Unrest in Indonesia continues
Algemeen Handelsblad (1954-07-02): a Committee of Co-operating Parties of 31 parties and organisations, including PKI, PNI, NU, SOBSI and Gerwani, urges the Dutch government to declare High Commissioner Van Bylandt persona non grata, recall Indonesia's delegation, abolish the Netherlands-Indonesia Union unilaterally an
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
Report on New Guinea
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-08-26, p. 2): first item on the Dutch UN report on New Guinea for 1953. A final line says the Badan Kerdjasama Nasional in Medan, affiliating PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani, urged the government to dismiss Medan's mayor A.M. Djalaluddin.
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').
West Irian struggle committee: meeting and procession in Semarang
De Locomotief, 13 Dec 1954: Semarang public meeting of the West Irian struggle committee draws thousands, with speakers from Gerwani, PSII, PNI, PKI and the Biro Pusat urging national unity. A kilometres-long procession of about 50,000 people followed, with wreaths laid at Tugu Muda.
Events in Indonesia (conclusion): Harahap government and mass organisations
De Waarheid, 8 Oct 1955, p. 3: final part of Cor Geugjes's series on events in Indonesia, arguing the Harahap government (which replaced Ali Sastroamidjojo) is resisted: elections could not be postponed, New Guinea was raised at the UN, and preliminary results defeat Masjumi and PSI. Cites PKI (500,000), SOBSI (3 milli
President Sukarno brings new strength to the Indonesian people (Renmin Ribao, 17 February 1958)
Renmin Ribao commentary, 17 Feb 1958, p. 5: praises Sukarno's nine-nation tour, backs Indonesia's West Irian claim and calls the PRRI/Permesta rebels imperialist-instigated. Notes that SOBSI, Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, BTI and seventeen Sumatran organisations backed the arrest of the rebels, and cites Aidit's call to brin
President Sukarno brings new strength to the Indonesian people (Renmin Ribao, 17 February 1958)
Renmin Ribao commentary, 17 Feb 1958, p. 5: praises Sukarno's nine-nation tour, backs Indonesia's West Irian claim and calls the PRRI/Permesta rebels imperialist-instigated. Notes that SOBSI, Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, BTI and seventeen Sumatran organisations backed the arrest of the rebels, and cites Aidit's call to brin
Gerwani holds congress; Sukarno calls for unity to recover West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 16 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 16 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opens on 14 Dec with over 400 delegates; Umi Sardjono's opening address stresses the 1945 revolution's aims and West Irian. Guests include Chinese, Soviet and East German delegations, Aidit and PNI's Sidik. Sukarno speaks, rejecting '
Gerwani holds congress; Sukarno calls for unity to recover West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 16 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 16 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opens on 14 Dec with over 400 delegates; Umi Sardjono's opening address stresses the 1945 revolution's aims and West Irian. Guests include Chinese, Soviet and East German delegations, Aidit and PNI's Sidik. Sukarno speaks, rejecting '
Sukarno orders preparation to liberate West Irian; Gerwani congress closes (Renmin Ribao, 20 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 20 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua): leading item on Sukarno's 19 Dec Yogyakarta 'Order to the People' (Trikora). A Jakarta item reports Gerwani's Fourth Congress closing 17 Dec: West Irian resolution, UN telegram for PRC's seat, Aidit's greetings, Guo Jian's speech, a new Central Committee under Umi Sardjono, and
Sukarno orders preparation to liberate West Irian; Gerwani congress closes (Renmin Ribao, 20 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 20 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua): leading item on Sukarno's 19 Dec Yogyakarta 'Order to the People' (Trikora). A Jakarta item reports Gerwani's Fourth Congress closing 17 Dec: West Irian resolution, UN telegram for PRC's seat, Aidit's greetings, Guo Jian's speech, a new Central Committee under Umi Sardjono, and
Dilemmas of Indonesian Communism (van der Kroef, 1962)
Article by Justus M. van der Kroef (Pacific Affairs, summer 1962) on the PKI's dilemmas under Guided Democracy: dependence on Sukarno, the July 1960 'Evaluation' clash with the army, and the party's use of mass fronts. Gerwani is named as the PKI's women's front: its organ was aggressive without censure in 1961, and in
Recognise the Indonesian just claim: Unite to build friendship!
