band and choir mem
Mass arrests by Indonesian army: Communist offices burned (The Irish Times, 11 October 1965)
The Irish Times, 11 Oct 1965, p.66 (Reuter and AP): mass arrests of Communists in Jakarta (about 1,500 detained) after PKI headquarters were burned; Muslims and army organise processions demanding Aidit be hanged. Those arrested include Gerwani members, some alleged to have tortured the six generals, and a crowd of Mus
Mass arrests in Indonesia: 3,500 Communists detained during round-up (The Scotsman, 11 October 1965)
The Scotsman, 11 Oct 1965 (Djakarta, Sunday): mass arrests of Communists after the reported discovery of arms and a radio transmitter at burned PKI headquarters, with detainees put at 3,500 including rebels in Java. Among those arrested are Gerwani members alleged to have tortured the six generals whose mutilated bodie
Mass arrests in Jakarta: anti-Communist drive (The Times, 11 October 1965)
The Times, 11 Oct 1965, p.9, whole page scan; only the first article, 'Mass arrests in Jakarta: anti-Communist drive', concerns Indonesia (other items cover Aden, Cuba, Bulgaria, etc.). It reports 1,500 detained, the burning of PKI headquarters, Muslim demands that Aidit be hanged, and that arrested Communists include
Communists
Gereformeerd Gezinsblad wire item (12 Oct 1965, p.1): Muslims looted the homes of Aidit and Njoto and then the headquarters of the communist women's organisation 'Gerwani'; 86 'counter-revolutionaries' arrested near Breses; 1,500-2,000 rebels arrested on Java. It repeats that arrested Gerwani members are said to be res
Fate of four Diponegoro Division officers unknown: Gerwani and the generals' widows (Berita Harian, 1965)
Berita Harian, 15 October 1965, p. 3, Reuters: troops capture local communist leaders in Serang, units search a communist's house in Jakarta, and unrest in Yogyakarta; reports claim 'more and more' Gerwani members tried to kidnap army officers' wives and, the previous night, to seize several generals' widows. An early
Berita Yudha, 18 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 18 Oktober 1965. Crowds raiding the Matraman house of 'Gestapu ringleader' Tjugito reportedly found 'a list of Gerwani members who were combat ready' and Gerwani banners; Suharto installed as Army commander.
Demonstration against Subandrio
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
Berita Yudha, 20 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 20 Oktober 1965. Richest issue in the set for Gerwani: Jakarta commander freezes activities of 'PKI, Gerwani, Pemuda Rakyat, BTI, CGMI...' and the women's volunteer corps leader Ibu Soemarno speaks; formal freeze of Gerwani.
Berita Yudha, 21 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 21 Oktober 1965. Army information chief alleges 'Gerwani Semarang' ran a public kitchen for 3,000 at the time of the 'coup'; further reports on the fate of Gerwani and the women's federation.
Berita Yudha, 29 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 29 Oktober 1965. Kodam Bukit Barisan report 'Digerebeg di Siantar' claims a Gerwani woman 'trained at Lubang Buaya' was found in a raid in Pematang Siantar, repeating eye-gouging claims.
Suara Merdeka, 29 October 1965, p. 2: 'Confession' of a Pemuda Rakyat leader on Lubang Buaya training
Suara Merdeka (Semarang), 29 Oktober 1965, hlm. 2. Antara report of the 'confession' of Pemuda Rakyat leader 'MSN': secret 'GTM' recruitment for Lubang Buaya training from July 1965, seeing many Gerwani, PR and BTI in ranks, 'Ibu Djumono of the DPP Gerwani', and ranks that 'appeared happy and sang'.
Berita Yudha, 30 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 30 Oktober 1965. Gerwani appears in six items: a Pemuda Rakyat detainee describes Lubang Buaya training of thousands of men and women, seeing 'many members of Gerwani' lined up; one month after 1 October.
