Mayor explains composition of regency election committees in Jakarta
De Nieuwsgier, 13 Feb 1954: Jakarta Mayor Sudiro explains the composition of the three regency election committees, giving one seat each to Masjumi, PNI, Gerwis, NU, PKI, PIR, Perwari and others. Gerwis's seat falls from two to one, with a Gerwis woman seated to represent 'socialism'; the Wanita Demokrat seat passes to
Women celebrate 8 March in Jakarta, 1954
De Nieuwsgier, 9 Mar 1954: International Women's Day is commemorated in Jakarta's Gedung Pertemuan with Mrs Rasuna Said, Dr Thung Sin Nio and members of Gerwis's central board present. Chair Mrs Effendie says women worldwide mark the day of sisterhood for equal rights and peace regardless of conviction.
Indonesian women in the cigarette industry and the Gerwis congress (photo caption)
De Waarheid, 10 Mar 1954, p. 5: photo caption only, stating that Indonesian women work in the cigarette industry, often have to struggle for better working conditions, and that the Gerwis congress is also of great significance for them. Accompanies the NVB's pre-congress coverage; no further text.
Solidarity with women in the Netherlands: Umi Sardjono on NVB invitation
De Waarheid, 10 Mar 1954, p. 5: excerpt from Umi (Sardjono) describing how the NVB received Gerwis's invitation to its congress with joy, sending a delegation and running a friendship campaign and a soap-selling drive (soap printed with Dutch and Indonesian hands) to strengthen solidarity and support Indonesia's demand
Women of Indonesia prepare their congress: Umi Sardjono excerpts from Harian Rakjat
De Waarheid, 10 Mar 1954, p. 5: excerpts from an article by Umi (Sardjono), Gerwis board member, in Harian Rakjat preparing Gerwis's second congress. She lists invitations to women's groups in the USSR, China, Netherlands, India and WIDF, and stresses plantation and factory women, mass dismissals driving women into pro
International Women's Day in Salatiga, 1954
De Locomotief, 11 Mar 1954: Salatiga's federation of women's associations marks International Women's Day on 8 March; a Gerwis representative explains the day's origin, followed by a talk on baby care, a health-service film and children's dances. Shows Gerwis giving the political history of the day within a mixed local
Action against the Swapradja: self-government in Solo does not fit present system
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-03-12, p. 2): the anti-Swapradja Surakarta committee, whose conference included Gerwis among PNI, PKI, Partai Buruh, SOBSI and youth groups, resolves to reject any return of self-government and to hold regency rallies by 15 April. The government says swapradja must be gradually adapted an
The anti-self-government action in Solo
De Nieuwsgier, 12 Mar 1954: a Solo conference against 'self-government' (the autonomy plan for Surakarta) adopts a campaign of regency mass meetings by 15 April, a central action and a delegation to national leaders. Attendees include the PNI, PKI, Pemuda Rakjat, Pemuda Puteri Indonesia, Gerwis and SOBSI.
Introduction to a story on the struggle against polygamy in West Java
De Waarheid, 24 Mar 1954, p. 5: editorial caption introducing a published story about a local victory against polygamy in West Java a few months earlier through united action. It says the issue is also on the agenda at the Gerwis congress that has just begun, attended by Rie Lips-Odinot. The story itself is not part of
Mrs Rie Lips: understanding for Indonesia's wishes
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-03-27, p. 2): Dutch MP Rie Lips-Odinot, chair of the Dutch Women's Movement, arrives in Jakarta for the second congress of Gerwis. She says Indonesians have the full right to decide their relations with the Netherlands, that many Dutch understand Indonesia's wishes, and that the Union tre
Public Masyumi meeting: 'Quran doctrines must be basis of our state'
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-03-29, p. 2): report of a public Masyumi meeting in Bandung. Mrs. Ijom Suleiman argues Islam gives women equal rights and duties; Masyumi West Java secretary Rusjad Nurdin rejects PKI claims that Masyumi are American compradors and urges Muslims never to join the PKI or organisations it i
Muntilan: committee to receive foreign women's delegations
De Locomotief, 30 Mar 1954: Muntilan sets up a committee led by the local Gerwis branch to receive a forthcoming visit (April) of representatives of the WIDF and Chinese, Indian, Australian and Dutch women's organisations, to be welcomed at Borobudur. Evidence of Gerwis's WIDF-linked international hospitality.
Sukarno urges communist to support transfer of New Guinea; Mrs Lips-Odinot, interpreter of 'peaceful' Netherlands
Algemeen Handelsblad (1954-04-05): President Sukarno received participants of the Gerwani congress; Dutch communist MP Rie Lips-Odinot conveyed the sympathy of the 'peace-loving part of the Dutch people'. Sukarno replied that good relations require return of New Guinea, and she endorsed Indonesia's claim. The paper cal
Untruthful communist business: Gerwani congress in Jakarta
De Maasbode, 5 Apr 1954: Sukarno receives at the palace women attending the Gerwani congress in Jakarta (described as a continuation of the communist Gerwis). The Dutch communist MP Mrs Lips-Odinot conveys the 'peace-loving' Dutch people's support; Sukarno says New Guinea is the main barrier to good relations. Shows Ge
The Irian question
Java-Bode, 5 April 1954, p. 2: Rie Lips Odinot, a Gerwis congress guest, conveys Dutch peace-lovers' sympathy to Sukarno, who replies that good Dutch-Indonesian relations are impossible until West Irian is returned to Indonesia, calling it the greatest political barrier.