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Jan 1962, p. 1 front-page editorial backing Sukarno's proclamation of West Irian as an Indonesian province and attacking the Menzies government and ALP leader Calwell. Gerwani appears only in a photo caption: delegates welcome Sukarno at the opening night in Jakarta of the recent Gerwani National C
Recognise the Indonesian just claim: Unite to build friendship!
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Jan 1962, p. 1 front-page editorial backing Sukarno's proclamation of West Irian as an Indonesian province and attacking the Menzies government and ALP leader Calwell. Gerwani appears only in a photo caption: delegates welcome Sukarno at the opening night in Jakarta of the recent Gerwani National C
US Embassy Weekly Situation Telegrams, April 1962
Two US Embassy Djakarta weekly situation telegrams (JOINT WEEKA 14 and 15), 6 and 13 April 1962, on the West New Guinea dispute, PKI-Sukarno friction, Partindo, wage demands and military matters. Gerwani appears only once: it joined SOBSI and others in protesting the 'undemocratic' draft election bill providing for pop
Aidit's general report to the PKI Seventh Congress, part 2 (Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962, pp. 4-5: Part 2 of D.N. Aidit's abridged general report to the PKI's Seventh Congress, covering finance for the eight-year plan, the international situation, PKI relations with the communist movement, and mass work. One paragraph says Gerwani, a 'revolutionary women's mass organisation', expa
Aidit's general report to the PKI Seventh Congress, part 2 (Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962, pp. 4-5: Part 2 of D.N. Aidit's abridged general report to the PKI's Seventh Congress, covering finance for the eight-year plan, the international situation, PKI relations with the communist movement, and mass work. One paragraph says Gerwani, a 'revolutionary women's mass organisation', expa
RAND paper P-2690 by Guy J. Pauker (Jan 1963, for Asian Survey), 'Indonesia: Towards Development or Expansionism?'. Surveys the West New Guinea settlement, the lifting of the state of emergency, PKI strength (Aidit versus Lukman factions), inflation, Soviet arms debt and the Brunei revolt. Mentions Gerwani once, as a P
Nationalism and Confrontation in the Southeast Asian Islands: Sources of Indonesian Foreign Policy (Reinhardt, 1967)
PhD dissertation (Tulane, April 1967) by Jon McEwen Reinhardt in political science on the sources of Indonesian foreign policy under Guided Democracy: West Irian, Malaysia confrontation and the post-coup state. Gerwani appears only in a footnote (c. p. 95, n. 41), citing PKI claims that in October 1962 its four mass or
Sukarno Will Explain His Actions (Canberra Times, 6 January 1967)
Canberra Times, 6 Jan 1967, p. 1 (AAP): Sukarno promises a written account of his policies and role in the 1965 coup within a week; Cabinet Presidium plans debt-rescheduling teams; Indonesia to hold West Irian plebiscite in 1969. A brief item says Mrs Tanti Aidit, wife of the dead PKI chairman, captured last month, wil
Sukarno Will Explain His Actions (Canberra Times, 6 January 1967), duplicate
Canberra Times, 6 Jan 1967, p. 1 (AAP): Sukarno promises a written account of his policies and role in the 1965 coup within a week; Cabinet Presidium plans debt-rescheduling teams; Indonesia to hold West Irian plebiscite in 1969. A brief item says Mrs Tanti Aidit, wife of the dead PKI chairman, captured last month, wil
The role of Gerwani in the liberation of West Irian 1950-1963 (Kurnia, 2019)
2019 history thesis (UNY) by Dimas Dwi Kurnia on Gerwani's role in the West Irian campaign 1950-63: 1951 and 1957 congress resolutions, the 1957 charter with the army-youth body BKSPM, 1960 statement for 710,000 members and the 1962 volunteer call. Key source on Gerwani and West Irian.
Fashioning Authoritarianism: Militarization of Society in Indonesia, 1930-1966 (Joshua, 2023)
PhD dissertation (Northwestern, 2023) by Norman Joshua on the militarization of Indonesian society, 1930-1966. It argues the Army intervened in non-military affairs through the 'twin logics' of emergency powers and counterinsurgency, culminating in the New Order. Gerwani appears only in passing: p. 428 gives its claime