Yesterday's day...
Nieuwe Vlaardingsche Courant, 5 March 1947: Dutch commentary column on the Indies and Palestine. In one line, 'the Indonesian women's organisation' at talks in Malang is said to consider cooperation with the Dutch impossible after Linggadjati. The organisation is not named and cannot be identified as Gerwis (founded 19
Republicans want to relieve Madiun
Deventer Dagblad front-page roundup (22 Sep 1948) on the Madiun affair: republican forces prepare to retake Madiun, communist leaders of the FDR are arrested in Magelang, curfews in Kediri, Solo calmed, fighting organisations disarmed, and a 'social revolution' purge in Sumatra. Mentions Colonel Djokosoejono as communi
The Republic purges Sumatra: numerous arrests
Eindhovensch Dagblad report (24 Sep 1948, p.5) on republican purge arrests of military officers in Tapanuli, Sumatra (Padang Sidempuan, Sibolga, Tarutung), with a second Aneta account that communist laskars effectively control the area. Also reports two executed 'terrorists' who used village women as cover in July raid
CIA information report, 19 July 1949: Dunia Wanita
CIA information report, 19 July 1949, saying Ani Idrus, labelled a pro-Republican Communist from Medan, would publish the fortnightly Dunia Wanita. Early sign of US intelligence watching women's press; the Communist label is probably a misclassification.
'Peace' demonstration in Medan
De Locomotief, 14 Aug 1950 (Aneta): about 5,000 attend a Medan peace-committee rally, mainly plantation, peasant and pedicab unions, with anti-American banners. Speakers include Tuti Rukmi for 'Indonesian women'. The resolution urges Indonesia not to join the 'imperialist war' in Korea and calls for a ban on atomic wea
FBIS, 25 January 1951: Indonesia backs Peace Congress ideals (Warsaw)
FBIS-monitored Moscow Radio text (25 Jan 1951) of a speech by an Indonesian member of the World Peace Council (name garbled), chairing the Indonesian delegation to the Warsaw Peace Congress. Describes the Indonesian Peace Committee (Yogyakarta, June 1950), the Stockholm Appeal signatures, and urges non-democratic Indon
Merdeka, 4 September 1951: Trimurti surveys the women's movements
Merdeka, 4 September 1951 (hlm. 2): 'Trimurti tindjau gerakan2 wanita': Gerwis vice-chair S.K. Trimurti, touring Sumatra since 27 July 1951 with her secretary, criticises urban women's organisations in Medan as weak and ceremonial.
Advertisement: Blue Band prize competition
De Locomotief, 29 Mar 1952: a Blue Band margarine advertisement listing prize-competition winners. It was retrieved only because of the name Sumijarsi/M. Caropeboka (Bogor) in the winners' list; no Gerwani-related content. False hit, much OCR unreadable.
Mrs Salawati Daud reports on meeting with Kahar Muzakar (Harian Rakjat, 10 April 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 10 Apr 1952, p.4 (Antara, Makassar 9 April): Nyonya Salawati Daud's report after meeting rebel leader Kahar Muzakar in the mountains is receiving government attention; Kahar's demands are said to disappoint the governor and cannot be met. The issue also reports a Gerwis role in the national child-defence
Indonesian miscellany (with item on Mrs Salawati)
Het Vaderland miscellany column 'Indonesische tjampoeran' (4 Aug 1952, p.6) of short items on sugar workers' strike threats, Medan's mayor, harsh anti-Kahar Muzakar rules in Makassar and prison conditions of SOBSI detainees. One item says Mrs Salawati of Makassar received a moped from the provincial Keamanan staff as a
For and against dissolution of parliament (full page)
Whole page, Java-Bode, 28 Oct 1952, on the dispute over dissolving parliament after the 17 October affair: demonstrations in Medan and Banjarmasin and statements by GPII and PIN. A Yogyakarta joint statement, signed by Gerwis, PKI, PNI and Partai Wanita Rakjat among others, urges early elections and warns that dissolvi
World mourns Stalin, including Gerwis telegram (Renmin Ribao, 17 March 1953)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 4), roundup of world mourning for Stalin: Togliatti's article and Brazilian, French and British tributes. In the Indonesia section the PKI issued a proclamation and held a memorial meeting (Sudisman eulogising), Harian Rakjat and other papers eulogised him, and Gerwis sent a telegram of gr
World mourns Stalin, including Gerwis telegram (Renmin Ribao, 17 March 1953)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 4), roundup of world mourning for Stalin: Togliatti's article and Brazilian, French and British tributes. In the Indonesia section the PKI issued a proclamation and held a memorial meeting (Sudisman eulogising), Harian Rakjat and other papers eulogised him, and Gerwis sent a telegram of gr
Protest (women's organisations protest in Medan)
Java-Bode, 24 February 1954, p. 2: Medan women's organisations, including Perwari, PPNI, Wanita Rakjat, Ikatan Wanita Rakjat and Gerwis, protested to the resident that women have no seat on the North Sumatra election committee and demanded revision. The resident promised to forward it to the Minister of Justice.