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
Aidit surrounded by army in Central Java: Gerwani 'suicide squad' in Solo (Berita Harian, 1965)
Berita Harian, 7 November 1965, p. 1: reports Aidit surrounded in Central Java (Col. Jasir) and, from army broadcasts, that nine 'suicide' members of Gerwani blocked tanks in Solo, jeered at paratroopers and were killed when they would not move. The text does not say how; the account is army-sourced and unverified. Als
Pregnant teenager confesses: PKI women tell of the cruel killing at Lubang Buaya (Berita Harian, 1965)
Berita Minggu/Berita Harian, 7 November 1965, p. 10, UPI: the 'confession' of Jamilah, 15 and pregnant, a Pemuda Rakyat member, reported from Angkatan Bersenjata. She says about 100 Gerwani women among 500 at Halim were given knives, struck first, and hacked a blindfolded general's genitals. A core Lubang Buaya slander
Suicide squad women crushed by army tanks (Straits Times, 1965)
The Straits Times, 7 November 1965, p. 7, world round-up: an army bulletin says nine 'suicide members' of Gerwani blocked army tanks in Solo, were 'gently asked' to move, jeered at paratroopers, and were killed by the troops when they refused. Same army-sourced story as Berita Harian's 7 November report; unverified. He
Women Denounce Reds (Sunraysia Daily, 10 November 1965)
Sunraysia Daily (Mildura), 10 November 1965, p. 14, AAP/UPI report from Jakarta that 10,000 women (housewives, students, actresses) denounced Gerwani as 'a disgrace to Indonesian womanhood' and demanded its dissolution. They marched from Suharto's headquarters to the National Front with bands and batons and handed a pe
Women Denounce Reds (Sunraysia Daily, 10 November 1965), duplicate
Sunraysia Daily (Mildura), 10 November 1965, p. 14, AAP/UPI report from Jakarta that 10,000 women (housewives, students, actresses) denounced Gerwani as 'a disgrace to Indonesian womanhood' and demanded its dissolution. They marched from Suharto's headquarters to the National Front with bands and batons and handed a pe
Communist woman detained in North Sumatra (Berita Harian, 1965)
Berita Harian, 15 November 1965, p. 3 (clipping lacks its headline), Antara via Medan: a Gerwani member is detained near an Islamic scholar's house; police say a 'secret mark' was found on her thigh and she confessed she was assigned to kill the cleric. A typical 1965 propaganda item on Gerwani as assassins and 'marked
And shame (Solo, November 1965)
Limburgsch Dagblad, 20 November 1965, p. 5: correspondent's column from Solo. Paratroopers daily parade 'enemies of the people', yesterday three Gerwani members, described as involved in the massacres 'in the most dissolute manner', forced to lie face down on hot asphalt before a passive crowd. It also describes ex-may
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
Armed Forces Information Centre, Intisari Berita, 3 December 1965: Puspenad statement on PKI as sole executor of G30S
Armed Forces Information Centre bulletin, 3 Desember 1965. Puspenad statement declaring the PKI sole executor of the 30 September Movement; Gerwani cited among armed 'auxiliary forces' trained at Lubang Buaya and as forces Njono organised; self-dissolution of a Kebayoran Gerwani ranting.
Berita Yudha, 6 December 1965
Berita Yudha, 6 Desember 1965. Three Gerwani items: 'Astagaaa!' relays a Pemuda Rakyat member's 'confession' in Langkat that he and Gerwani put the generals' bodies in the well; others on pp. 1–2.
Armed Forces Information Centre, Intisari Berita, 7 December 1965: sweeps in Central Java and condemnation of Gerwani
Armed Forces Information Centre bulletin, 7 Desember 1965. Three Gerwani members seized among 124 people in sweeps in Pemalang, Cilacap, Blora and Boyolali; a statement condemns Gerwani for 'tearing apart the personality of Indonesian women'.
Armed Forces Information Centre, Intisari Berita, 10 December 1965: Chaerul Saleh condemns Lubang Buaya terror, Perwa...
Armed Forces Information Centre bulletin, 10 Desember 1965. Arrest round-up with 'a Gerwani'; Chaerul Saleh condemns the 'terror of Lubang Buaya in which Gerwani took an important part' and announces expulsion of Perwari members also in Gerwani.