Indonesia: golden time
Algemeen Handelsblad column 'Golden time' (1965-11-29) on post-coup Indonesia: loyalty advertisements in newspapers, frozen bank accounts for suspected persons, price rises and Conefo stamps, a quarrel in a Malang court. A final item, 'Gerwani, kill her', describes villagers near Tasikmalaya chasing 'Gerwani' with kniv
Airgram A-353: Joint Weeka no. 45, 30 Nov 1965
US Embassy Joint Weeka no. 45 (airgram A-353), 30 Nov 1965: Nasution says repression of the PKI has reached 'mass executions' in several provinces; Army-Sukarno contest. Note: Gerwani not specifically named in the excerpt; high-level context.
PKI and Cover Organs Dissolved, Women's Organisation Purges Pro-Gerwani Members (FBIS, Dec 1965)
Two-page FBIS Daily Report extract (8-9 Dec 1965) from HathiTrust. It reports East Kalimantan Gerwani and PKI bodies dissolving themselves and admitting involvement in the coup, a ban in Central Kalimantan, and a Riouw women's organisation purging pro-Gerwani members. Other items cover economy and Jakarta security.
Njono: PKI coup hastened by Sukarno's illness
Leeuwarder Courant, 1 December 1965, p. 11: relays armed-forces newspaper reports of SOBSI chief Njono's interrogation statements: planning began in July, Aidit's claim that Sukarno was gravely ill was decisive, and Njono was to raise a 2,000-man reserve from PKI, Pemuda Rakjat, Sobsi, BTI and Gerwani members, learning
The masses did not rise (The Hindustan Times, 8 December 1965)
The Hindustan Times, 8 Dec 1965, Dennis Bloodworth (Singapore), 'PKI Debacle I: The Masses Did Not Rise': analysis of why the PKI collapsed after the 1 Oct coup: overrated membership, reliance on Sukarno and on army and air force penetration, no general strike, SOBSI dissolving. It reports Untung's alleged claim that m
Army plans to kill P.K.I. for ever (The Scotsman, 8 December 1965)
The Scotsman, 8 Dec 1965, Dennis Bloodworth, 'Army plans to kill PKI for ever': Suharto and Nasution press to destroy the PKI while Sukarno refuses to ban it; the article analyses the PKI's miscalculations. It repeats the slander that six generals were mutilated by 'doe-eyed girls' of the PKI's 'Gerwani' women's moveme
Almost overlords yesterday, almost outlaws today: what happened to the PKI? (Bloodworth, Straits Times, 1965)
The Straits Times, 8 December 1965, p. 12, analysis by Dennis Bloodworth on why the PKI failed. In passing it repeats the Lubang Buaya slander as fact: 'six leading generals were done to death, horribly mutilated by doe-eye girls of the PKI's Gerwani women's movement'. It then covers Sukarno's weakness, Nasution's esca
Evening Post (Wellington), 10 Dec 1965, commentary on the Indonesian Communists after the 30 September coup. It repeats the Lubang Buaya atrocity claim that six generals were 'horribly mutilated by doe-eyed girls' of the PKI's 'Gerwani' women's movement and thrown into a well, with Communist youth dancing at Halim; als
Sukarno the Key to Any Revolution in Indonesia (Evening Post, 10 December 1965), headline clipping
Headline-only clipping 'Sukarno the Key to Any Revolution in Indonesia' from the Evening Post of 10 Dec 1965; no further text. The full article repeats the Gerwani Lubang Buaya claim.
Sukarno the Key to Any Revolution in Indonesia (Evening Post, 10 December 1965), standfirst clipping
Standfirst clipping of the Evening Post article of 10 Dec 1965: the Indonesian Communists, 'almost overlords yesterday, almost outlaws today', miscalculated their moment, strength and strategy and the determination of the military and Muslims to wipe them out. Gerwani is not named in this fragment.