Election committee (North Sumatra)
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 3 Mar 1954, p. 3: composition of the North Sumatra election committee announced; women's organisations in Medan including Perwari, Wanita Rakjat, Ikatan Wanita Rakjat and Gerwis protest to the resident that women are not represented and demand revision.
Two committees in Binjai (May Day celebration)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (10 Mar 1954, p.2): in Binjai two committees were formed to organise May Day. The first unites SOBSI, Sarbupri, Gerwis, Pemuda Rakjat and similar groups under a SOBSI chair; the second comprises non-SOBSI organisations such as PGRI and Perbupri and regards itself a branch of the Medan commit
Two committees for Labour Day
Java-Bode, 18 March 1954, p. 2: short item on two rival committees for 1 May Labour Day in Binjai, East Sumatra: one uniting Sobsi, Sarbupri, Gerwis, Pemuda Rakjat and similar bodies, chaired by Sobsi, and a non-Sobsi committee of PPPRI, OBPI, Perbupri and PGRI.
General Assembly of Perbepsi
Short Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra item (9 Jun 1954, p.2): a nationwide conference of the veterans' body Perbepsi will be held in Medan on 19-24 June on ex-fighters' fate, security and national cooperation. Youth and women's organisations including Pemuda Rakjat, Pemuda Demokrat and Gerwani will take part.
Transmigration to South Sumatra; Medan cooperation body resolution
De Locomotief, 24 Aug 1954: a note on 50 families transmigrating from Purwokerto to South Sumatra, and a brief item that the Medan Badan Kerdjasama Nasional (BKN), to which PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani are affiliated, urged by resolution that the mayor be relieved of his post (text breaks off).
Medan cooperation body demands mayor's resignation
De Nieuwsgier, 24 Aug 1954: the Medan Badan Kerdjasama Nasional, to which PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani are affiliated, adopts a resolution urging the government to relieve Medan's mayor A.N. Djalaluddin. Same item as in De Locomotief of the same date.
Resolution against Medan's mayor
Java-Bode, 24 August 1954, p. 2: one-sentence item that the Medan Badan Kerdjasama Nasional (BKN), whose affiliates include PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani, passed a resolution urging the government to dismiss Medan's mayor A.M. Djalaludin.
Replacement of mayor requested (Medan)
Short Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra item (25 Aug 1954, p.2): the Medan national cooperation body BKN, to which the PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani are affiliated, adopted a resolution asking the government to remove Medan's mayor A.M. Djalaluddin from office.
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.
Resolution against the mayor of Medan
One-sentence item, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 28 Aug 1954, p. 3: the Medan Badan Kerdjasama Nasional, whose affiliates include PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani, resolves to urge the government to dismiss Medan mayor A.M. Djalaludin.
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
Gerwani congress: forced marriages must be abolished in modern Indonesia
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-11-30, p. 2): two-day congress of Gerwani's Bandung branch ('formerly Gerwis') sends sympathy to Maisoeri, a sixteen-year-old in South Sumatra jailed for refusing a forced marriage to a sixty-year-old, and calls for abolishing forced marriages. It also demands bans on 'modern dances' and
Harian Rakjat, 22 May 1955, p. 2
Harian Rakjat, 22 Mei 1955, hlm. 2. Sunday page with Zhou Enlai's report on the Bandung Conference and a Medan crime report on a woman shooting another; no Gerwani item.
Biography of Mrs Mudigdio (Siti Aminah), Harian Rakjat 8 Sep 1955, in US Monthly Indonesian Press Survey
US State Department Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (HathiTrust, vol. no. 11-21), p. 40, translating Harian Rakjat's 8 Sep 1955 biographies of PKI parliamentary candidates. Mrs Mudigdio (Siti Aminah Nahsjam Marah Umar), born Medan 1904, active in women's organisations from age 14, in Pertindo 1931-34, MP since 1945, an
Constituent Assembly Member Profile: Mrs Maimunah
Konstituante.Net member profile (transcribed) of Nj. Maimunah, PKI member no. 392 of the Constituent Assembly. Born 11 May 1908 in Padang, living in Bukittinggi; P.A.M.S. Jakarta graduate. Career: teacher at HIS and girls' schools in Padang, Medan, Payakumbuh/Padang Panjang, secretary of an emergency hospital 1948-49.
US Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (1957): Gerwani leaders and branches, Umi Sardjono chair
US Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (1957) extracts: a Central Borneo women's committee, including Gerwani, backing Sukarno's Concept and asking that marriage law be prioritised; Kowani's Fourth Congress (Surabaya) with Mudigdio of Gerwani as treasurer; Muljani as Central Java Gerwani chair; new North Sumatra and Jakart