The coup in Madiun: 'purge action against reactionaries'
Nieuwe Courant, 22 September 1948: Antara reports on the Madiun events: Murba's correspondent describes the 12 September communist takeover, Musso's radio speech (claiming millions of women became widows through Japanese romusha), Suripno calling it a 'purge action', and Col. Djokosujono's claim of a clean-up of reacti
Censorship in Yogyakarta; huge smuggling affair
Nieuwe Provinciale Groninger Courant, 22 September 1948, p. 2: wire items from the Madiun crisis (censorship and bans in Yogyakarta, Amir Sjarifuddin leaving Madiun, executions of two TNI/BPRI raiders who used kampong women as shields), a court-martial for thefts at Tanjung Priok, and a South Sulawesi-Singapore smuggli
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
Dictatorial powers for President Sukarno (Madiun affair)
Indische Courant voor Nederland front page (29 Sep 1948) on the Madiun affair: the KNIP working committee grants Sukarno full emergency powers for three months (25-1); Hatta blames 'PKI-Musso'; arrests of FDR communist leaders in Magelang, curfews in Kediri; Solo youth back the government. Soewarti of the labour party
Radio war in the republic (Madiun, September 1948)
Indische Courant voor Nederland (29 Sep 1948, p.3) 'Radio war in the republic': Musso, Colonel Djokosoejono and Suripno speak on communist-held Radio Gelora Pemuda after the Madiun takeover, attacking Sukarno and Hatta as capitulationists and 'servants of Japan and America'. Musso says over twenty million women were wi
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.
President and government at women's congress in Budapest (WIDF second congress opens)
Short De Waarheid report (3 Dec 1948) on the opening of the second WIDF congress in Budapest, attended by President Szakasits and the Hungarian government. Chinese and Soviet women were cheered; delegates from Vietnam were denied visas and women from Indonesia, Iran and Argentina were still awaited.
Republican deliberations (arrest of Francisca Fanggidaej after Madiun)
Het Dagblad (Batavia) report (4 Dec 1948, p.1) on republican cabinet deliberations and arrests of communists after Madiun. It reports Francisca Fanggidaej, once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI, was captured with Colonel Djokosoejono and Politburo member Sardjono, and, per her statement, that 23 women were with Amir Sj
Situation in the republic: no measures against Tan Malaka's group
De Locomotief, 7 Dec 1948: Army Contact Service report after the Madiun affair. It says Francisca Fanggidaej, earlier delegated to Prague by the BKPRI, was captured with Col. Djokosujono and PKI's Sardjono. According to her, 23 women were among Amir Sjarifuddin's troops; 14 surrendered with 800 men and 7 more on 29 Nov
Latest news: Committee of Good Offices, Madiun arrests, women drowned
De Maasbode, 7 Dec 1948: 'Latest news' column covering the Committee of Good Offices, Dr Beel in Madura, Hatta's stand on the army, and about 3,000 arrests after the Madiun revolt. A brief item reports seven Indonesian women drowned when a prau capsized near Teluknaga. Gerwani/Gerwis and Soetanti Aidit are not mentione
Short reports
Dutch newspaper column of short news items (Aaltensche Courant, 1948-12-10, p. 2) on mostly Dutch and European matters. Only one line concerns Indonesia: a prahu with seven Indonesian women capsized in the Tjidadane river near Teloeknaga and all drowned. No Gerwis/Gerwani content; matched only by a topic search.
No measures against Tan Malaka's group (arrests after Madiun)
Indische Courant voor Nederland (11 Dec 1948, p.2): Republican officials deny measures against Tan Malaka's Gerakan Revolusi Rakjat, though Ibnu Parna was arrested. It details arrests of communist leaders: Colonel Djokosoejono, PKI politburo's Sardjono and Francisca Fanggidaej (once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI); p
Women's congress in Budapest made a mighty vow to the world
De Waarheid report (29 Dec 1948) on the second WIDF congress in Budapest (1-6 Dec, 600+ women, 54 countries), framed as a Soviet-led peace front against "Anglo-American imperialism". Dutch Labour women are chided over the colonial war in Indonesia; Indonesian women are not among the delegates named.
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.
