Aminah Djamil, death notice
Death notice in Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (13 May 1957, p.2): Mrs Aminah Djamil, PKI representative in North Sumatra's provisional provincial council, died on Friday night. She was also the leader of Gerwani, 'the communist women's movement', in the province. Her husband Ali Hadihroto sits on the Langkat regency exec
Jakarta sets up National Council: Sukarno names members (New York Times, 16 June 1957)
New York Times, 16 June 1957, p.37, Special to the Times from Jakarta: Sukarno names the 45 members of the new National Council (Dewan Nasional), chaired by himself, with Roeslan Abdulgani as deputy chairman and secretary-general. About a quarter are described as Communists or sympathisers, including PKI member Sujono
PKI protest over arrests in Minahassa
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-08-29, p. 3): the PKI central committee publishes North Sulawesi branch protest against arrests in Minahasa starting 20 July 1957 (about 30 detained, mostly PKI) and the sealing of the Manado PKI office. Listed detainees include Karel Supit and Mrs. Wuntu-Ottay of the Gerwani leadership i
In an alley of Kebon Sirih
Photo caption item in Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-09-09, p. 2): municipal councillors investigate living conditions of low-end sex workers in an alley of Kebon Sirih, Jakarta. Two women councillors speak with the women: Mrs. Musmini (Gerwani) standing left and Mrs. Amartiwi Saleh (PSI) in the middle.
General debates on normalisation of the country's situation
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-09-28, p. 2): continuation of the parliamentary debate on normalisation after the national conference, with seven speakers. Mrs. Umi Sardjono (Pembangunan) calls the result a positive principle showing the government's authority, but doubts it can be realised while arbitrary arrests and b
Bandung in brief
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad 'Bandung in short' column (1957-10-19, p. 2) of local news. Relevant: Gerwani, which now has fifteen kindergartens across West Java, has begun a one-month emergency course to train teaching staff, with theory taught by Miss Sri Sulistiewaty of IPPI. Other items cover rice distribution, a Red Cr
Hula hoops 'improper' (Evening Post, 3 April 1959)
Evening Post (Wellington), 3 April 1959, UPI report 'Hula Hoops Improper': the Indonesian Women's Movement (probably Gerwani, though not named) urged the government to ban hula hoops as inconsistent with Eastern ethics and harmful to mental health, as Surabaya military authorities warned hooping children about decency.
Hula hoops 'improper' (Evening Post, 3 April 1959), headline clipping
Headline-only clipping ('Hula Hoops Improper') of the Evening Post article of 3 April 1959 on the Indonesian Women's Movement's call for a hula hoop ban; no further text.
Hula hoops 'improper' (Evening Post, 3 April 1959), article clipping
Article-body clipping from the Evening Post, 3 April 1959: the Indonesian Women's Movement urged Indonesia's government to ban hula hoops as contrary to Eastern ethics and harmful to mental health, as reported by UPI from Jakarta, alongside a Surabaya military warning on decency.
Tages-Anzeiger, 11 July 1959: Indonesia on the road to dictatorship
Tages-Anzeiger analysis (11 July 1959, signed Th. v. R.) of Sukarno's return to the 1945 constitution and the army's rising power under Nasution. Lists PKI-linked mass organisations, giving Gerwani 75,000 members alongside SOBSI, Pemuda Rakyat, BTI, and notes PKI's 1957 vote.
Anti-Dutch agitation again in Indonesia: Gerwani urges confiscation of Dutch capital
Short De Telegraaf wire item (17 May 1960, AP): the oil workers' union Perboem and Gerwani, described as affiliated with the Indonesian communist party, urged the government to confiscate Dutch capital in Dutch Shell during the nationalisation of Dutch interests.
Seizure of Shell capital in Indonesia demanded
Short Eindhovensch Dagblad AP item (17 May 1960, p.4): two communist-led organisations urged Jakarta to seize Dutch capital in Shell. The oil workers' union Perboem backs nationalisation, and the PKI-affiliated women's organisation Gerwani presses for seizure of Dutch capital 'still hidden' in mixed enterprises.
New anti-Dutch demonstrations
Ons Noorden (17 May 1960): amid anti-Dutch demonstrations, the oil union Perboem and the PKI-affiliated women's organisation Gerwani urge the government to seize remaining Dutch capital in mixed enterprises such as Shell, BPM and Unilever. Demonstrations continue in Bandung, Surabaya and Semarang.
