Getting to Know the WIDF Up Close
Api Kartini preview of the WIDF Bureau meeting due in Indonesia (early 1960), profiling its leaders: President Eugenie Cotton, Secretary-General Carmen Zanti, Marie Ange, Beatrice Johnson and Asian-African vice-presidents. Notes WIDF's support for Indonesian independence and condemnation of Dutch aggression, and that G
Fifty Years of International Women's Day Celebrated Lavishly in Jakarta (March 1960)
Api Kartini report on the lavish Jakarta commemoration of 50 years of International Women's Day (6-8 March 1960): exhibition at Gedung Pertemuan Umum, a two-day seminar, and an 8 March reception attended by 1,500. Umi Sardjono spoke on the history of the women's movement; Setiati Surasto presented on food and clothing;
Meeting of the WIDF Bureau (Jakarta, 1960)
Api Kartini report on the WIDF Bureau meeting in Jakarta, 31 January-3 February 1960, at Hotel Duta Indonesia, the first WIDF meeting held in Indonesia. Quotes Prime Minister Juanda's welcome and speeches by Anasuya Gyankhand, Marie Pritt, Thiele, Maria Rossi and Marguerite de Ponce; delegates met Kowani and Gerwani ac
Page (seq. 329) of the US State Department 'Monthly Indonesian Press Survey' (nos. 45-58, 1959-60) listing the PKI fraction in the Constituent Assembly, including Mrs Setiati Surasto, Mrs Suwarti Bintang Suradi, Mrs S.D. Susanto, Miss Suwardiningsih and Mrs Djaenah Amir Sjarifuddin, plus the fraction's executive. It al
Izvestiia, 18 Jan 1959: brief news, Gerwani letters on nuclear tests
Izvestiia, 18 Jan 1959, p. 5, 'Brief news': the mass women's organisation Gerwani sent letters to the USA, USSR and British embassies in Jakarta demanding an immediate end to nuclear tests. Page context notes a London anti-nuclear conference.
Dolgozó Nő, 1 Feb 1959: WIDF news (Indonesia, Gerwani)
Dolgozó Nő, 1 Feb 1959, 'WIDF News' column. Indonesia items: parliament unanimously approved the bill on women's political rights, and Gerwani, in the name of its 650,000 members, protested to South Africa over 1,100 women imprisoned in Johannesburg. Other items concern Berlin, Latin America and Czechoslovakia.
Aidit returns to Jakarta (Renmin Ribao, 9 April 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Apr 1959, p. 4 (Xinhua, Jakarta): PKI delegation led by Aidit returns from the CPSU's 21st Congress via China and Vietnam. Gerwani leaders are named only among those greeting it at the airport, with Njono, PKI MPs, SOBSI and Pemuda Rakjat.
Aidit returns to Jakarta (Renmin Ribao, 9 April 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Apr 1959, p. 4 (Xinhua, Jakarta): PKI delegation led by Aidit returns from the CPSU's 21st Congress via China and Vietnam. Gerwani leaders are named only among those greeting it at the airport, with Njono, PKI MPs, SOBSI and Pemuda Rakjat.
WIDF delegation members including Mrs Mudigdio arrive in Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 24 September 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Sep 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): a WIDF delegation arrives in Beijing for National Day, including Mrs Mudigdio, identified as WIDF Council member, PKI-group MP and vice-chairman of Gerwani, with delegates from Japan, Australia, Canada and Ghana.
WIDF delegation members including Mrs Mudigdio arrive in Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 24 September 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Sep 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): a WIDF delegation arrives in Beijing for National Day, including Mrs Mudigdio, identified as WIDF Council member, PKI-group MP and vice-chairman of Gerwani, with delegates from Japan, Australia, Canada and Ghana.
