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
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
Birth and Growth of the Indonesian Women's Movement, Part III (Sulami, 1959)
Part III of Sulami's 1959 history: KOWANI conflicts and 1948 Solo congress, founding of Gerwis at Semarang (4 June 1950), its 1954 renaming as Gerwani, structure with six commissions, membership growth (6,000 Java 1951; 642,460 in January 1957; 700,000 at the Third Congress, Solo, Dec 1957), 1955 election results (5 MP
FBIS, 27 March 1960: Sukarno names National Front committee
FBIS-monitored Jakarta radio text (27 Mar 1960) of Presidential Decision No. 34 of 1960 appointing the Preparatory Committee for the National Front, with Sukarno's installation speech. Among functional-group members are Mrs Supeni and Mrs Umi Sardjono (Gerwani leader), alongside D.N. Aidit in the political group; Arudj
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
A History of Struggle Remembered: Exhibition for Gerwani's 10th Anniversary, 1961
Api Kartini (mid-1961) report on the exhibition at Gerwani's 10th anniversary (from 5 June 1961), with an interview of chair Umi Sardjono on Gerwani's history. Founded 4 June 1951 (first congress Surabaya, 17-22 Dec 1951), 185 branches, membership from 6,000 to 710,000, 326 kindergartens, 23,000 election workers; six m
For Democracy, Women's Rights, Food and Clothing (Fourth National Congress of Gerwani, 1961)
Api Kartini report on the 4th National Congress of Gerwani, Jakarta, December 1961 (about 400 delegates and observers), with Sukarno attending. Lists foreign guests: Gloria Garton for WIDF, Soviet, Chinese and East German delegates. Sukarno called Gerwani one of the forces for the Irian Barat struggle and urged total u
Almanac of State Institutions and Parties (1961)
Government reference almanac issued by the Department of Information (Departemen Penerangan), June 1961, on the institutions of Guided Democracy: MPRS, DPR-GR, DPAS, Depernas, Bapekan, Front Nasional and recognised parties, with decrees, membership lists and party statutes. Gerwani appears only once, as the women's del
Pravda, 18 Dec 1961: Fourth Gerwani Congress
Pravda no. 353, 18 December 1961 (full issue). Page 3 has a dispatch by correspondent O. Skalkin from Jakarta on the Fourth Gerwani Congress: 400 delegates from Java, Moluccas, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan; Sukarno's speech condemning anti-communism, backing NASAKOM and the West Irian claim, and praising Soviet support. N
Pravda, 18 Dec 1961: Fourth Gerwani Congress (excerpt)
Pravda no. 353, 18 December 1961 (excerpt of the page). Page 3 has a dispatch by correspondent O. Skalkin from Jakarta on the Fourth Gerwani Congress: 400 delegates from Java, Moluccas, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan; Sukarno's speech condemning anti-communism, backing NASAKOM and the West Irian claim, and praising Soviet s
The Communist Party of Indonesia 1951-1961: A Decade of the Aidit Leadership (Hindley, 1961)
Donald Hindley's 1961 ANU PhD thesis on the Indonesian Communist Party under the Aidit leadership, 1951-1961, covering PKI strategy, party-building, finances, mass organisations and elections. Section 'Women' (pp. 422-448, esp. 'Gerwani', pp. 428-441) traces Gerwis from its founding on 4 June 1950 (about 500 members) t
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.
NVB telegram to Gerwani on its Fourth Congress, December 1961
De Waarheid, 14 Dec 1961, p. 2: notice that Gerwani, affiliated with WIDF, holds its fourth congress in Jakarta on 14-17 December 1961, and the NVB's greeting telegram, signed by chair Heiltje de Vos and secretary Annie Averink, expressing solidarity in the struggle against colonialism, for transfer of West Irian to In
Sukarno now supreme commander: New Guinea plans; speech at Gerwani congress
De Tijd/De Maasbode Reuter item (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno chaired the new 15-member national defence council as supreme commander to plan the "return" of West New Guinea. It notes that at the opening of the Gerwani congress he announced again he would "use armed force to liberate West Irian".
