Good relations with Netherlands only after return of Irian (Gerwani received by Sukarno)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (5 Apr 1954, p.1): President and Mrs Sukarno received Gerwani members (the former Gerwis) after their five-day Jakarta congress. Sukarno said a just state cannot be achieved by one sex alone. Dutch communist MP Rie Lips-Odinot, who attended, voiced Dutch sympathy; Sukarno replied that good r
President receives Gerwani: 'Men and women must build the state together'
Java-Bode, 5 April 1954, p. 2: President Sukarno and his wife received Gerwani (formerly Gerwis) members at the end of their five-day Jakarta congress. Sukarno said the just and prosperous state cannot be built by one sex alone, and that women's problems are solved not by equal rights alone but by that state, which men
The situation in Aceh; Gerwani Lampung anti-pornography resolution
De Nieuwsgier news roundup (15 Nov 1954, p. 2) mostly on Aceh security incidents. One item reports that Gerwani of Lampung, at its first congress in Tanjung Karang, resolved to ask the government to ban pornographic reading matter, indecent advertisements and films, and urged other women's and democratic organisations
Gerwani of Lampung: first congress, resolution against pornography
De Locomotief, 16 Nov 1954: a one-line item that Gerwani of Lampung, at its first congress at Tanjungkarang, decided to submit to the government a resolution requesting a ban and confiscation of pornographic reading matter and improper newspaper and film advertisements. Other items (Stork-Werkspoor orders, Tokyo, Phili
Gerwani congress: forced marriages must be abolished in modern Indonesia
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-11-30, p. 2): two-day congress of Gerwani's Bandung branch ('formerly Gerwis') sends sympathy to Maisoeri, a sixteen-year-old in South Sumatra jailed for refusing a forced marriage to a sixty-year-old, and calls for abolishing forced marriages. It also demands bans on 'modern dances' and
In brief: Gerwani Bandung congress sends sympathy to Maisuri
Column of short news items in De Vrije Pers (30 Nov 1954). Relevant item: a two-day Gerwani congress of the Bandung branch decided to send a message of sympathy to Maisuri, a young woman in South Sumatra who suffered a "forced marriage". Other items are unrelated world news.
Gerwani congress (Bandung branch)
Java-Bode, 30 November 1954, p. 2: the Bandung branch of Gerwani (formerly Gerwis), at a two-day congress, sent sympathy to Maisuri, victim of a forced marriage in South Sumatra, and urged abolition of forced marriages. It also called for banning modern dances and immoral film imports, and backed the Ali-Arifin cabinet
Gerwani congress (Bandung branch)
Short item, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 4 Dec 1954, p. 3: the two-day congress of the Bandung branch of Gerwani (formerly Gerwis) sends sympathy to Maisuri, a South Sumatran girl in a forced marriage, calls for abolition of forced marriage, bans on 'modern dances' and 'immoral' films, and backs the Ali-Arifin cabi
Action for liberation of Irian (mass meeting, Jakarta, December 1954)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (6 Dec 1954, p.2): a mass meeting in Jakarta, organised by the Irian liberation committee and women's organisations, adopted a resolution urging unilateral incorporation of Irian, breaking relations and agreements with the Netherlands. Speakers included Mrs Sularman Hadikusumo (Wanita Demokr
Djakarta postpones the evil day (The Observer, 16 January 1955)
The Observer, 16 Jan 1955, p.7, Rawle Knox, 'Djakarta Postpones the Evil Day': impressionistic report from Jakarta on a lively, disorderly capital, the Ali Sastroamidjojo government's dependence on Communist support, Sukarno's drift from impartiality, the delayed first election and anti-Dutch boycotts. A passing quote
Supplementary statements (Maisuri affair)
Java-Bode, 10 February 1955, p. 2: report on supplementary testimony in the Maisuri forced-marriage case before the customary court in South Sumatra, showing the marriage was arranged by Hadji Achmad, his wife, her father and an intermediary without Maisuri's consent. It notes Gerwani and other women's organisations ma
Re-examination of forced marriage of a minor girl
Java-Bode, 10 February 1955, p. 2: report that the customary court at Tanjungraja began re-examining the Maisuri case on appeal. Maisuri, forced by her father to marry a 45-year-old hadji, married her chosen partner Kojum instead and was sentenced with him and her uncle to six months. Prominent Palembang women and Sout
Marriage concluded by father valid? (the Maisuri case)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (11 Feb 1955, p.4): in a customary-court retrial in Tanjungraja, village girl Maisuri, forced by her father to marry a 45-year-old hadji, is defended by lawyer Mr Muwalladi provided by the women's association Gerwani. She had married Kojum, her own choice, and was sentenced with him and her
Now a national issue: re-examination of the Maisuri forced-marriage case
De Locomotief, 12 Feb 1955: the adat court at Tanjungraja re-examines the Maisuri case, a village girl forced by her father to marry a 45-year-old hadji, who instead married the youth she chose and was sentenced to six months with her husband and uncle. Prominent Palembang women and delegates of Gerwani's South Sumatra
Statements in the Maisuri forced-marriage case
De Locomotief, 12 Feb 1955: follow-up on the Maisuri forced-marriage case. Supplementary testimony shows Maisuri never agreed to marry Hadji Achmad and the match was arranged without her and her mother. The case became a national question through Gerwani and other women's organisations, which see it as breaking the con
Re-examination of forced marriage of a minor girl (Maisuri case)
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 16 Feb 1955, p. 3: the customary court at Tanjungraja re-examines the Maisuri case, a village girl forced to marry a 45-year-old hadji who sentenced her and her chosen husband to six months. Gerwani South Sumatra delegates attend; Gerwani and other women's groups made it a national issu
Indonesian Women's 3rd Congress, Palembang, 2-6 March 1955 (Indian Daily Mail)
Indian Daily Mail (Singapore), 2 March 1955, p. 1: the third Indonesian Women's Congress is held in Palembang, 2-6 March, with 300 delegates of women's organisations. Preparatory committee chair is Mrs S.A. Hanafiah (Gerwani), secretary Mrs R. Mailan (Gerwani), treasurer Mrs Djauhari; Perwari, Gerwani, Wanita Demokrat
Salatiga: International Women's Day, 1955
De Locomotief, 9 Mar 1955: Salatiga's women's federation (10 organisations) marks International Women's Day on 8 March in the people's building; Mrs Kaslah of Gerwani gives the opening speech and Mrs Sugijarto of Rukun Wanita explains the day's meaning, followed by remarks from agencies and parties.
