FBIS, 4 April 1954: 'Gerwani' representatives visit Sukarno
FBIS-monitored Jakarta radio (4 Apr 1954): President and Madame Sukarno received Gerwani members after their Second Congress; Sukarno said equal rights are not women's final mission, which needs a just, prosperous country. A Dutch women's movement member spoke for peace; Sukarno tied Indonesian-Dutch understanding to W
Sukarno urges communist to support transfer of New Guinea; Mrs Lips-Odinot, interpreter of 'peaceful' Netherlands
Algemeen Handelsblad (1954-04-05): President Sukarno received participants of the Gerwani congress; Dutch communist MP Rie Lips-Odinot conveyed the sympathy of the 'peace-loving part of the Dutch people'. Sukarno replied that good relations require return of New Guinea, and she endorsed Indonesia's claim. The paper cal
Untruthful communist business: Gerwani congress in Jakarta
De Maasbode, 5 Apr 1954: Sukarno receives at the palace women attending the Gerwani congress in Jakarta (described as a continuation of the communist Gerwis). The Dutch communist MP Mrs Lips-Odinot conveys the 'peace-loving' Dutch people's support; Sukarno says New Guinea is the main barrier to good relations. Shows Ge
Sukarno addresses 'peace-loving Netherlands'
Leeuwarder Courant, 5 April 1954, p. 2: Dutch regional paper reports Sukarno receiving participants of Gerwani's Jakarta congress (Gerwani called a communist Gerwis continuation). Communist MP Rie Lips-Odinot voiced Dutch peace-lovers' sympathy; Sukarno said no good relations are possible until New Guinea is returned,
Communist MP spoke on New Guinea: reception with Sukarno
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (5 Apr 1954): President Sukarno receives participants of a Gerwani congress (described as continuing the communist Gerwis). Dutch CPN MP Rie Lips-Odinot conveys sympathy of the 'peace-loving part of the Dutch people' for Indonesia's New Guinea claim; Sukarno answers that no good relationship i
Men and women must build the state together
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 14 Apr 1954, p. 3: President Sukarno receives Gerwani delegates after their five-day congress in Jakarta, saying women's problems are solved by a just state built by men and women together. Dutch MP Rie Lips-Odinot raises West Irian; WIDF vice-president Monica Felton lectures; Australia
Position of women discussed
Java-Bode, 23 April 1954, p. 2: Gerwani held a Wednesday-evening meeting at Adhuc Stat to welcome foreign women's delegates. Australian delegate Allison Diekei, Dutch delegate Rie Lips and Soviet delegate Alexandra Kholopova spoke on women's position in their countries; Kholopova also described study opportunities for
A great and strong people fights for a better life: Rie Lips on Java
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: opening of an interview with Rie Lips, vice-chair of the NVB, back from six weeks on Java after the Gerwis/Gerwani congress. She rejects stereotypes of Indonesians as lazy, dirty or stupid, citing women who work in factories or walk hours to attend meetings of the women's movement, 'the
Latest news from Indonesia (June 1954)
Antara news roundup, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 16 Jun 1954, p. 4 (5-9 June). Relevant item: the Gerwani central board urges the government to abrogate the Netherlands-Indonesian Union unilaterally and pledges support. Other items cover foreigner registration, trade with Yugoslavia, oil wells, smuggling and the c
Joint declaration of thirty parties (abolition of the Netherlands-Indonesian Union)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (24 Jun 1954, p.1): the Jakarta cooperation committee of about thirty parties and organisations, including PNI, PKI, Partai Buruh, Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, SOBSI, BTI and Wanita Rakjat, issued a joint declaration demanding immediate abolition of the Indonesian-Dutch Union, blaming Dutch imper
Cooperating parties want High Commissioner persona non grata
De Gooi- en Eemlander, 2 July 1954: a committee of 31 cooperating parties and organisations, including the PKI, PNI, SOBSI and Gerwani, demands that Dutch High Commissioner Count van Bylandt be declared persona non grata. It also asks for unilateral abolition of the Netherlands-Indonesia Union and a West Irian administ
Indonesian parties: 'Declare Count Van Bylandt persona non grata'
Het Rotterdamsch Parool report (2 Jul 1954, p.3): the Jakarta committee of cooperating parties, 31 parties and organisations including PKI, PNI, Partai Buruh, NU, Perbepsi, Gerwani and SOBSI, urges the government to declare Dutch High Commissioner Count Van Bylandt persona non grata after his statement, and to recall t
Indonesian parties demand Van Bylandt be declared persona non grata
Nieuw Utrechtsch Dagblad, 2 July 1954, p. 3: a committee of 31 cooperating Indonesian parties and organisations, including PKI, PNI, Partai Buruh, NU, Sobsi and Gerwani, urges the government to declare Dutch High Commissioner Count Van Bylandt persona non grata over his statement, and to recall the Indonesian delegatio
Mass demonstration in Jakarta demands incorporation of West Irian
De Locomotief, 6 Dec 1954: tens of thousands rally on Merdeka Square, Jakarta, organised by the West Irian liberation committee with women's associations. Speakers include Umi Sardjono of Gerwani, who read out the resolution demanding unilateral incorporation of West Irian, severing relations with the Netherlands and a
Mass demonstration in Jakarta demands incorporation of West Irian (duplicate copy)
Second copy of the De Locomotief report of 6 Dec 1954 on the Merdeka Square mass meeting for West Irian. Umi Sardjono of Gerwani spoke and read the resolution demanding unilateral incorporation, severing of Dutch relations and abrogation of the agreements; text differs slightly in wording ('colonial Dutch government').
