WIDF Bulletin 1947: Indonesia, Dutch aggression and women's solidarity
WIDF Bulletin, 1947: French Friends of Peace conference, plus an 'Indonesia' item quoting a letter from the Secretariat of the Indonesian Women's Congress on the Dutch colonial war. It says all women's organisations back the Republic, women take part in the fighting, thanks Dutch women's groups for protesting, and asks
International women's exhibition in Paris with Dutch stand on Indonesia
De Waarheid report (9 Jul 1948) on the WIDF international women's exhibition in Paris (12 Jun-18 Jul, 42 countries). The Dutch Women's Movement stand had a section on Indonesia, opposing colonial war; the article contrasts Western capitalism with Eastern Europe, China and the USSR. No Indonesian women's group is named.
Women like you all: introducing the WIDF to Dutch readers
De Waarheid piece (1 Oct 1948) presenting the 80-million-member WIDF to Dutch readers as ordinary women including those in Indonesia, and quoting its appeal to women to demand arms reduction and ban atomic weapons. Indonesia appears only in a list of countries.
The international women's congress in Budapest: Dutch delegates and manifesto
De Waarheid report (4 Jan 1949) on Dutch delegates Annie Gelok and Mien Bosch at the second WIDF congress, with the full manifesto. Gelok said the Dutch Women's Movement alone sided with the Indonesian people and demanded troop withdrawal; the paper notes Indonesia's WIDF-affiliated women's organisation was absent beca
Chairwoman of Dutch Women's Movement in Peking for Asian women's conference
De Waarheid report (7 Dec 1949) on arrival in Peking of WIDF secretary-general Vaillant-Couturier and 20 delegates to the Asian women's conference, greeted by Deng Yingchao. The delegate list includes Lillah Suripno from Indonesia alongside Dutch vice-chair Rie Lips-Odinot, Eslanda Robeson and women from France, Korea,
Mrs Robeson in Amsterdam (report on the Asian women's conference in Beijing)
Het Parool report (18 Jan 1950, p.168) on a press conference in Amsterdam by Eslanda Robeson, with Rie Lips-Odinot, Mrs L. Suripno who represented Indonesian women in Beijing, and Annie van Ommeren-Averink, after the December 1949 Asian Women's conference in Beijing and a Moscow meeting of women from 36 countries. They
It began in Paris: five years of the WIDF
De Waarheid retrospective (14 Dec 1950) on five years of the WIDF, founded in Paris in Dec 1945, describing its heroines and growth to 91 million members in 59 countries, the 1946 founding of the Dutch Women's Movement, the 1949 Asian women's conference in Peking and the Stockholm Appeal. Indonesian women are only name
Many said farewell to Go and Sunito at Schiphol
De Waarheid, 10 Feb 1953, p. 1: report on the departure from Schiphol on 9 Feb 1953 of the families of Sunito and Go Gien Tjwan, expelled from the Netherlands, under heavy police guard. Trees Sunito-Heyligers, former NVB vice-chair, was seen off by Rie Lips and Annie Averink; she called her husband's arrest 'shameful a
Dear sisters: Dutch Women's Movement greeting to Indonesian women
De Waarheid, 14 Aug 1953, p. 3: open letter from the NVB chair G. Blokker-de Groot congratulating 'dear Indonesian sisters' on the eighth anniversary of the Republic, praising Gerwis as a sister organisation of great significance in women's struggle for equality. Recalls the Dutch and Indonesian women's meeting at the
Congratulation from Dutch Women's Movement to the Indonesian women's league
De Waarheid, 14 Aug 1953, p. 3: headline and one-line introduction only, stating that the NVB executive sent a letter to Gerwis; the letter text itself is not in this item (it appears in the companion item 'Dierbare zusters'). Evidence of NVB-Gerwis contact.
Short 1954 WIDF note 'Dutch-Indonesian Solidarity': Dutch women's movement raised funds for a delegate to attend the Gerwis national congress (March 25) and sold soap 'For peace and friendship between Indonesian and Dutch women'. Mrs. Umi of Gerwis's executive says the campaign strengthened solidarity and showed Dutch
Indonesian and Dutch delegates meet at WIDF Executive, Geneva (1954)
Caption (1954) from WIDF's magazine: Indonesian and Dutch delegates met at the Geneva WIDF Executive Committee. Mrs. Rie Lips of the Dutch women's movement was invited to the congress of GERWIS, described as the national organisation in Indonesia with 80,000 members.
