Statements
Short Algemeen Indisch Dagblad item (1956-11-12, p. 2): a campaign of protest statements and telegrams against the British-French and Israeli attack on Egypt (Suez) is sent to the Indonesian government and British and French embassies by SOBSI, Sarbupri, Lekra West Java, Gerwani, OBSI Sumatra, KBKI Bandung, SBII and Pe
Page 564 of the US State Department's Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (nos. 33-44, 1958), summarising the 25 Sept 1958 Nusantara. Suwardiningsih, PKI East Java committee and Constituent Assembly member, entered Kalisosok prison, Surabaya, on 22 Sept to serve a month (cut from six) for remarks about Hatta in 1953; thous
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
Weekly Situation Reports, Indonesia, January 1960 (State Department Central Files)
Compilation of Djakarta embassy weekly political, economic and military situation telegrams to the State Department, January 1960. One item (21 Jan) reports labour union and women representatives picketing the Trade Minister's office over prices despite an army ban, with a newspaper identifying many women as members of
Communism and the PKI, Despatch of January 1961
US embassy Djakarta despatch compilation (Jan 1961) analysing communism and the PKI, including its front organisations. The overview describes Gerwani as the communist women's organisation used for price and anti-bomb demonstrations, affiliated with the WIDF (which funds trips abroad for prominent members), and contras
US Embassy Weekly Situation Telegrams, April 1962
Two US Embassy Djakarta weekly situation telegrams (JOINT WEEKA 14 and 15), 6 and 13 April 1962, on the West New Guinea dispute, PKI-Sukarno friction, Partindo, wage demands and military matters. Gerwani appears only once: it joined SOBSI and others in protesting the 'undemocratic' draft election bill providing for pop
After PKI protests: Sukarno withdraws election bills
De Waarheid, 8 May 1962, p. 2: report that Sukarno withdrew four bills on representative bodies (under which only one-third of the People's Congress, parliament and regional councils would be elected, the rest appointed) after protests first from the PKI, SOBSI, women's movement Gerwani and Pemuda Rakjat, later PNI and
Straits Times, 6 Feb 1963: SOBSI protests to Singapore Government over mass arrests
Straits Times, 6 Feb 1963 (lead only). SOBSI cabled a protest to the Singapore government over mass arrests of leftists, speaking for three million Indonesian workers. Matched on Gerwani; the companion Berita Harian item reports Gerwani joined the protest.
SOBSI, Partindo and Gerwani protest to Singapore government (Berita Harian, 1963)
Berita Harian, 6 February 1963, p. 3: SOBSI, Partindo and Gerwani send a protest to the Singapore government over the previous week's arrests of left-wing figures (Operation Coldstore); SOBSI blames the British and Tunku Abdul Rahman. The clipping is damaged and ends abruptly; Gerwani is only one of three protesting bo
SOBSI protest to Singapore government over mass arrests (Straits Times, 1963)
The Straits Times, 6 February 1963, p. 10, Reuters: SOBSI cables the Singapore government protesting the mass arrests of left-wing people the previous weekend and demanding release of detainees; Partindo and the Gerwani Women's Movement 'have also protested'. Brief mention of Gerwani among Indonesian left organisations
Straits Times, 25 Mar 1963: Java Reds in protest march (Purwokerto)
Straits Times, 25 Mar 1963 (lead only). 1,500 Communists demonstrated in Purwokerto, Central Java, against the high cost of living (Antara), involving PKI members and affiliates including Pemuda Rakyat; Gerwani likely among the affiliates though the lead is cut.
Java Reds in protest march, Purwokerto (Straits Times, 1963)
The Straits Times, 25 March 1963, p. 2, UPI/Antara: 1,500 communists demonstrate in Purwokerto, Central Java, against high prices and the cost of living; participants came from the PKI and affiliates including Pemuda Rakyat, Gerwani, BTI and Lekra. They petition for lower prices and the inclusion of communists in the C
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1964: world opinion attacks US expansion of the South Vietnam war
People's Daily, 7 March 1964, p. 3: roundup of world protests at US escalation in South Vietnam ('a second Dien Bien Phu awaits you'). The excerpt says the Indonesian Peasants' Front, SOBSI, the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), Pemuda Rakyat and the student movement union recently met and denounced US
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1964: world opinion attacks US expansion of the South Vietnam war
People's Daily, 7 March 1964, p. 3: roundup of world protests at US escalation in South Vietnam ('a second Dien Bien Phu awaits you'). The excerpt says the Indonesian Peasants' Front, SOBSI, the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), Pemuda Rakyat and the student movement union recently met and denounced US
World groups support nine Chinese arrested in Brazil; Havana rally on Gerwani's 14th anniversary
Xinhua roundup in Renmin Ribao (19 June 1964, p. 4) of international protests against Brazil's arrest of nine Chinese. Gerwani appears once: a Havana rally marking Gerwani's 14th anniversary, where SOBSI women's representative Tuti Supangat demanded the nine's release. Shows Gerwani's anniversary celebrated abroad and
World opposes US aggression in the Congo; 10,000 demonstrate in Jakarta