Sukarno the Key to Any Revolution in Indonesia (Evening Post, 10 December 1965), clipping on Gerwani claim
Clipping from the Evening Post of 10 Dec 1965: says Sukarno could not back the coup because of its brutality, and that six generals were 'horribly mutilated by doe-eyed girls' of the PKI's 'Gerwani' women's movement and thrown into a well, while Communist youth danced at Halim. This is the Lubang Buaya sexual-atrocity
Sukarno the Key to Any Revolution in Indonesia (Evening Post, 10 December 1965), closing clipping
Closing clipping of the Evening Post article of 10 Dec 1965: Nasution's escape over his garden wall and the murder of his five-year-old daughter; alleged PKI plans for arson and famine; the party's 'patriotic' image destroyed; Sukarno forced to appoint Suharto army chief while the Army mops up Communists in Central and
Indonesia, a new Vietnam (Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad, 13 December 1965)
Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad (Norway), 13 Dec 1965, p. 4 (page image): Albert Henrik Mohn's Jakarta report 'Indonesia - a new Vietnam', surveying the PKI's history from 1920 and Aidit's leadership. It lists PKI mass organisations, including SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakyat and the women's organisation 'Gerwani' with rou
Indonesia, a new Vietnam (Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad, 13 December 1965), OCR text
Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad (Norway), 13 Dec 1965, p. 4 (OCR text): Albert Henrik Mohn's Jakarta report 'Indonesia - a new Vietnam', surveying the PKI's history from 1920 and Aidit's leadership. It lists PKI mass organisations, including SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakyat and the women's organisation 'Gerwani' with rough
Armed Forces Information Centre, Intisari Berita, 14 December 1965: Sukarno rejects stories of mutilation at Lubang B...
Armed Forces Information Centre bulletin, 14 Desember 1965. Reports Sukarno's address (13 Dec) rejecting press stories of genital mutilation and eye-gouging at Lubang Buaya; 18 Gerwani among 228 detained in Wonosobo; a Gerwani leader beaten by her own members.
Garajszki Report on Hungarian-Korean Solidarity Meeting and DPRK Views of the PKI, 14 Nov 1967
Hungarian Foreign Ministry information report by Istvan Garajszki, 14 Nov 1967, on Hungarian-Korean solidarity meetings (Wilson Center Digital Archive; trans. Balazs Szalontai). A North Korean embassy secretary, Choe Guk-hyeon, says the PKI erred by exposing all its leaders and members and by relying on Sukarno after t
Indonesia, a new Vietnam? (Haugesunds Avis, 17 December 1965)
Haugesunds Avis (Norway), 17 Dec 1965, p. 8 (page image): Albert Henrik Mohn's Jakarta article 'Indonesia, a new Vietnam?' on PKI history, Aidit's rise and party growth to 3 million. It names PKI mass organisations (SOBSI, peasant front, Pemuda Rakyat, and the women's organisation Gerwani with about 1.5 million members
Indonesia, a new Vietnam? (Haugesunds Avis, 17 December 1965), OCR text
Haugesunds Avis (Norway), 17 Dec 1965, p. 8 (OCR text): Albert Henrik Mohn's Jakarta article 'Indonesia, a new Vietnam?' on PKI history, Aidit's rise and party growth to 3 million. It names PKI mass organisations (SOBSI, peasant front, Pemuda Rakyat, and the women's organisation Gerwani with about 1.5 million members)
President Speaks to Women's Association (FBIS, 17 Dec 1965)
FBIS item (Jakarta radio, 17 Dec 1965) on Sukarno's speech at Perwari's 20th anniversary rally. He stressed ideas and Pantjasila, and the need for men and women together. Chaerul Saleh urged care for children of Gestapu victims or participants. Minister Rusiah Sardjono pledged Perwari loyalty. Gerwani is not named; the
Speech to Women's Group: Sukarno at Perwari Anniversary (FBIS, 17 Dec 1965)
FBIS summary of Sukarno's 17 Dec 1965 speech at the Perwari anniversary rally. He praised West Irian volunteer Herlina, discussed ideas and 'progressive' versus 'retrogressive' revolutionaries, and defended Nasakom. He ordered a tribunal for those directly involved in Gestok and said those responsible for killing innoc
Sukarno threatens 'deviators'
Townsville Daily Bulletin, 20 Dec 1965, p. 1 (AAP-Reuter): speaking to a gathering of the Indonesian Women's Association, Sukarno says those who deviate from the revolution will be shot and that an extraordinary military tribunal will try coup participants. Reports arrests of supporters in Central Java, South Borneo (3
Airgram A-408: Joint Weeka no. 48, 21 Dec 1965
US Embassy Joint Weeka no. 48 (airgram A-408), 21 Dec 1965: estimates 100,000 PKI deaths and 10,000 on Bali; notes Sukarno addressing the 20th anniversary of Perwari. Only women-related scene is a non-communist women's group used as a stage.