With the Gerwis congress in sight: Jakarta feature on preparations
De Waarheid, 27 Jan 1954, p. 5: correspondent's Jakarta feature ahead of Gerwis's second congress (opening 26 March 1954), describing its literacy courses, hygiene campaigns, defence of women under customary law, wage struggles (Sampurna cigarette factory Surabaya, Kaliklatak coffee estate) with SARBUPRI, and the mass
Warmth despite cold on the Indonesian evening: NVB Amsterdam event report
De Waarheid, 28 Jan 1954, p. 2: report on the NVB Amsterdam 'Indonesia evening' attended by about 200 women, with krontjong music, a reading from Multatuli, a film from the High Commission, and Annie Averink's speech on Indonesia's colonial past and on Gerwis's tens of thousands of members campaigning for a democratic
Solidarity with women in the Netherlands: Umi Sardjono on NVB invitation
De Waarheid, 10 Mar 1954, p. 5: excerpt from Umi (Sardjono) describing how the NVB received Gerwis's invitation to its congress with joy, sending a delegation and running a friendship campaign and a soap-selling drive (soap printed with Dutch and Indonesian hands) to strengthen solidarity and support Indonesia's demand
Women of Indonesia prepare their congress: Umi Sardjono excerpts from Harian Rakjat
De Waarheid, 10 Mar 1954, p. 5: excerpts from an article by Umi (Sardjono), Gerwis board member, in Harian Rakjat preparing Gerwis's second congress. She lists invitations to women's groups in the USSR, China, Netherlands, India and WIDF, and stresses plantation and factory women, mass dismissals driving women into pro
Mrs Rie Lips: understanding for Indonesia's wishes
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-03-27, p. 2): Dutch MP Rie Lips-Odinot, chair of the Dutch Women's Movement, arrives in Jakarta for the second congress of Gerwis. She says Indonesians have the full right to decide their relations with the Netherlands, that many Dutch understand Indonesia's wishes, and that the Union tre
The Irian question
Java-Bode, 5 April 1954, p. 2: Rie Lips Odinot, a Gerwis congress guest, conveys Dutch peace-lovers' sympathy to Sukarno, who replies that good Dutch-Indonesian relations are impossible until West Irian is returned to Indonesia, calling it the greatest political barrier.
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
On the plantations: Rie Lips tells about Indonesia
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: Rie Lips's account of her Java trip: plantation workers' wages (about 3 rupiah per day), child labour on tea and rubber estates, and volunteer village schools. Quotes the Gerwani congress appeal that those who can read should teach others; Soviet delegate Alexandra Kolopowa speaks; photo
Successful festive evening of the Dutch Women's Movement (ten years of WIDF)
De Waarheid, 12 Dec 1955, p. 3: report on the NVB's festive evening in Amsterdam for the WIDF's tenth anniversary, with a speech by Betty Zeehandelaar on equal pay and women's rights, a Belgian greeting, and a Scapino ballet programme. At the close, letters were sent to the WIDF and to Gerwani asserting Indonesia's rig
Documents of the 4th WIDF Congress, Vienna, 1-5 June 1958
Document pack of the WIDF Fourth Congress, Vienna, 1-5 June 1958: Eugenie Cotton's report on women's role, the Manifesto, resolutions on peace, women's rights and children, appeals to the UN, credentials report and constitution. Indonesia appears in passing: Cotton credits 'the Indonesian Women's Movement' with improvi
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
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.
Indonesian women thank Dutch ADM protest to government
De Waarheid, 10 Mar 1962, p. 3: report that Gerwani sent a thank-you telegram to the NVB for its action toward a peaceful settlement of West Irian, hoping Dutch troop shipments to New Guinea stop. Describes NVB letters to other Dutch women's groups, signature collection (127 signatures in Zaandam), a protest by 104 ADM
Restore anti-fascist unity to prevent Budel: enthusiastic International Women's Day
De Waarheid, 18 Mar 1963, p. 3: report on the NVB Amsterdam International Women's Day meeting where Annie Averink (van Ommeren-Averink) called for anti-fascist unity against the Budel treaty allowing German troops in the Netherlands and collected funds for an NVB delegation to the WIDF congress in Moscow in June. A tel
Indonesia: protest against persecution of the women's movement Gerwani
De Waarheid, 13 May 1966, p. 1: report that the NVB wrote to President Sukarno in shock and indignation at the terror against Gerwani and other democratic organisations, recalling the role they played in the Indonesian revolution and nation-building, and demanding the release of all political prisoners and lifting of t