News in brief
Dutch newspaper column of brief news (1955-09-22, p. 2); only the final item concerns Indonesia: per the daily Pedoman, women leaders will ask PM Harahap to keep Sukarno's second wife out of the Bogor palace, claiming he broke a promise. Text breaks off. Other items are unrelated. Gerwani not named.
News in brief ('Woman against woman')
'News in brief' column, Provinciale Overijsselsche en Zwolsche Courant (24 Sep 1955). One item, 'Woman against woman', cites Pedoman: leaders of Indonesian women will ask Premier Harahap to keep Sukarno's second wife out of the Bogor palace, saying he broke a promise. Text breaks off. Other items unrelated; no Gerwani
Harian Rakjat, 24 September 1955, p. 4
Harian Rakjat, 24 September 1955, hlm. 4. Advertisement page before the 29 September 1955 election with a news item on domestic textile industry; no Gerwani item.
Elections in Indonesia on Thursday
Arnhemsche Courant, 27 Sept 1955: preview of Indonesia's first general elections (29 Sept), expecting a communist-Masjumi contest and noting that women have emerged as a political force within existing parties. Gerwani is not named; useful context for the 1955 elections.
Indonesia goes to choose symbols
Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, 27 September 1955, p. 5: preview of Indonesia's first general election, with about 43 million voters, 63 parties and symbol-based ballots for illiterates (hammer and sickle versus buffalo head). It expects a PKI-Masjumi contest and notes that Indonesian women have emerged as a political forc
Votes in the jungle: elections in Indonesia on Thursday
Nijmeegsch Dagblad (27 Sep 1955) pre-election report on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, expected Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Notes women emerging as a political force within parties, citing a Masyumi women's rally; Gerwani is not named.
Elections in Indonesia on Thursday: about half of voters expected at the polls
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Mentions women's political activity within parties via a Masyumi women's rally; Gerwani not named.
Elections in Indonesia on Thursday: about half of voters expected at the polls
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Mentions women's political activity within parties via a Masyumi women's rally; Gerwani not named. Same text as the Ons Noorden item, here in Overijssels
General elections begin Thursday in Indonesia
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Women emerge as a political force within parties; Gerwani is not named.
After fierce campaign 43 million Indonesians vote Thursday
Reuter pre-election report (27 Sep 1955) on Indonesia's first general elections: 43 million voters, 63 parties, a Masyumi–PKI contest, PKI hoping for 5 million votes. Women emerge as a political force within parties; Gerwani is not named. Version in Zutphens Dagblad also quotes a Masyumi women's rally of about 1,000 wh
Elections tomorrow in Indonesia
Nieuwsblad voor de Hoeksche Waard en IJselmonde, 28 September 1955, p. 1: preview of Indonesia's first general election with 43 million voters and 63 parties, expecting a PKI-Masjumi contest. It notes women as a political force within existing parties, citing a Masjumi women's meeting of about 1,000. Gerwani is not nam
P.N.I. (analysis of the 1955 election result)
Het Parool column 'P.N.I.' (11 Nov 1955) analysing the 1955 Indonesian election result: the PNI did well despite corruption; Sukarno's second marriage (Hartini) had been thought to hurt him as it moved many prominent Indonesian women to militant counter-action, but the fight against polygamy was a concern of a handful
Sukarno's 'find'
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 15 November 1955, p. 1: hostile Dutch editorial on Sukarno's Heroes' Day speech alleging a foreign plot. Among causes of his declining popularity it lists 'the indignation of the organised Indonesian women, who do not appreciate the marriage escapades of their president'. Gerwani is not name
University examinations: Universitas Indonesia medical pass list
Short De Nieuwsgier list (24 Dec 1955) of Universitas Indonesia medical students who passed examinations; "Mrs. Soetanti Aidit" passed the doctor's exam A1 (first part). Soetanti was D.N. Aidit's wife; Gerwani is not mentioned.
University examinations: Jakarta medical faculty pass list
De Locomotief, 27 Dec 1955: list of passes in Jakarta medical faculty examinations; 'Miss Soetanti Aidit' passed the first part of her exam. Gerwani is not mentioned and the item does not state she is D.N. Aidit's relative.
Interpellation on foreign enterprise by PKI-aligned MPs
De Nieuwsgier report (27 Dec 1955) on a parliamentary interpellation by PKI-aligned members (Sakirman, Tjugito, Mrs. Suwarti, Sumadi, Djoko Sudjono, Utarjo) on the government's foreign-investment policy, asking about foreign monopoly capital, profit transfers and trade with East and West. Gerwani is not mentioned.