Xinhua roundup in Renmin Ribao (5 Dec 1964, p. 5) on world reaction to the US-Belgian attack on Stanleyville, Congo, including a 10,000-strong anti-US demonstration in Jakarta that stormed and burned the USIS library. Gerwani appears in one sentence: its Central Council demanded withdrawal of the aggressor forces, alon
Sukarno rejects demand for ban on Sukarnoism (South China Morning Post, 14 December 1964)
South China Morning Post, 14 Dec 1964, p.28 (Jakarta, 13 Dec; fragmentary OCR): Sukarno rejects a demand to ban 'Sukarnoism', and the item notes that Antara reported hundreds of members of Gerwani, 'the Communist women's organisation', demonstrated outside government offices in Medan the previous Wednesday with signs d
Claim of landing by Malaysians
Toowoomba Chronicle, 31 Dec 1964, p. 1 (AAP-Reuters): Sukarno claims Indonesian police arrested two groups of armed Malaysian infiltrators and says 'Malaysia does not exist'. Second item: about 500 housewives, including Mrs Subandrio, protest rising prices in Jakarta in a demonstration organised by the Indonesian Women
Sovetskaya Kirgiziya, 16 Mar 1965: world protest over the Vietnam war (Gerwani statement)
Sovetskaia Kirgiziia, 16 Mar 1965, p. 3: page of TASS items on Vietnam war protests. Quotes a Gerwani statement, said to speak for over 2 million members, condemning US bombing of the DRV as 'a crime against humanity'. Also reports Indonesia withdrawing from the New York World's Fair over US support for Malaysia. Other
Protest in Jakarta against high prices
Short ANP item in Het Vrije Volk (23 Sep 1965, p.9), one week before the coup attempt: thousands of Indonesian women demonstrated at the Ministry of Trade in Jakarta against rising prices of necessities, as reported by PKI paper Harian Rakjat. They demanded strong action against capitalists, bureaucrats, swindlers and
Freiburger Nachrichten, 11 October 1965: Weekend politics column (Indonesia)
Freiburger Nachrichten (Fribourg), 11 Oct 1965, weekend politics column. Indonesia items: demonstrations in Malang demanding punishment of coup instigators, Radio Jakarta losing primacy, and the Muslim daily Mimbar Revolusi's report that homes of Aidit and Njoto were plundered and the Gerwani headquarters devastated, w
Berita Yudha, 12 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 12 Oktober 1965. Front-page report that crowds in Yogyakarta (5–6 Oct 1965) put up placards 'Who killed the Heroes of the Revolution? Gerwani-PR' and destroyed PKI and IPPI offices; an early link of Gerwani to the killings.
LBJ National Security File: Indonesia, Communist Parties and Internal Politics, Nov 1965-May 1966
LBJ Library National Security File, Indonesia country file (vol. VI): US Embassy Jakarta cables and withdrawal sheets, mainly December 1965 to May 1966, on the army's moves against the PKI, Sukarno's speeches, student demonstrations and Suharto's rise. Gerwani appears twice. Embtel 2077 (17 Jan 1966) reports Bogor wall
ANP news report, 8 November 1965 (Djakarta: women's anti-communist demonstration)
ANP radio bulletin, 8 Nov 1965 (UPI): almost 10,000 Indonesian women demonstrated in Jakarta against communism, backing Sukarno and the army, and in a resolution urged dissolution of Gerwani. Illustrates the organised women's campaign against Gerwani after the coup.
ANP news report, 8 November 1965, 15.00 (Indonesia)
Second ANP bulletin of 8 Nov 1965 (Reuters/UPI): soldiers seal off Jakarta's Chinese quarter and search houses; separately about 10,000 women march anti-communist, pledge support to Sukarno and the army, and demand Gerwani's dissolution.
ANP news report, 8 November 1965, 18/19.00 (Indonesia)
Third ANP bulletin of 8 Nov 1965: troops seal Jakarta's Chinese quarter; about 10,000 women march in support of Sukarno and the army against the PKI. Their resolution demands the dissolution of Gerwani and government takeover of communist-run schools, linking the attack on Gerwani to its educational work.
Women Demonstrate for PKI, Affiliates Ban (FBIS, 8 Nov 1965)
FBIS item from Jakarta ANTARA, 8 Nov 1965: about 30,000 housewives and girl students from some 30 women's organisations demanded dissolution of the PKI and Gerwani. They petitioned Maj. Gen. Suharto and National Front secretary-general Sudibjo, condemned Gerwani for the generals' killing, asked that Gerwani schools be
Criticism of army leadership: Subandrio counterattacks; women march against Gerwani
De Nieuwe Limburger, 9 Nov 1965 (Reuters): Subandrio denies involvement in the coup and criticises army dismissals; troops search Jakarta's Chinese quarter. Thousands of women and girls, about 10,000 housewives, students and actresses, march from Suharto's headquarters to the National Front demanding dissolution of Ger
Another demonstration against the PKI (women cheer Suharto)
Het Parool wire report (9 Nov 1965) under 'Women cheer Suharto': 100,000 anti-communist demonstrators in Jakarta demand a ban on the PKI and 'crushing' of the 30 September movement; the army searches a Chinese quarter. Thousands of women marched to National Front headquarters; Suharto thanked them for loyalty to the ar
Another demonstration against the PKI: women cheer Suharto
Het Rotterdamsch Parool report (9 Nov 1965, p.1) under 'Women cheer Suharto', same wire text as other Dutch papers: 100,000 anti-communist demonstrators in Jakarta demand banning the PKI; the army searches a Chinese quarter; thousands of women march to the National Front HQ, are addressed by Suharto and cheer him, repr