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
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
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.
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.
De Nieuwsgier item (15 Dec 1954, p. 1) listing new non-party candidates on the PKI list for the 1955 elections (Affandi, Basuki Resobowo, Witarsa and others). Earlier non-party names include Mrs. Salawati (Salawati Daud), Henk Ngantung and Mrs. S.D. Susanto.
CIA study, May 1955, surveying PKI organisation and history before the 1955 elections, with a short section on Gerwani among eight front organisations (pp. 49-50) and PKI foreign channels. Earliest extended US assessment of Gerwani as a PKI front.
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
De Waarheid, 22 Jan 1955, p. 5: feature on preparations for Indonesia's first general elections, with voter registration, party symbols for illiterate voters, the PKI-and-independents list and attacks on it from Masjumi and PSI. It names independent candidates, among them Salawati (Daud), described as a guerrilla leade
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
Harian Rakjat, 23 Feb 1955, p. 3: PKI's list of candidates for the 1955 election (nos. 94-117 visible, with party and non-party 'takberpartai' candidates). No. 100 is Sulami, independent, general secretary of DPD Gerwani East Java; no. 101 Suwarinah, member of DPD Gerwani East Java. Same page: Ny. Mudigdio, vice-chair
Harian Rakjat, 26 Feb 1955: page 3 carries an advertisement and masthead for the monthly women's magazine 'Wanita Indonesia' (PKI-linked): editor Nn. Siti Asiyah, contributors including S.K. Trimurti, Ruslati, Sumbiyah and Kartinah (administration, CC PKI Jakarta), Maasje Siwi in Berlin as foreign correspondent. Page 1
Harian Rakjat, 10 Mar 1955: PKI candidate list for the 1955 election with PKI and non-party candidates for Sumatra and elsewhere. No. 11 is Nn. Maimunah (PKI), state high-school teacher and member of DPD Gerwani Sumatera Tengah, Bukittinggi. Also lists trade-union, BTI and Perbum figures; the rest of the page is film a
Harian Rakjat, 17 Mar 1955, p. 3: PKI candidate list (Sulawesi/Maluku section). No. 5 Ny. Charlotte Salawati (non-party, former deputy mayor of Makassar); no. 12 Sorongan Helena (non-party, Gerwani leader in North Sulawesi); no. 6 Henk Ngantung. Page also has sports and anti-atomic-weapons items.
CIA intelligence survey of the PKI's history, structure and front organisations, May 1955, before the September 1955 elections. Section III.E (report pp. 49-50) profiles Gerwani: founded 1950 as Gerwis, renamed Gerwani at the March 1954 congress, 25,000+ members, S.K. Trimurti general chairman and Umi Sardjono chairman
Harian Rakjat, 20 Mei 1955, hlm. 1. Front page for National Awakening Day and the PKI's 35th anniversary; Kartini appears as the token woman pioneer; no Gerwani item.
Harian Rakjat, 21 Mei 1955, hlm. 1. Front page with the CC PKI anniversary message 'Perluas persatuan untuk menang dalam pemilihan umum'; women appear only in cartoons; no Gerwani item.
Harian Rakjat, 22 Mei 1955, hlm. 3: halaman khusus HUT ke-35 PKI. Special anniversary page including 'What non-party PKI candidates say': three women candidates on the PKI list for the 1955 election, with 'Emansipasi bagi kaum wanita, kata Setiati Surasto'.
Harian Rakjat, 26 Mei 1955, hlm. 1. Front page reporting the PKI's 35th-anniversary celebrations in Jakarta; Aidit's speech and greetings including from 'wanita' at home.
Harian Rakjat, 26 Mei 1955, hlm. 3. First instalment of D.N. Aidit's address 'Lahirnja PKI dan perkembangannja' at the PKI's 35th-anniversary reception; women and Gerwani have no place in the party's official history here.
Harian Rakjat, 27 Mei 1955, hlm. 1. Front page with PM Ali Sastroamidjojo in Canton and 'Wanita tani ditangkap': Subang peasant women arrested during a land reoccupation against the British estate P&T; richest page for Gerwani in the batch.
Harian Rakjat, 27 Mei 1955, hlm. 3. Concluding instalment of Aidit's 35th-anniversary address: 1945–48 errors, Madiun 1948 as a Hatta provocation, the 1951 Sukiman raids and the post-1951 line of national united front and party building.
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1955-05-31, p. 2): PKI election rally at Tegallega, Bandung, with tens of thousands present. Candidates Eddy Abdurrachman and Mrs. Suwarti open, she stressing women's interests; D.N. Aidit criticises post-RTC governments and the Madiun executions of Musso and Sjarifuddin without trial. Archive
De Nieuwsgier report (31 May 1955, p. 2) on a PKI anniversary/election rally in Jakarta where Aidit spoke. Mrs. Oemi Sartono (Umi Sardjono), described as a non-party Gerwani member, said she chose the PKI because it is a choice of being for or against the people; non-party candidate Astrawinata also spoke.
Java-Bode, 31 May 1955, p. 2: report on the PKI's 35th anniversary rally on Merdeka Square. D.N. Aidit urged the Dutch to leave and stressed Muslim-Nationalist-Communist unity; Umi Sardjono, Gerwani general chair, spoke sharply against surviving feudalism and large landownership; judge Astrawinata explained his PKI can
De Locomotief, 1 June 1955: report of a PKI mass meeting in Jakarta where Aidit backs the Ali cabinet and urges peaceful election campaigning. Mrs Umi Sardjono, introduced as a non-party Gerwani member and PKI candidate, says she chose the PKI because it is a choice of being for or against the people. Date: the party's
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 8 Jun 1955, p. 2: report on the PKI's 35th-anniversary rally at Merdeka Square, Jakarta. Umi Sardjono, general chairwoman of Gerwani, attacks feudalism and large landownership; Aidit speaks on Muslim-nationalist-communist unity and Dutch profits, with slogans against Dutch and landlords
Keyword-hit excerpt of Pravda, 5 Aug 1955 (TASS, Jakarta) on the cabinet crisis after Masjumi's Burhanuddin Harahap was asked to form a government. Harian Rakjat published telegrams from SOBSI, BTI, Gerwani, Pemuda Rakjat and others demanding a truly democratic government, opposing a Masjumi cabinet and 'a military dic
Straits Times, 8 Aug 1955, by P. A. van der Poel (lead only). Describes how the Communist organisation is preparing for the 1955 Indonesian elections, winning support through sport, religion and an appeal to 'non-party' people. Matched on Umi Sardjono; lead does not name her.
De Waarheid, 17 Aug 1955, p. 3: Cor Geugjes's article for the Republic's tenth anniversary, covering Dutch colonial violence, the Bandung Conference, the Ali Sastroamidjojo government's fall and replacement by a Masjumi-PSI cabinet under Harahap, and the PKI's election platform. It lists Gerwani only as 'the strong wom
US State Department Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (HathiTrust, vol. no. 11-21), p. 40, translating Harian Rakjat's 8 Sep 1955 biographies of PKI parliamentary candidates. Mrs Mudigdio (Siti Aminah Nahsjam Marah Umar), born Medan 1904, active in women's organisations from age 14, in Pertindo 1931-34, MP since 1945, an