Situation in the Indies: Mansergh demands weapons be laid down
Nijmeegsch Dagblad front-page report (10 Nov 1945) on Gen. Mansergh's ultimatum to the Surabaya authorities to disarm, plus the situation in Java and Pontianak. A communist party spokesman is among Indonesians broadcasting appeals not to surrender weapons. No Gerwani or women's organisation content beyond permission fo
Ultimatum of Major-General Mansergh
Ons Noorden (10 Nov 1945), Reuter/Aneta report on Maj.-Gen. Mansergh's ultimatum to Surabaya's governor Suryo to disarm, with a communist party spokesman among those broadcasting appeals not to surrender weapons. Women and children may leave the city by 9 Nov. Background to the Battle of Surabaya; no Gerwani content.
Ultimatum of Major-General Mansergh
Ons Noorden (10 Nov 1945), Reuter/Aneta report on Maj.-Gen. Mansergh's ultimatum to Surabaya's governor Suryo to disarm, with a communist party spokesman among those broadcasting appeals not to surrender weapons. Women and children may leave the city by 9 Nov. Background to the Battle of Surabaya; no Gerwani content.
The Indonesian parliament and Linggadjati: strengthened left wing supports Sjahrir cabinet
Long article in the Dutch communist daily De Waarheid (15 Jan 1947) by its "Indonesian collaborator" assessing support for the Linggarjati draft in the Indonesian provisional parliament: Masjumi and PNI divided or opposed, while the PKI, Partai Sosialis, Pesindo, Christian parties, Partai Buruh, Perwari and BTI back it
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
Musso on the coup in the republic
Bredasche Courant, 21 Sept 1948: Madiun-affair report quoting Musso's radio speech that the revolution is under national-communist leadership, claiming 20 million Indonesian women were widowed by romusha labour and calling Sukarno and Hatta servants of Japan and America. Also reports refugees fleeing to Dutch lines. Ge
The coup in the Republic: opinions of Gen. Spoor and Sjahrir
Overijsselsch Dagblad (21 Sep 1948) on the Madiun communist uprising: Gen. Spoor fears communist spill-over into Dutch-held areas, Sjahrir comments on discontent, KNIP grants Sukarno special powers, and Musso broadcasts that 20 million women were widowed by romusha. No Gerwani or Gerwis mention; context for the later a
Indonesian delegate: victory in China inspiring (Lillah Suripno)
De Waarheid item (10 Feb 1950) quoting Indonesian delegate Lillah Suripno at the Asian Women's Conference in Peking: guerrillas fight oppressors, Indonesian women's task is a free democratic state, the Chinese revolution is an example, and victory needs a democratic front under the Communist Party. Photo shows her besi
CIA information report, 14 April 1950: Communist developments in Indonesia
CIA information report, 14 April 1950: 'Communist Developments in Indonesia', on the PKI, FDR and Partai Murba after the 1948 Madiun revolt, their alliance, infiltration of labour and army, and factions. Tan Ling Djie, Abdul Madjid, Sakirman and Wikana are named; Umi Sardjono appears only as head of one Partai Buruh In
'World Peace' (peace conference in Yogyakarta)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (4 Nov 1950, p.2): a World Peace Committee conference in Yogyakarta approved the Prague appeal, proposed demands for the Nederlandse army's withdrawal from Indonesia and an end to foreign interference (Irian, Moluccas) for a London congress, and reported 180,000 signatures. Delegates include
CIA report, 26 February 1951: Estimate of the current economic situation in Indonesia
CIA report, 26 February 1951, on alleged communist-directed strike sabotage in Indonesia via SOBSI and WFTU. Gerwani-relevant only for naming a batik workers' union organised by Mrs Trimurti.
Second group of Indonesians left for Berlin World Youth Festival
De Waarheid, 7 Jul 1951, p. 3: short report that a second group of Indonesian participants left Jakarta on 2 July for the Third World Youth Festival in Berlin, 38 in all. Among them is Darmini, representing the women's movement, with painter Sudjojono and union and youth delegates. Farewell speeches came from PKI, SOBS
Wanita Sedar No. 14, 25 July 1951
Issue 14 of Wanita Sedar, fortnightly organ of Gerwis (25 July 1951). Covers preparation for the first Gerwis congress (57 branches, WIDF links), the Indonesian delegation to the Berlin youth festival including three Gerwis delegates, women in Czechoslovakia, and organisational news.