US Embassy Djakarta, Joint Sitrep No. 68, Telegram 1842 (22 December 1965)
US Embassy Djakarta telegram 1842, Joint Sitrep No. 68 (22 Dec 1965, Secret, sanitized, OCR rough). Reports Sukarno's speeches defending the PKI, including a Mother's Day gathering where he defended the PKI's women's affiliate (Gerwani), Nasution's 'basic guide' for crushing the PKI, the PNI purge, anti-Chinese violenc
Case of Untung (Mahmillub II), 1966
Army-published record of the second Mahmillub trial, of Lt. Col. Untung, commander of the 30 September Movement: indictment, eleven sessions (23 Feb-7 Mar 1966), witnesses, pleas; printed in 10,000 copies. Primary source on the official case.
Dossier of the Indonesian Drama (Lucien Rey, New Left Review, 1966)
Article by Lucien Rey (New Left Review no. 36, March 1966) reconstructing the 1 October 1965 events as a plot by dissident Central Java officers, plus a translated Asahi Shimbun interview with PKI deputy chair Njoto. Says People's Youth and Gerwani auxiliaries trained at Halim took part in the generals' executions in r
Angkatan Bersendjata, 17 January 1966
Angkatan Bersendjata, 17 Jan 1966. Semarang report on the death of Karyono Purbominoto (alleged Pati 'Dewan Revolusi' designer) noting his wife Marsih, village head and 'pentolan Gerwani', remains at large; KAMI protests.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 19 January 1966
Angkatan Bersendjata, 19 Jan 1966. Reports Hansip's arrest of Tridjoko, 'Gerwani ringleader of Tuban', and a Tabanan (Bali) round-up that included 'a local Gerwani leader'; Sukarno's dialogue with KAMI.
Airgram A-503: Will There Be a Putsch against Sukarno? 7 Feb 1966
US Embassy airgram A-503, 7 Feb 1966, assessing whether anyone would stage a putsch against Sukarno (students, parties, generals, Sarwo Edhie). Women appear only in Sukarno's remark that women were not 'frying stones'; Gerwani absent.
Not public: the Njono trial
Limburgsch Dagblad, 15 February 1966, p. 1: start of the closed Mahmillub trial of SOBSI leader Njono, who says he was told to inform Sukarno of a 'council of generals' but joined the coup instead. Students demanded a public trial; only selected journalists are admitted. Njono is defended by Dutch-born lawyer Trees Soe
Swiss press, 15 Feb 1966: PKI leader Njono on trial in Jakarta (defence counsel Trees Soenito)
La Suisse, 15 Feb 1966, UPI/AFP wire from Singapore on the opening of the first coup trial in Jakarta. Defendant Njono, PKI Central Committee member, denies plotting against Sukarno. His only lawyer is Mrs Trees Soenito, aged 50, daughter of a former Dutch official in Indonesia and wife of a left-wing Indonesian leader