Communist's house hit by bomb (Nungtjik), Berita Harian (Singapore), 17 June 1960
Berita Harian (Singapore), 17 June 1960: Reuters report from Jakarta that a Communist member of the Indonesian Parliament, Tuan Nungtjik, was wounded when a bomb (hand grenade) was thrown while he was eating at home the previous night. Only the lead snippet survives. The sweep log links it to Zubaidah Nungtjik A.R. (Ge
Sukarno now supreme commander: New Guinea plans; speech at Gerwani congress
De Tijd/De Maasbode Reuter item (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno chaired the new 15-member national defence council as supreme commander to plan the "return" of West New Guinea. It notes that at the opening of the Gerwani congress he announced again he would "use armed force to liberate West Irian".
No negotiations: Sukarno at the Fourth Gerwani Congress
De Volkskrant report (15 Dec 1961) on Sukarno's speech to what it calls the fourth congress of Gerwani, "the communist-controlled" women's movement, convened on women's role in the West Irian struggle. He rejected talks with the Netherlands, said power is created by politics, and promised armed force if the UN accepted
Sukarno now supreme commander: New Guinea plans being worked out
Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant, 15 December 1961: Reuters report that Sukarno chaired the first meeting of a 15-member national defence council as supreme commander for the 'return' of Western New Guinea. At the opening of the Gerwani congress he again said he would use armed force to liberate West Irian.
Sukarno on New Guinea 'liberation': the Dutch understand only force
Ons Noorden (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno, speaking at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says the Dutch understand only force, refuses to invite talks on West Irian, announces his command to start the struggle on 19 December (Trikora) and threatens armed force if the UN approves occupation. The paper calls Gerwani commu
Sukarno on New Guinea 'liberation': the Dutch understand only force
Overijsselsch Dagblad (15 Dec 1961), duplicate of the Ons Noorden item: Sukarno, at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says Dutch imperialists understand only force, rules out talks and announces the 19 December command for the West Irian struggle. Gerwani is described as communist-controlled.
Sukarno in threatening speech: force the only language the Dutch understand
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (15 Dec 1961): at the opening of the Gerwani congress in Jakarta, Sukarno says the Dutch understand only force, rejects 'external' self-determination for New Guinea, and urges housewives not to worry over rice and oil shortages. Also the new defence council meets under his leadership. Paper ca
ANP news report, 16 December 1961 (Indonesia: military)
ANP radio bulletin, 16 Dec 1961: a two-line fragment saying a minister spoke at a conference of the Indonesian women's organisation Gerwani about measures against the Dutch, with banners in Yogyakarta demanding Western New Guinea. Evidence of Gerwani's role in the West Irian campaign.
Subandrio again threatens action
Leeuwarder Courant, 16 December 1961, p. 8: short report that Indonesian defence minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, said Indonesia would have to resort to military confrontation if the Netherlands grants Western New Guinea independence, while saying Indonesia is for peace. The paper calls Gerwani a '
Minister Subandrio: time and place of New Guinea operation soon known
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (16 Dec 1961): Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at the fourth national Gerwani congress, says time and place of the New Guinea operation will be fixed within days, warns people to prepare for sacrifice, and says Indonesia would be forced to resist militarily if the Dutch proceed with a Pap
Tomorrow in Yogyakarta: Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea
De Nieuwe Limburger, 18 Dec 1961: Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, says Indonesia would have to act militarily if the Dutch grant independence to a 'Papua state'; Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea is due 19 December (the Trikora). Shows Gerwani as a platform for the West Irian confr
Dr Subandrio: 'No other way than force' (at the Gerwani conference)
Het Rotterdamsch Parool item (18 Dec 1961, p.2): at a conference of the 'nationalist' women's organisation Gerwani, Foreign Minister Subandrio says Indonesia would have to take military action if the Netherlands tries to give independence to Western New Guinea, calling it forced military confrontation, and that Sukarno
Indonesia Protest at Mass Arrests (News-Mail, 6 February 1963), duplicate OCR
News-Mail (Bundaberg), 6 February 1963, p. 7, AAP-Reuter wire from Jakarta (duplicate OCR of GA-00265, with scrambled columns). SOBSI cabled protest to Singapore over mass arrests of leftists on 2-3 February; Partindo and Gerwani also protested. Also reports Brunei's Sultan warning against Indonesian volunteers and Gen
Indonesia Protest at Mass Arrests (News-Mail, 6 February 1963)
News-Mail (Bundaberg), 6 February 1963, p. 7, AAP-Reuter wire from Jakarta (clean OCR). The SOBSI federation, claiming three million members, cabled Singapore condemning its mass arrests of leftists as a move to quell opposition to Malaysia, and Partindo and Gerwani also protested. The Sultan of Brunei warned against a
Berita Harian, 6 Feb 1963: SOBSI, Partindo and Gerwani protest to Singapore government
Berita Harian, 6 Feb 1963 (lead text only). Reports from Jakarta that SOBSI, Partindo and Gerwani, described as leftist, protested to the Singapore government over arrests of left-wing figures on the island the previous week (Operation Coldstore).
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