Mass demonstration on Medan Merdeka for West Irian
De Nieuwsgier front-page report (6 Dec 1954) on a mass demonstration at Medan Merdeka, Jakarta, organised by the West Irian liberation committee with women's organisations, demanding incorporation of Irian and rupture with the Netherlands. Speakers included Mrs. Sudarman Hadikusumo, Mrs. Kartowijono (Perwari) and Mrs.
Mass demonstration in Jakarta for incorporation of West Irian
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 15 Dec 1954, p. 3: Jakarta mass rally of tens of thousands for the incorporation of West Irian, organised by the liberation committee with the women's organisations' central body. Umi Sardjono of Gerwani reads the resolution demanding severance of relations with the Netherlands; Kartowi
Sukarno: with two billion people's support Indonesia will win; West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 23 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 23 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno receives WIDF vice-president Maria Maddalena Rossi, invited to Gerwani's Third National Congress, and says two billion people back Indonesia on West Irian; second item reports Djuanda placing the West Irian struggle under the National Security Council and the D
Sukarno: with two billion people's support Indonesia will win; West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 23 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 23 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno receives WIDF vice-president Maria Maddalena Rossi, invited to Gerwani's Third National Congress, and says two billion people back Indonesia on West Irian; second item reports Djuanda placing the West Irian struggle under the National Security Council and the D
Dolgozó Nő, 1 Feb 1958: the ground burns under the Dutch (West Irian)
Dolgozó Nő, 1 Feb 1958. Article on West Irian and the Netherlands, presenting Dutch rule as colonial exploitation of a resource-rich territory that is part of Indonesia; it states Gerwani is highly active in the campaign to regain West Irian, supported by Asian and African women's groups and all 80 member federations o
Millions of Women Abroad behind the Indonesian People's Struggle for Independence
Api Kartini (1959) article on how the WIDF (GWDS) and millions of women abroad supported Indonesia's independence struggle, noting Gerwani as an Indonesian member. Recounts WIDF's 1947 message to the UN against the Dutch aggression, Dutch women's protests (Schoonhoven, NVB), 1949 actions and later solidarity on Irian B
Anti-Dutch agitation again in Indonesia: Gerwani urges confiscation of Dutch capital
Short De Telegraaf wire item (17 May 1960, AP): the oil workers' union Perboem and Gerwani, described as affiliated with the Indonesian communist party, urged the government to confiscate Dutch capital in Dutch Shell during the nationalisation of Dutch interests.
Indonesian mothers: 'Do not send your sons to West Irian'
De Waarheid, 8 Jun 1960, p. 3: report that the NVB received a telegram from Gerwani, 'For peace and humanity, do not send your sons to West Irian', and replied that it will try to launch a big protest campaign. Quotes the NVB's letter to the Dutch cabinet opposing troop and arms shipments to New Guinea and recalling th
A letter from Indonesia to the Dutch Women's Movement (Gerwani reply)
De Waarheid, 29 Aug 1960, p. 2: publication of Gerwani's reply letter to the NVB, thanking Dutch women on behalf of its 710,000 members for their efforts to prevent sons being sent to West Irian, promising to publish the NVB letter in Indonesia and to keep working for peace. Prefaced by a note recalling Gerwani's teleg
Greeting from Gerwani to the Dutch women's meeting on New Guinea
De Waarheid, 28 Nov 1961, p. 3: report of an NVB (Dutch women's) meeting where the peaceful settlement of New Guinea was top of the programme. A highlight was a greeting from Gerwani, described as a 900,000-member Indonesian women's organisation, saying Indonesian and Dutch women are closely linked in protecting childr
International solidarity: Gerwani's greeting quoted to the Dutch women's movement
De Waarheid, 28 Nov 1961, p. 3: one-paragraph quote from Gerwani's greeting to the Dutch women's movement (NVB): Indonesian mothers organised in Gerwani will never forget the NVB's consistent help and solidarity in the struggle to liberate West Irian. Companion to the 'Begroeting Gerwani' item.
Subandrio again threatens action
Leeuwarder Courant, 16 December 1961, p. 8: short report that Indonesian defence minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, said Indonesia would have to resort to military confrontation if the Netherlands grants Western New Guinea independence, while saying Indonesia is for peace. The paper calls Gerwani a '
Api Kartini No. 2, Year 4, February 1962
February 1962 issue on 'Mobilisasi Umum' for the Tri Komando Rakjat West Irian campaign: volunteer registration, home-front food production and reports on Dutch atrocities.
Api Kartini No. 4, Year 4, April 1962
April 1962 issue: Sulami's editorial 'women need revolution, revolution needs women', a Dutch mothers' letter to Queen Juliana against troops to West Irian with Gerwani's reply via WIDF, and Bandung Conference anniversary.
Protest at US support for Dutch seizure of West Irian; Gerwani letter to Robert Kennedy (Renmin Ribao, 17 February 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Feb 1962, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): during US Attorney General Robert Kennedy's visit, Indonesian student bodies, trade unions and Gerwani protest US support for Dutch 'self-determination' on West Irian; Gerwani delivered a protest letter to the US embassy. Students shout 'Recover West Irian' at Gadjah M