Indonesia: Gerwani report since the Third Congress (WIDF Information Bulletin, 1958)
WIDF Information Bulletin no. 10/1958 report on Gerwani since its Third Congress (December 1957): regional conferences, new constitution (branches replace workplace branches, 20-member minimum), plan to double membership, campaign for a national marriage law against polygamy with Sumari (PNI) and Mudigdio (PKI) MPs in
Afro-Asian Women's Conference holds plenary session (Renmin Ribao, 18 February 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 18 Feb 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Colombo): first plenary of the Afro-Asian Women's Conference. Maria Ulfah Santoso, head of the Indonesian delegation, appeals for support on West Irian and against destructive use of atomic energy; the Chinese delegation walks out over the UN/UNESCO observer. Gerwani is not name
Afro-Asian Women's Conference holds plenary session (Renmin Ribao, 18 February 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 18 Feb 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Colombo): first plenary of the Afro-Asian Women's Conference. Maria Ulfah Santoso, head of the Indonesian delegation, appeals for support on West Irian and against destructive use of atomic energy; the Chinese delegation walks out over the UN/UNESCO observer. Gerwani is not name
Two Gerwani Central Committee members arrive in Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 29 April 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 29 Apr 1958, p. 4 (Xinhua): Gerwani Central Committee members Tanti Aidit and Sudarsih arrive in Beijing by air on 28 April at the All-China Women's Federation's invitation, to visit and attend May Day. Brief arrival notice.
Two Gerwani Central Committee members arrive in Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 29 April 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 29 Apr 1958, p. 4 (Xinhua): Gerwani Central Committee members Tanti Aidit and Sudarsih arrive in Beijing by air on 28 April at the All-China Women's Federation's invitation, to visit and attend May Day. Brief arrival notice.
Calls for unity to stop American interference; Gerwani protest to the UN (Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta; Jiang Yousheng commentary): Indonesian organisations back Djuanda's statement against US and Chiang Kai-shek aid to the rebels. Gerwani telegraphed the UN Secretary-General on 4 May protesting American interference; BTI, the Peace Committee and seventeen Jakarta mass org
Calls for unity to stop American interference; Gerwani protest to the UN (Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta; Jiang Yousheng commentary): Indonesian organisations back Djuanda's statement against US and Chiang Kai-shek aid to the rebels. Gerwani telegraphed the UN Secretary-General on 4 May protesting American interference; BTI, the Peace Committee and seventeen Jakarta mass org
Two Gerwani Central Committee members return home (Renmin Ribao, 6 June 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jun 1958, p. 4 (Xinhua): Gerwani Central Committee members Tanti Aidit and Sudarsih Rachman leave Beijing on 5 June for home via Kunming and Rangoon after their All-China Women's Federation visit (arrived 28 April), which also included a trip to North Korea at the invitation of the Korean Democratic Wom
Two Gerwani Central Committee members return home (Renmin Ribao, 6 June 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jun 1958, p. 4 (Xinhua): Gerwani Central Committee members Tanti Aidit and Sudarsih Rachman leave Beijing on 5 June for home via Kunming and Rangoon after their All-China Women's Federation visit (arrived 28 April), which also included a trip to North Korea at the invitation of the Korean Democratic Wom
CIA study, September 1958: The international communist fronts in 1958
CIA/US government study (September 1958) surveying the activities of the international Communist fronts (World Peace Council, Afro-Asian Solidarity Council, WFDY/IUS, WIDF, WFTU and others) in 1958. Chapter IV covers WIDF's Fourth Congress (Vienna, 1-5 June 1958) and secretariat. Gerwani appears only briefly: Suharti (
Do not allow the US to interfere in China's internal affairs (Renmin Ribao, 20 September 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 20 Sep 1958, p. 4 (Xinhua, Jakarta): amid the Taiwan Strait crisis, Gerwani, speaking for its 650,000 members, protests American interference over Taiwan and the offshore islands; Indonesian railway and rice-workers' unions make similar demands. Other items give Syrian, Pakistani, Omani and Mauritanian su
Do not allow the US to interfere in China's internal affairs (Renmin Ribao, 20 September 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 20 Sep 1958, p. 4 (Xinhua, Jakarta): amid the Taiwan Strait crisis, Gerwani, speaking for its 650,000 members, protests American interference over Taiwan and the offshore islands; Indonesian railway and rice-workers' unions make similar demands. Other items give Syrian, Pakistani, Omani and Mauritanian su
FBIS, 28 October 1958: Indonesians laud CPR construction gains
FBIS-monitored Xinhua item (28 Oct 1958; header misdates 1953): Indonesian political figures returning from China praised China's construction, communes and the Great Leap Forward. Includes Mme Kartowijono, Perwari secretary-general, praising communes' labour enthusiasm, food, clothing and education; Anwar Tjokroaminot
Api Kartini No. 3, Year 1, August 1959
Third issue of Api Kartini (Aug 1959), tied to the 17 August anniversary and return to UUD 45. Features women in the 1945–49 revolution, a poem against polygamy and cheap female labour, and international women's solidarity for Indonesian independence and West Irian.
