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
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
April (year-in-review chronology, April-July 1952)
Java-Bode, 31 Dec 1952, p. 3: year-in-review chronology April-July 1952 (Wilopo cabinet, Sobsi strike, Westerling, SOB lifting, NU leaving Masjumi). Only Gerwani-adjacent entry: on 8 April the goodwill mission to Kahar Muzakkar under Mrs Salawati returned to Makassar without result.
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
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
Harian Rakjat, 30 April 1953, p. 1 (May Day edition)
Harian Rakjat, 30 April 1953, hlm. 1 (edisi Hari Buruh). Front page of the May Day special: CC PKI's May Day message, statements recalling 1952 demonstrations, the Tandjung Morawa 'death tractor' and a united May Day committee of seven federations; women appear only as supporting 'wanita' organisations.
Harian Rakjat, 22 May 1953, p. 2
Harian Rakjat, 22 Mei 1953, hlm. 2. Masthead page with an editorial on Indonesia lagging in legislation and the CC PKI 33rd-anniversary message, which lists 'kaum wanita' among mass sectors that have organised themselves but lacked proper party leadership.
New demonstrations in West Java? Delegation presents open letter to Sukarno
Aneta report in De Vrije Pers (16 Jul 1953) that a delegation of parties and groups (PPDI, Partai Buruh, PNI, PKI, Gerwis, Permai) which demonstrated in Bandung met Sukarno to present an open letter urging a decree declaring Darul Islam bands terrorists to be destroyed. The Badan Kontak Nasional demanded a progressive
Sumatran groups up in arms against Masjumi
De Locomotief, 27 July 1953: a Palembang delegation (PIR, PNI, PKI) flies to Jakarta with a statement signed by six parties and 22 organisations including SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwis. It demands early elections, anti-corruption action, settlement of the Tanjung Morawa affair and a democratic cabinet without Ma
Statement of groupings in South Sumatra
De Nieuwsgier, 27 July 1953: Palembang delegation (PIR, PNI, PKI) flies to Jakarta with a joint statement by six parties and 22 organisations including SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwis. It says a PNI-Masjumi cabinet is no longer possible, urges a democratic parliamentary cabinet under Wongsonegoro, action against D
Delegation of parties in South Sumatra to Jakarta
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (29 Jul 1953, p.2): a delegation of parties and organisations in Palembang flew to Jakarta with a joint declaration signed by six parties (PIR, PNI, PKI, Partai Buruh, Permai, Murba) and 22 organisations including SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwis. It rejects a cabinet built on PNI and Ma
Documents of the Fifth National Congress of the PKI (Bintang Merah IX, 2-3), 1954
Special issue of Bintang Merah with documents of the PKI Fifth National Congress (Jakarta, 16–20 March 1954): congress report, greetings from sixteen foreign communist parties, and a 400,000-strong closing rally.
Self-governments cannot simply be abolished
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 17 Mar 1954, p. 1: government says Swapradja (self-governing areas) cannot be abolished at once; Surakarta anti-Swapradja committee, which includes Gerwis, PKI, Pemuda Rakjat and Sobsi, plans mass demonstrations by 15 April. Also notes the Susuhunan's studies.
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.
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
Three non-party candidates on the PKI election list
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (21 Aug 1954, p.1): the PKI central committee announces that three non-party leaders (Prof. Purbodiningrat, Dr Tjokronegoro and the painter Hendra Gunawan) will appear on its election list, and recalls earlier announcement that Taher Thajeb, Mrs Salawati Daud and Henk Ngantung agreed to stan
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
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
FBIS, 7 October 1954: Committee heads (Mudigdio vice-chair)
One-line FBIS item (7 Oct 1954): for the fourth session of Parliament, the Justice and Security Committee elected a PNI member as chairman and H. Subhajat (Progressive faction) and Madame Mudigdio of the PKI as vice-chairmen. Documents Mudigdio's parliamentary position.
PKI central committee decides to seek a cabinet seat in the Ali cabinet
De Volkskrant report (18 Nov 1954) citing Pedoman that the PKI central committee decided to seek the agriculture portfolio in the Ali cabinet, delegating MPs Ir. Sakirman and Mrs. Moedigdo (Mudigdo) to talk with the prime minister. Notes PKI plus SOBSI hold 21 votes. Gerwani is not named.
Agrarian affairs again: PKI central committee plenum chaired by Aidit
De Vrije Pers report (19 Nov 1954), citing Pedoman, on the PKI central committee plenum (8-10 Nov) chaired by Aidit and attended by Pemuda Rakyat, SOBSI, Gerwani and Perbepsi representatives. It decided to seek a place in the Ali cabinet, delegating MPs Sakirman and Mrs. Mudigdo, and not to make the agrarian portfolio
Position of members of parliament
Java-Bode, 24 November 1954, p. 2: report of the parliamentary second reading of the bill on the legal position of MPs. PKI member Mrs Mudigdo objected to the bill, holding that parliamentary immunity is part of the democratic system. Others (Soeparno, Kasman Singodimedjo, Abdulhajat) sought amendments and protection a
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
Position of members of parliament
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 1 Dec 1954, p. 2: parliament's second reading of the bill on MPs' legal position. Mrs Mudigdo, here identified as PKI, opposes the bill's content and argues parliamentary immunity is part of the democratic system; others call for protection against arbitrary imprisonment.
Creators of the proclamation deliberate (1945 generation gathering)
De Nieuwsgier report (13 Dec 1954, p. 1) on a gathering of "creators of the proclamation" generation of 1945 at the Jakarta mayor's house, attended by D.N. Aidit, Isa Anshary, Mrs. Trimurti (S.K. Trimurti) and others, discussing the external situation. Trimurti appears only in the attendee list.
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
Lecture by Mrs Suharti (DPP Gerwani) on the general election (Harian Rakjat, 31 January 1955)
Harian Rakjat, 31 Jan 1955, p. 2: local-news page. A short item reports a lecture by Ny. Suharti of DPP Gerwani on the coming general elections, among a series of PKI-linked election lectures and rallies in Jakarta; Gerwani lectures are also announced for 17-22 February. Most of the page is unrelated Indonesian and for