Balance sheet of Indonesian political parties
Nieuw Utrechtsch Dagblad, 17 January 1947, p. 2: list drawn up by the Republican paper De Patriot of Indonesian groups for and against the Linggadjati draft agreement. Perwari, PKI, Sobsi, BTI and the Partai Sosialis are listed for; Masjumi, PNI and Partai Wanita Rakjat against. Gerwani/Gerwis (founded later) does not
KNIP working committee (composition, April 1947)
Het Nieuws (Algemeen Dagblad) item (29 Apr 1947, p.1) listing the 1947 working committee of the KNIP (Republic's provisional parliament) by party: BTI, Partai Sosialis, PKI (Njoto, Dr Roestam), Partai Buruh (including 'Soewarti'), Masjumi, PNI and group representatives. Mejuffrouw Soesilowati is named for the girls' le
Ministers of State
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1947-07-04) lists new Indonesian Republic ministers of state. Mrs. K. Trimurti (S.K. Trimurti) of the Partai Buruh Indonesia is Minister of Labour with Wilopo (PNI) as deputy; others include Wikana, Hamengkubuwono IX and Maruto Darusman (PKI).
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
Mangunsarkoro (PNI) and Roem (Masjumi) cabinet formateurs
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 24 Jun 1953, p. 1: Sukarno appoints Mangunsarkoro (PNI) and Roem (Masjumi) as cabinet formateurs after Wilopo's fall; reports party programmes. Gerwis issues a statement urging a cabinet that protects working and pregnant women, curbs unemployment, raises education budgets, controls pri
Mayor explains composition of regency election committees in Jakarta
De Nieuwsgier, 13 Feb 1954: Jakarta Mayor Sudiro explains the composition of the three regency election committees, giving one seat each to Masjumi, PNI, Gerwis, NU, PKI, PIR, Perwari and others. Gerwis's seat falls from two to one, with a Gerwis woman seated to represent 'socialism'; the Wanita Demokrat seat passes to
Public Masyumi meeting: 'Quran doctrines must be basis of our state'
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-03-29, p. 2): report of a public Masyumi meeting in Bandung. Mrs. Ijom Suleiman argues Islam gives women equal rights and duties; Masyumi West Java secretary Rusjad Nurdin rejects PKI claims that Masyumi are American compradors and urges Muslims never to join the PKI or organisations it i
What others write
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad press review (1954-09-20, p. 2): Jakarta papers commemorate the 1948 Madiun revolt as a communist plot; Medan papers criticise the information minister; and Malay and Philippine women and press react to Sukarno's second marriage, with Malay Ibu Kaum leaders saying Muslim public figures should n
Sukarno's second marriage
Dutch newspaper roundup (1954-09-21, p. 9) of Indonesian press reactions to President Sukarno's second marriage (to Mrs. Soewondo), called a serious blow to the women's movement. A delegation of women led by Perwari chair Mrs. Kortowijono visited the palace. Press is split; Indonesia Raya stresses women's long fight ov
Women's delegation at the palace: uproar over Sukarno's new marriage
Leeuwarder Courant, 21 September 1954, p. 3: Dutch roundup of the uproar over Sukarno's marriage to Hartini. A four-woman delegation led by Perwari chair Mrs Kartowijono visited the palace; Indonesian, Chinese and Malayan-region papers are quoted, some warning that the fuss helps the PKI, Indonesia Raya calling it a bl
Uproar over Sukarno's marriage not yet calmed: women's delegation received by the president
Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant (21 Sep 1954): uproar over Sukarno's marriage to Mrs Suwondo (Hartini). A four-woman delegation led by Perwari chair Mrs Kartowijono spent an hour at the palace. Indonesian papers divide; Keng Po fears PKI advantage, Indonesia Raya calls the marriage 'a great blow to the women's m
Sukarno's second marriage: Indonesian press deplores president's decision
Provinciale Overijsselsche en Zwolsche Courant (21 Sep 1954) survey of Indonesian press reaction to Sukarno's second marriage (to Mrs Suwondo): attacks on the 'palace clique', Keng Po's fear it will favour the PKI, Suara Rakyat and Pikiran Rakyat lamenting a presidential crisis. A Perwari-led women's delegation visited
Parliament on Sukarno's second marriage
Het Parool report (6 Oct 1954, p.108): parliament asks the government to clarify its stand on President Sukarno's second marriage, as the controversy causes the first rift in the year-old PNI-PKI coalition. A woman MP of the socialist fraction submitted the request, and parliament received a petition from women's movem
Sukarno's marriage
Tubantia/Twentsch Dagblad brief (7 Oct 1954): the Indonesian parliament asks the government's view on Sukarno's second marriage and, with communists voting against, agrees to consider a women's movement petition to deprive Muslim men of the right to marry more than one wife. Relevant to the polygamy campaign Gerwani an
From parliament: legal position of members must be regulated
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (25 Nov 1954, p.2): parliamentary report on the bill on legal position of MPs. Mrs Moedigdio (Mudigdio) of the PKI objected to its content and argued parliamentary immunity is an aim of the democratic system that must be well maintained; other speakers include Murba, Progressive, PNI and Mas
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
Theft by Dutch imperialism: one cow per farmer per year (Aidit speaks in Bandung)
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1955-05-31, p. 2): PKI election rally at Tegallega, Bandung, with tens of thousands present. Candidates Eddy Abdurrachman and Mrs. Suwarti open, she stressing women's interests; D.N. Aidit criticises post-RTC governments and the Madiun executions of Musso and Sjarifuddin without trial. Archive
Elections in Indonesia on Thursday
Arnhemsche Courant, 27 Sept 1955: preview of Indonesia's first general elections (29 Sept), expecting a communist-Masjumi contest and noting that women have emerged as a political force within existing parties. Gerwani is not named; useful context for the 1955 elections.