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
70 million workers and 80 million women protest against colonial war
De Waarheid report (6 Jan 1949) on international protests against the Dutch "Christmas" military action in Indonesia: the WFTU statement, and the WIDF telegram and letter to the Security Council on behalf of 80 million women including its Indonesian and Dutch affiliates. Also covers Security Council scheduling and Mini
Women, demonstrate on Tuesday for peace: International Women's Day call 1949
De Waarheid call (5 Mar 1949) for Dutch women to demonstrate on International Women's Day for peace: against the colonial war in Indonesia, the Marshall Plan and Atlantic Pact, for troop withdrawal and equal pay, with Soviet women held up as models and WIDF president Cotton quoted. Concerns Dutch communist women; no In
CIA information report, April 1949: The WIDF in the Far East
CIA information report, April 1949 (catalogued 18 April): 'The WIDF in the Far East'. Lists delegates at the WIDF Council's first session (Paris, Feb 1947) and traces WIDF contacts in China, Malaya, Hong Kong and Singapore, a proposed 1948 fact-finding commission on women in India, Indonesia and elsewhere, and plans af
318 delegates could not come: World Peace Congress opens in Paris
De Waarheid report (20 Apr 1949) on the opening of the World Peace Congress in Paris, where Joliot-Curie greeted delegations from China, Spain, Greece, Vietnam and Indonesia, protested French refusal of 380 visas and noted women's role in peace. WIDF chair Cotton sat on the platform. No Indonesian delegate or Gerwis/Ge
Of and about others: column against den Doolaard on colonial atrocities
Short De Waarheid column (21 Apr 1949) attacking writer A. den Doolaard for a De Linie piece on maltreatment of imprisoned Dutch collaborators, contrasting it with alleged Dutch crimes in Indonesia, including mass killings of women and children. No Gerwani content; background to Dutch colonial-war propaganda.
Heavy battle in Sumatra; speeches at Paris World Peace Congress
De Waarheid page (25 Apr 1949) with a report on fighting in Sumatra (Dutch landing at Indrapura, Republican scorched-earth) plus speeches from the Paris World Peace Congress. WIDF chair Eugénie Cotton says millions of women are fighting in China, Greece, Indonesia and Spain. No Indonesian women are named.
Communist Blueprint for Asia (Western Mail, 18 August 1949)
Western Mail (Perth), 18 August 1949, p. 10, Denis Warner's anti-communist article 'Communist Blueprint for Asia'. It claims the February 1948 Calcutta Southeast Asia Youth and Students' Conference carried Moscow's instructions for revolt to Australia, Malaya, Burma, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. Indonesia's dele
Communist Blueprint For Asia (Western Mail, 18 August 1949), reprint
Western Mail (Perth), 18 Aug 1949, reprint of Denis Warner's article presenting the Feb 1948 Calcutta youth conference as a Moscow-directed 'blueprint' for Asian revolution. Indonesian delegate Francisca Fanggidaej is listed among the 'guests'; Warner says there is little to show 'his' politics and doubts Indonesian in
Singapore Free Press, 31 Aug 1949: blueprint for revolution in a Soviet attache case (Denis Warner)
Singapore Free Press, 31 Aug 1949, by Denis Warner (lead only). Cold-war feature claiming Soviet-supplied blueprints for revolution in Australia, Malaya, the Philippines and Korea. Matched on Francisca Fanggidaej; the lead has no Indonesian women's content.
Revision of the KNIP
De Locomotief, 12 Sept 1949 (Aneta): PNI's Sartono says the KNIP and its Working Committee are being reorganised, and lists organisations seeking seats, including the Partai Wanita Rakyat, Perwari and the Partai Wanita Kristen Indonesia. Gerwis is not named; context on women's organisations' political representation in
The power of the peace camp: map legend with Indonesia entry
De Waarheid explanatory legend (8 Oct 1949) to a world map of the "peace camp", listing country-by-country assessments. Indonesia is described as "mass struggle in all parts of the Archipelago for the definitive national liberation"; a table gives WIDF membership as 80 million. No Gerwani content.
National Conference of the Dutch Women's Movement in Amsterdam
De Waarheid notice (28 Oct 1949) of the national conference of the Dutch Women's Movement in Amsterdam, chaired by Rie Lips-Odinot, with news of the WIDF Council meeting in Peking and a talk by "an Indonesian woman fighter". Culture morning with peace films and choir.
Body of murdered Dutchman found in South Celebes
Algemeen Dagblad front-page item (1949-11-07) reporting the murder of Dutchman Th. Pluyter of the Faroko cigarette factory, abducted near Masamba, South Celebes. The gang is said to have been led by Makassar council member Salawati Daoed (Salawati Daud); six gang members arrested. A colonial-era accusation against a fu
Terror on Celebes: woman councillor led gang
Short Algemeen Handelsblad item (1949-11-07) headlined 'Terror on Celebes': Th. Pluyter, inspector of the Faroka factories, was murdered near Masamba, South Celebes, and Makassar councillor Salawati Daud, under whose leadership the gang seemed to act, was arrested. Colonial-era accusation against a future Gerwani leade
Factory inspector murdered by gang
Arnhemsche Courant, 7 Nov 1949: report that a gang terrorising the Masamba area of South Sulawesi killed factory inspector Th. Pluyter on 2 Nov; the gang is said to have been led by Makassar council member Salawati Daud, who drove there in a municipal car. A colonial-era press allegation against a future Gerwis/Gerwani