Interpellation by communist MPs on foreign capital
De Locomotief, 28 Dec 1955: PKI parliamentarians Sakirman, Tjugito, Suwarti, Sumadi and Utarjo submit a written interpellation on foreign capital, claiming colonial-era extraction and restored monopoly under the 1949 RTC accords, with eight questions to the Burhanuddin government. Suwarti is a woman PKI MP; Gerwani is
PKI interpellation request
Java-Bode, 28 December 1955, p. 2: short item that PKI parliamentary members Sakirman, Tjugito, Mrs Suwarti, Achmad Sumadi, Sudjono and S. Utarjo submitted a written interpellation request on foreign capital investment policy. Mrs Suwarti is the only female PKI member named; no Gerwani content.
Report of Mrs. Henry G. Fowler to the Asia Foundation, 1956
Two-page report submitted to the Asia Foundation in 1956 by Mrs Henry G. Fowler, chair of the American Committee of a women's group promoting US-Asian understanding through newsletters, UN reports, programmes and hospitality. Mentions an Asian-American discussion group including Indonesia and talks on Indonesian women'
World Conference of Women Workers, Budapest 1956 (WIDF issue)
Issue of Women of the Whole World (no. 105, 1956) on the World Conference of Women Workers in Budapest, 14-17 June 1956 (497 delegates, 44 countries): reports on wage discrimination, working mothers, African women, Latin America, plus a contents list pointing to the Indonesian delegate's speech. This page itself says l
WIDF Council (Peking, 24-30 April 1956) 'Appeal to the Women of Asia and Africa', with a side item on a European girls' conference in Paris. The appeal salutes anticolonial struggles, welcomes the Bandung principles, and opposes the Baghdad and SEATO pacts and nuclear tests. Indonesia and Gerwani are not named.
PKI interpellation request
One-sentence item, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 7 Jan 1956, p. 1: PKI faction MPs Sakirman, Tjugito, Mrs Suwarti, Achmad Sumadi, Sudjono and S. Utarjo file a written interpellation request on foreign capital investment policy. Mrs Suwarti's identity as a Gerwani member is not stated.
Parliament session: bills on regional affairs
Java-Bode, 10 February 1956, p. 2: parliamentary debate on the bill creating autonomous regions in Central Sumatra. PKI member Mrs Suwarti argued it was premature, as the current parliament no longer has popular support; Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Djuir Muhammad and Abdulhajat proposed amendments or objected. No Gerwani cont
Bills on regional affairs
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 18 Feb 1956, p. 2: parliamentary debate on bills creating autonomous regions in Central Sumatra and on Emergency Law No. 7. Mrs Suwarti (PKI) argues the present parliament, no longer supported by the people, should be replaced before such a law is discussed. Her Gerwani affiliation is n
FBIS, 7 March 1956: Greetings messages (International Women's Day, Peking)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua report (7 Mar 1956): a Peking women's rally on the eve of International Women's Day sent greetings to WIDF; the All-China Democratic Women's Federation sent messages to women's groups across Asia and Africa. Includes a message to Wanita Indonesia (Indonesian Women's Congress and the Indonesian Wom
Lilly Wachter portrait: West German delegate at the Dutch Women's Movement congress
De Waarheid, 19 Mar 1956, p. 3: profile of Lilly Wachter (West Germany), attending the NVB congress for the WIDF. Recalls the 1951 WIDF commission to Korea, in which Trees Sunito-Heyligers represented the NVB, and how Wachter was jailed 25 days and fined 12,000 marks after signing its report blaming US forces. Sunito a
Dr Ali Akbar in parliament responds to PKI cooperation call
De Nieuwsgier parliamentary note (17 Apr 1956): Masjumi's Ali Akbar said PKI member Loekman's call for cooperation interested his faction, but the optimism evaporated because of attacks by Mrs. Salawati of the PKI faction. Salawati (Daud) appears only as the cause of friction.
FBIS, 29 June 1956: Women's Asian-African conference (Kowani consultative committee)
FBIS item (29 Jun 1956): the Indonesian Women's Congress consultative committee (executive members of Indonesian women's organisations) will meet in Jakarta on 2 July to discuss a projected Asian-African women's conference; the organisations agreed sponsors should be the Bandung Conference countries: India, Indonesia,
Daily Worker, 24 July 1956: Women unionists from 42 lands hold conference in Budapest
Page 4 of the Daily Worker (New York, 24 Jul 1956) reporting a Budapest conference of women trade unionists from 42 countries called by the WFTU, which demanded equal pay and opportunities and paid maternity leave. An unnamed delegate from Indonesia is cited on women workers being treated as cheap labour. Gerwani is no
Lt-Col Worang disputes an MP's statement
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 6 Aug 1956, p. 1: Lt-Col Worang disputes MP Lukas Kustario's account of Minahasa after a brief Manado visit, questioning whether fellow MPs Mrs Salawati and Mansjur share it. Gerwani-relevant only through Salawati Daud's mention as a member of the parliamentary party.