Indonesia goes to choose symbols
Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, 27 September 1955, p. 5: preview of Indonesia's first general election, with about 43 million voters, 63 parties and symbol-based ballots for illiterates (hammer and sickle versus buffalo head). It expects a PKI-Masjumi contest and notes that Indonesian women have emerged as a political forc
Votes in the jungle: elections in Indonesia on Thursday
Nijmeegsch Dagblad (27 Sep 1955) pre-election report on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, expected Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Notes women emerging as a political force within parties, citing a Masyumi women's rally; Gerwani is not named.
Elections in Indonesia on Thursday: about half of voters expected at the polls
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Mentions women's political activity within parties via a Masyumi women's rally; Gerwani not named.
Elections in Indonesia on Thursday: about half of voters expected at the polls
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Mentions women's political activity within parties via a Masyumi women's rally; Gerwani not named. Same text as the Ons Noorden item, here in Overijssels
General elections begin Thursday in Indonesia
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Women emerge as a political force within parties; Gerwani is not named.
After fierce campaign 43 million Indonesians vote Thursday
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Women emerge as a political force within parties; Gerwani is not named. Version in Zutphens Dagblad also quotes a Masyumi women's rally of about 1,000 wh
Elections tomorrow in Indonesia
Nieuwsblad voor de Hoeksche Waard en IJselmonde, 28 September 1955, p. 1: preview of Indonesia's first general election with 43 million voters and 63 parties, expecting a PKI-Masjumi contest. It notes women as a political force within existing parties, citing a Masjumi women's meeting of about 1,000. Gerwani is not nam
P.N.I. (analysis of the 1955 election result)
Het Parool column 'P.N.I.' (11 Nov 1955) analysing the 1955 Indonesian election result: the PNI did well despite corruption; Sukarno's second marriage (Hartini) had been thought to hurt him as it moved many prominent Indonesian women to militant counter-action, but the fight against polygamy was a concern of a handful
Law concerning the RTC agreements
Java-Bode, 16 April 1956, p. 2: parliamentary debate on the government programme and abolition of the RTC agreements, with Sakirman (PKI), Prawoto and others. Umi Sardjono of the Pembangunan faction spoke on the lot of Indonesian women, still unprotected by marriage legislation.
'The fathers are not pure': Mrs Fatmawati Sukarno: 'Let me form a cabinet'
Dagblad voor Noord-Limburg, 30 Mar 1957: Fatmawati, Sukarno's first wife, who left the palace after his 1954 marriage to Hartini 'to the great indignation of the Indonesian women's organisation', proposes in an open letter that a non-party woman form the new cabinet ('the fathers are not pure'). Page also covers anti-c
Masyumi leader warns against 'playing with fire'
Winschoter Courant (30 Mar 1957), news round-up. Relevant: Fatmawati Sukarno writes asking why a woman cannot form a cabinet, with a note that women's organisations took Sukarno's second marriage badly. Also Masyumi's Isa Anshary on cabinet formation, searches of Jakarta banks, and Aidit threatening a general strike un
45 members in total: National Council definitively formed by president and cabinet
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-06-15, p. 1): announcement of the 45-member National Council (Dewan Nasional) under Sukarno, with Roeslan Abdulgani as vice-chair and secretary-general. Functional-group seats include workers (SOBSI's Munir), youth (Sujono Atmo, PKI) and women's organisations: Mrs. S.K. Trimurti and Mrs.