No negotiations: Sukarno at the Fourth Gerwani Congress
De Volkskrant report (15 Dec 1961) on Sukarno's speech to what it calls the fourth congress of Gerwani, "the communist-controlled" women's movement, convened on women's role in the West Irian struggle. He rejected talks with the Netherlands, said power is created by politics, and promised armed force if the UN accepted
'Mobilise national unity': Sukarno at the Gerwani congress
De Waarheid, 15 Dec 1961, p. 4: report that President Sukarno addressed the Gerwani congress on Thursday, rejecting the Luns policy on West Irian, calling force 'probably the only language imperialists understand' and urging mobilisation of national unity among nationalists, religious groups and communists, before his
Sukarno now supreme commander: New Guinea plans being worked out
Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant, 15 December 1961: Reuters report that Sukarno chaired the first meeting of a 15-member national defence council as supreme commander for the 'return' of Western New Guinea. At the opening of the Gerwani congress he again said he would use armed force to liberate West Irian.
Sukarno on New Guinea 'liberation': the Dutch understand only force
Ons Noorden (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno, speaking at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says the Dutch understand only force, refuses to invite talks on West Irian, announces his command to start the struggle on 19 December (Trikora) and threatens armed force if the UN approves occupation. The paper calls Gerwani commu
Sukarno on New Guinea 'liberation': the Dutch understand only force
Overijsselsch Dagblad (15 Dec 1961), duplicate of the Ons Noorden item: Sukarno, at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says Dutch imperialists understand only force, rules out talks and announces the 19 December command for the West Irian struggle. Gerwani is described as communist-controlled.
Sukarno in threatening speech: force the only language the Dutch understand
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (15 Dec 1961): at the opening of the Gerwani congress in Jakarta, Sukarno says the Dutch understand only force, rejects 'external' self-determination for New Guinea, and urges housewives not to worry over rice and oil shortages. Also the new defence council meets under his leadership. Paper ca
ANP news report, 16 December 1961 (Indonesia: military)
ANP radio bulletin, 16 Dec 1961: a two-line fragment saying a minister spoke at a conference of the Indonesian women's organisation Gerwani about measures against the Dutch, with banners in Yogyakarta demanding Western New Guinea. Evidence of Gerwani's role in the West Irian campaign.
Subandrio again threatens action
Leeuwarder Courant, 16 December 1961, p. 8: short report that Indonesian defence minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, said Indonesia would have to resort to military confrontation if the Netherlands grants Western New Guinea independence, while saying Indonesia is for peace. The paper calls Gerwani a '
Minister Subandrio: time and place of New Guinea operation soon known
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (16 Dec 1961): Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at the fourth national Gerwani congress, says time and place of the New Guinea operation will be fixed within days, warns people to prepare for sacrifice, and says Indonesia would be forced to resist militarily if the Dutch proceed with a Pap
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 '
Tomorrow in Yogyakarta: Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea
De Nieuwe Limburger, 18 Dec 1961: Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, says Indonesia would have to act militarily if the Dutch grant independence to a 'Papua state'; Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea is due 19 December (the Trikora). Shows Gerwani as a platform for the West Irian confr
Special intercession: Dutch church prayer on West Irian; Gerwani conference mention
De Waarheid, 18 Dec 1961, p. 6: mainly the Dutch Reformed Church's call for special prayer on West Irian. The last paragraph notes that in Jakarta Foreign Minister Subandrio spoke on West Irian at the congress of the 'large progressive women's movement Gerwani', after Sukarno's address the previous week stressing unity
Dr Subandrio: 'No other way than force' (at the Gerwani conference)
Het Rotterdamsch Parool item (18 Dec 1961, p.2): at a conference of the 'nationalist' women's organisation Gerwani, Foreign Minister Subandrio says Indonesia would have to take military action if the Netherlands tries to give independence to Western New Guinea, calling it forced military confrontation, and that Sukarno
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