Mme Suharti, president of the Indonesian Women's Movement; Sukarno and polygamy
La Presse (17 May 1955, p.10): feature on a Muslim feminist campaign against polygamy, starting with the Pakistani PM Mohamed Ali's second marriage and spreading to Java. Says Fatmawati Sukarno was recruited and that Hartini was pregnant during the Bandung Conference. A snippet names Mme Suharti, president of the 'very
Mme Suharti, president of the Indonesian Women's Movement; Sukarno and polygamy (extract)
La Presse (17 May 1955, p.10), snippet extract of the polygamy feature: unrest in Indonesia over Sukarno's marriage to Hartini, in which Mme Suharti, president of the 'very communist-leaning' Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerwani), took advantage; Hartini's pregnancy surfaced as the Bandung Conference drew attention.
A home
Fragmentary Algemeen Indisch Dagblad item 'Een tehuis' (1955-06-02, p. 2): proposal for a children's home with expert carers for neglected children of working or ill parents. The plan arose at a meeting of main women's organisations, including Perwari, Budi Isteri and Gerwani, in Bandung; a founding committee formed on
S. Hadikusumo: Indonesia is ready for the elections
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (5 Sep 1955, p.1): S. Hadikusumo, head of the central election committee, says all regions except unrest areas (Aceh, South Sulawesi) are ready for the 29 September 1955 parliamentary elections. Gerwani urged its members to help ensure elections are held on time because they will express wom
Childcare centre planned for election day by Gerwani in Jombang
De Locomotief, 7 Sept 1955: the Gerwani branch in Jombang forms a committee, led by a Mrs Kenrati (uncertain), to set up a children's care centre during the coming general elections so mothers can vote calmly. Evidence of Gerwani's practical electoral support for women and childcare.
Preparation of election details
Java-Bode, 8 September 1955, p. 2: news column. The Gerwani branch Djomblang (Jombang) formed a committee to run a child day-care centre during the elections so mothers can vote calmly. Other items concern Surabaya mobilising students as polling-station order helpers and Colonel Simbolon's visit to Sukarno.
Preparing election details (Gerwani day-care for voters)
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 14 Sep 1955, p. 1: the Gerwani Jomblang branch sets up a committee to run a children's day-care place during the 1955 elections so mothers can vote in peace. Same item reports Surabaya's plan to use students as order-keepers at polling stations.
Constituent Assembly and marriage legislation: Gerwani statement
De Nieuwsgier item (28 Nov 1955) reporting a Gerwani central board statement: speaking of the president's household while ignoring the fight for a democratic marriage law is pointless. It urges women to vote so the Konstituante secures women's rights per the UN Declaration, citing the forced marriage of Maisuri of Tanj
Gerwani wants a democratic marriage law
De Locomotief, 29 Nov 1955: statement by Gerwani's central board (OCR partly garbled) calling for a democratic marriage law, citing the Maisuri forced-marriage case as proof that women's constitutional rights are violated. It urges women to be active in the Constituent Assembly elections and argues the 'first lady' deb
Active in the elections
Java-Bode, 29 November 1955, p. 2: partly missing statement by the Gerwani central board secretariat, on the 'first lady' debate, urging women to be active in the Konstituante elections and to focus on a democratic marriage law, not on the first-lady status. It rejects privileges derived from a husband's position and c
Gerwani on the position of women in marriage
Java-Bode, 29 November 1955, p. 2: Gerwani central board secretariat statement on women's position in marriage, ahead of the Konstituante elections and amid the 'first lady' issue. It says women's constitutional rights are not respected, citing the Maisuri forced-marriage case, and blames governments' failure to enact
Gerwani on marriage: polygamy should in principle be forbidden
De Locomotief, 30 Nov 1955: Gerwani's central board announces its proposals for marriage regulation to the coming Constituante: marriage without coercion, free choice and equal rights; abolition of child, forced and purchase marriages and mistress-keeping; polygamy to be forbidden in principle, and if allowed on religi