Api Kartini No. 6, Year 1, November 1959
Sixth issue of Api Kartini (Nov 1959), centred on Hari Pahlawan. Includes Sulami's report from the WIDF Bureau and Council in Prague, with Umi Sardjono and Mudigdio attending after visits to India and China, plus news on Albania and Yugoslavia.
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
The World's Women's Contribution to Their Era (Sulami)
Article by Sulami (1959) reporting on the WIDF Bureau meeting in Prague, chaired by Eugenie Cotton, and the Council with 51 countries. It stresses women's duty to protect children, supports disarmament and Soviet-US talks, backs the 50th anniversary of International Women's Day, and links peace to Indonesian national i
Aidit returns to Jakarta (Renmin Ribao, 9 April 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Apr 1959, p. 4 (Xinhua, Jakarta): PKI delegation led by Aidit returns from the CPSU's 21st Congress via China and Vietnam. Gerwani leaders are named only among those greeting it at the airport, with Njono, PKI MPs, SOBSI and Pemuda Rakjat.
Aidit returns to Jakarta (Renmin Ribao, 9 April 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Apr 1959, p. 4 (Xinhua, Jakarta): PKI delegation led by Aidit returns from the CPSU's 21st Congress via China and Vietnam. Gerwani leaders are named only among those greeting it at the airport, with Njono, PKI MPs, SOBSI and Pemuda Rakjat.
WIDF delegation members including Mrs Mudigdio arrive in Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 24 September 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Sep 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): a WIDF delegation arrives in Beijing for National Day, including Mrs Mudigdio, identified as WIDF Council member, PKI-group MP and vice-chairman of Gerwani, with delegates from Japan, Australia, Canada and Ghana.
WIDF delegation members including Mrs Mudigdio arrive in Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 24 September 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Sep 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): a WIDF delegation arrives in Beijing for National Day, including Mrs Mudigdio, identified as WIDF Council member, PKI-group MP and vice-chairman of Gerwani, with delegates from Japan, Australia, Canada and Ghana.
Renmin Ribao, 5 Oct 1959, p. 6: Greetings from people's organisations of various countries (Gerwani among them)
People's Daily page 6, 5 October 1959 (excerpt only): congratulatory telegrams and letters from foreign people's organisations, apparently for the PRC's anniversary. The excerpt lists women's bodies, including the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), alongside Albanian, Belgian, Danish and Japanese women'
Renmin Ribao, 5 Oct 1959, p. 6: Greetings from people's organisations of various countries (Gerwani among them)
People's Daily page 6, 5 October 1959 (excerpt only): congratulatory telegrams and letters from foreign people's organisations, apparently for the PRC's anniversary. The excerpt lists women's bodies, including the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), alongside Albanian, Belgian, Danish and Japanese women'
Mrs Andreen and others leave Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 9 October 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Oct 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): WIDF vice-president Andrea Andreen, with her daughter, leaves Beijing for Prague after an All-China Women's Federation invitation. Mrs Mudigdio (Gerwani) and Helen Kesian of the WIDF delegation fly on the same plane to Prague; a Tunisia-China Association delegation also departs.
Mrs Andreen and others leave Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 9 October 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Oct 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): WIDF vice-president Andrea Andreen, with her daughter, leaves Beijing for Prague after an All-China Women's Federation invitation. Mrs Mudigdio (Gerwani) and Helen Kesian of the WIDF delegation fly on the same plane to Prague; a Tunisia-China Association delegation also departs.
Moscow's advance
Algemeen Dagblad (1959-11-06, p. 7): second part of Allen W. Dulles's essay on Soviet and Chinese economic and subversive penetration of developing countries. Lists Indonesia among arms recipients and names the WIDF, with trade-union, youth and peace bodies, as a communist 'front organisation'. Cold War framing context
Api Kartini No. 10, Year 2, 1960
Issue 10 of year 2 (1960). Includes a profile of painter Mia Bustam, a Kartini quotation column, housewives running kindergartens, a delegation of Indonesian women to China, women printing workers and women's health in East Germany.
Neue Zeit, 6 Feb 1960, p. 1: WIDF to the great powers
Neue Zeit, 6 February 1960, p. 1: a two-line news brief, "IDFF an die Großmächte", reports that the WIDF bureau, meeting in Djakarta, sent a letter to the four great powers saying the 200 million women in the WIDF hope the summit conference will succeed. A neighbouring brief, "China hilft Indonesien", reports a 30 mill
Farewell visit to departing overseas Chinese by Indonesian people's organisations (Renmin Ribao, 7 March 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, Gerwani and the Indonesian Mothers' Committee against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs visit West Java Chinese gathered in Jakarta to return to China, bringing coffee, tea, medicine and soap; women hug Chinese wome
Farewell visit to departing overseas Chinese by Indonesian people's organisations (Renmin Ribao, 7 March 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, Gerwani and the Indonesian Mothers' Committee against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs visit West Java Chinese gathered in Jakarta to return to China, bringing coffee, tea, medicine and soap; women hug Chinese wome