Arrests in East Java: seven journalists detained in Surabaya
De Nieuwsgier, 20 Aug 1951: report on the August 1951 Sukiman government sweep in East Java: 26 detained in Surabaya, including editors, SOBSI and PKI leaders, and Mrs Parjani Ilham, chairwoman of Gerwis. Police seized Mao, Lenin and Stalin pictures. Officials say the arrests do not target a particular ideology. Early
Another Irian committee: West Irian liberation committee with Gerwis
De Vrije Pers item (14 Jan 1952) on a new West Irian liberation committee in (apparently) Surabaya/East Java, with posts split among Badan Perjuangan Irian, SOBSI, PKI, PNI, Indo-National Party and Murba; its organisation section includes Front Pemuda, Pemuda Kesatuan Indonesia and Gerwis. It also demands ending the Ro
Gerwis sends Suwarti and Darmini to child-defence conference in Vienna (Harian Rakjat, 8 April 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 8 Apr 1952, p.3-4: Gerwis, led by Umi Sardjono (PB Gerwis), hosts a reception in Jakarta for organisations and officials, including Health Ministry's Dr Syulianti, to prepare a national committee for child defence; Trimurti speaks on child labour and schooling. Gerwis delegates Suwarti and Darmini (alrea
Harian Rakjat, 23 April 1952: Kartini Day commemorations, Mrs Sri Kusnapsiah speaks
Page of the Jakarta daily Harian Rakjat, 23 April 1952 (Kartini Day issue; OCR very noisy). It reports Hari Kartini commemorations in Jakarta (about 650 women at Garden Hall), in The Hague, where Ny. S. Sri Kusnapsiah spoke on Kartini's aims and thought, and in Semarang, Bogor and elsewhere, alongside Wilopo-cabinet an
Suwarti, MP and chair of Gerwis, on the peace committee (Harian Rakjat, 3 May 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 3 May 1952. On p. 3 Suwarti, MP and general chair (ketua umum) of Gerwis, is listed among the Indonesians invited to join the preparatory committee for the Asia-Pacific Peace Conference, alongside Siauw Giok Chan, Ir. Setiadi and others. Pp. 2-3 also report May Day 1952 rallies where Gerwis marched with
Open letter of Pemuda Rakyat to Chinese youth, Francisca Fanggidaej (Harian Rakjat, 5 May 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 5 May 1952. On p. 4 the open letter of Pemuda Rakyat's central leadership (DPP) to Chinese youth for the 4 May anniversary, signed by deputy chair Francisca Fanggidaej, praises the May Fourth tradition and anti-imperialist, anti-fascist solidarity. The same page mentions Gerwis's Rawasari branch kinderga
Indonesia shows solidarity with fighting Korea
De Waarheid, 3 Jul 1952, p. 5: dispatch on Indonesian solidarity with Korea on the war's second anniversary. A 17-person delegation of the Indonesian Peace Committee, including Francisca Fanggidaej, visited the US embassy in Jakarta to protest killings of women and children; Ambassador Cochran refused to receive them,
Gerwis to Peking: East Java delegates to Asian peace conference (page version)
Full-page OCR version (De Vrije Pers, 8 Aug 1952, Surabaya) of the item "Gerwis naar Peking": the East Java conference sends Mrs. Tam, Sulami and Warmi to the Asian peace conference. The page also carries an unrelated press-review attack on PKI support for the Wilopo cabinet and other garbled items.
Arrest of Sunito and Go Gien Tjwan: countermeasures demanded in Indonesia
De Waarheid, 9 Dec 1952, p. 4: Jakarta dispatch on reactions to the Dutch arrest of Indonesians Sunito and Go Gien Tjwan in Amsterdam and action against PKI representatives Aidit and Njoto. The PKI Central Committee calls it arbitrary and urges reprisals; Gerwis also asked the government for counter-measures. A Dutch p
CIA report, 23 February 1953: Meeting of the sub-section committees, PKI Surabaya
CIA report, 23 February 1953, on a PKI Surabaya sub-section committees' meeting (Dec 1952) with directives on discipline, cadres and election preparation, including 'more support' for Gerwis. Shows Gerwis treated as a PKI-supported front.
US State Dept. report IR-6165, January 1953: Communism in the Free World - Indonesia section on Gerwis
US State Department Office of Intelligence Research report IR-6165, 'Communism in the Free World' (January 1953), a compilation of about 30 country studies of communist capabilities, held in the CIA reading room. The Indonesia study (IR-6165.3) covers PKI aims and tactics, labour, and front organisations. Section VI.A
Joys and sorrows of Indonesia in the past year
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 7 Jan 1953, p. 3: year-in-review chronology for 1952 (selected entries translated). Mentions the August 1951 raids, the 17 October 1952 affair, release of East Java arrestees on 30 Oct, a goodwill mission to Kahar Muzakkar under Mrs Salawati (8 Apr), and Aidit and Njoto refused entry to
Rie Lips in Indonesia: arrival for the second Gerwis congress
De Waarheid, 14 Apr 1954, p. 5: report on NVB chair Rie Lips and British writer Monica Felton arriving in Jakarta for the second Gerwis congress, warmly welcomed. Lips described Dutch women's protests against the colonial wars and support for conscientious objectors. The opening reception was attended by Jakarta mayor
But what is the reality? Travel report on workers in Indonesia
De Waarheid, 1 May 1954, p. 4: travel report by Mak Meyer, a Dutch union delegate to the SOBSI conference, on Indonesian workers' misery: poverty, homelessness, factory conditions and wages, child labour, becak drivers, and figures such as 35,000 women dying in childbirth yearly. Portrays SOBSI and PKI as leaders and u
Harian Rakjat, 3 May 1954, p. 1 (May Day)
Harian Rakjat, 3 Mei 1954, hlm. 1 (Hari Buruh). May Day 1954 front page: 500,000 people at Lapangan Merdeka; guests include Rie Lips-Odinot, Dutch MP and women's movement leader; attacks on a PSI MP.
Impressive ceremony on the invasion beach (with item on Gerwani and the Union)
Het Vaderland front page (8 Jun 1954) opening with Dutch resistance veterans' wreath-laying at the Normandy invasion beaches, followed by Indonesian news. A short passage 'Indon. comm. women and the Union' says the Indonesian feminist movement Gerwani, recently hostess to delegations of communist women from Russia and
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