But what is the reality? Travel report on workers in Indonesia
De Waarheid, 1 May 1954, p. 4: travel report by Mak Meyer, a Dutch union delegate to the SOBSI conference, on Indonesian workers' misery: poverty, homelessness, factory conditions and wages, child labour, becak drivers, and figures such as 35,000 women dying in childbirth yearly. Portrays SOBSI and PKI as leaders and u
A great and strong people fights for a better life: Rie Lips on Java
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: opening of an interview with Rie Lips, vice-chair of the NVB, back from six weeks on Java after the Gerwis/Gerwani congress. She rejects stereotypes of Indonesians as lazy, dirty or stupid, citing women who work in factories or walk hours to attend meetings of the women's movement, 'the
Gerwis and Gerwani: congress decides to change the name
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: short note that the recent congress of the Indonesian women's movement unanimously decided to change the name Gerwis to Gerwani, because 'Gerwis' (aware women) implied that only aware women could join, whereas every Indonesian woman should be able to become a member. Key evidence for the
On the plantations: Rie Lips tells about Indonesia
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: Rie Lips's account of her Java trip: plantation workers' wages (about 3 rupiah per day), child labour on tea and rubber estates, and volunteer village schools. Quotes the Gerwani congress appeal that those who can read should teach others; Soviet delegate Alexandra Kolopowa speaks; photo
Mistakes of the past (on SOBSI and Gerwis)
Het Vrije Volk opinion piece 'Fouten van vroeger' (14 May 1954, p.15) on Indonesian labour relations: SOBSI has profited from foreign employers' past neglect, the government chooses political over economic paths, and when strike leaders are prosecuted SOBSI and the communist women's association Gerwis appear in court w
Impressive ceremony on the invasion beach (with item on Gerwani and the Union)
Het Vaderland front page (8 Jun 1954) opening with Dutch resistance veterans' wreath-laying at the Normandy invasion beaches, followed by Indonesian news. A short passage 'Indon. comm. women and the Union' says the Indonesian feminist movement Gerwani, recently hostess to delegations of communist women from Russia and
Joint declaration of thirty parties (abolition of the Netherlands-Indonesian Union)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (24 Jun 1954, p.1): the Jakarta cooperation committee of about thirty parties and organisations, including PNI, PKI, Partai Buruh, Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani, SOBSI, BTI and Wanita Rakjat, issued a joint declaration demanding immediate abolition of the Indonesian-Dutch Union, blaming Dutch imper
Unrest in Indonesia continues
Algemeen Handelsblad (1954-07-02): a Committee of Co-operating Parties of 31 parties and organisations, including PKI, PNI, NU, SOBSI and Gerwani, urges the Dutch government to declare High Commissioner Van Bylandt persona non grata, recall Indonesia's delegation, abolish the Netherlands-Indonesia Union unilaterally an
Cooperating parties want High Commissioner persona non grata
De Gooi- en Eemlander, 2 July 1954: a committee of 31 cooperating parties and organisations, including the PKI, PNI, SOBSI and Gerwani, demands that Dutch High Commissioner Count van Bylandt be declared persona non grata. It also asks for unilateral abolition of the Netherlands-Indonesia Union and a West Irian administ
17 August committee in Jakarta with Gerwani in secretariat
De Nieuwsgier, 8 July 1954: Jakarta forms a committee to celebrate 17 August for national unity, abolition of the Netherlands-Indonesia Union and the return of West Irian; its secretariat, at the Balai Kota, is run by Gerwani, SOBSI and FPI. No Soetanti Aidit; Gerwani appears only as a secretariat organiser.
Gerwani conference in Salatiga on implementing congress decisions
De Locomotief, 29 July 1954: the Salatiga branch of Gerwani, with Central Java provincial delegates and BTI, SOBSI and women's organisation representatives, discusses implementing the latest congress decisions. Sub-branches will be set up in every subdistrict capital. Gerwani fields no candidates in the elections but i
Ekaterina in Java: Soviet delegates and the Gerwani congress
De Nieuwsgier, 7 Aug 1954: a Dutch-Indonesian paper recounts that Russian delegates invited to the Gerwani congress arrived after it ended but toured Java with organisers. Ekaterina Sheveleva's Izvestia report praises roads built by colonisers, laments farmers' primitive tools and notes a women's union meeting at a rai
Transmigration to South Sumatra; Medan cooperation body resolution
De Locomotief, 24 Aug 1954: a note on 50 families transmigrating from Purwokerto to South Sumatra, and a brief item that the Medan Badan Kerdjasama Nasional (BKN), to which PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani are affiliated, urged by resolution that the mayor be relieved of his post (text breaks off).
Medan cooperation body demands mayor's resignation
De Nieuwsgier, 24 Aug 1954: the Medan Badan Kerdjasama Nasional, to which PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani are affiliated, adopts a resolution urging the government to relieve Medan's mayor A.N. Djalaluddin. Same item as in De Locomotief of the same date.
Report on New Guinea
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-08-26, p. 2): first item on the Dutch UN report on New Guinea for 1953. A final line says the Badan Kerdjasama Nasional in Medan, affiliating PKI, PNI, SKI and Gerwani, urged the government to dismiss Medan's mayor A.M. Djalaluddin.