FBIS, 29 September 1959: Delegations arrive for National Day (Peking)
FBIS editorial report (29 Sep 1959) listing foreign delegations arriving in Peking for China's National Day celebrations (communist parties, youth, student, peace and women's bodies). Under the WIDF delegation, 'N.J. Mudikdio' (Mudigdio) is named as a PKI parliamentary-group member, WIDF council member and vice chairma
Renmin Ribao, 5 Oct 1959, p. 6: Greetings from people's organisations of various countries (Gerwani among them)
People's Daily page 6, 5 October 1959 (excerpt only): congratulatory telegrams and letters from foreign people's organisations, apparently for the PRC's anniversary. The excerpt lists women's bodies, including the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), alongside Albanian, Belgian, Danish and Japanese women'
Renmin Ribao, 5 Oct 1959, p. 6: Greetings from people's organisations of various countries (Gerwani among them)
People's Daily page 6, 5 October 1959 (excerpt only): congratulatory telegrams and letters from foreign people's organisations, apparently for the PRC's anniversary. The excerpt lists women's bodies, including the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), alongside Albanian, Belgian, Danish and Japanese women'
Mrs Andreen and others leave Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 9 October 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Oct 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): WIDF vice-president Andrea Andreen, with her daughter, leaves Beijing for Prague after an All-China Women's Federation invitation. Mrs Mudigdio (Gerwani) and Helen Kesian of the WIDF delegation fly on the same plane to Prague; a Tunisia-China Association delegation also departs.
Mrs Andreen and others leave Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 9 October 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Oct 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): WIDF vice-president Andrea Andreen, with her daughter, leaves Beijing for Prague after an All-China Women's Federation invitation. Mrs Mudigdio (Gerwani) and Helen Kesian of the WIDF delegation fly on the same plane to Prague; a Tunisia-China Association delegation also departs.
Moroccan PM on foreign bases; Indonesian opinion attacks US over sailors' dance party (Renmin Ribao, 9 November 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Nov 1959, p. 6: multi-item foreign-news column. The Indonesia item says the Gerwani Central Committee condemned an invitation from Jakarta's American Women's Association to Indonesian women students for a dance with US Seventh Fleet sailors as leading to moral corruption and sullying national dignity; t
Moroccan PM on foreign bases; Indonesian opinion attacks US over sailors' dance party (Renmin Ribao, 9 November 1959)
Renmin Ribao, 9 Nov 1959, p. 6: multi-item foreign-news column. The Indonesia item says the Gerwani Central Committee condemned an invitation from Jakarta's American Women's Association to Indonesian women students for a dance with US Seventh Fleet sailors as leading to moral corruption and sullying national dignity; t
CIA Current Intelligence Weekly Summary, 12 November 1959
CIA Current Intelligence Weekly Summary, 12 Nov 1959, a long multi-topic report; the Indonesia part (pp.23-27) assesses PKI strength (Aidit's claim of 1.5 million members, Java as base, army and Sukarno restrictions, Aidit's 1959 Moscow and Peking trip). It names GERWANI as the PKI's women's front, alongside Pemuda Rak
Soviet Relations with Indonesia, State Department Files 1960-1963
Compilation of State Department central-file items on Soviet relations with Indonesia, 1960-63 (telegrams, airgrams, despatches). One airgram (7 Dec) 'Soviets Woo Indo Women' describes the Soviet ambassador's wife hosting Indonesian women's leaders at the embassy, noting Gedung Wanita as a hub for Gerwani and Kongres W
Izvestiia, 2 Mar 1960: 'A moving meeting', Khrushchev with Indonesian delegations in Jakarta
Izvestiia, 2 Mar 1960, p. 3, conclusion of a report on Khrushchev's farewell meeting in Jakarta with Indonesian representatives; Gerwani leaders are listed among those present with SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakyat, Lekra. Speeches by Njono, Buntaran Martoatmodjo and peace activist Setiadi (probably not Gerwani); Khrushchev's
Pravda, 2 Mar 1960: Gerwani among Indonesian mass organisations at Khrushchev's farewell
Pravda, 2 Mar 1960 (No. 62), pp. 1-3, 5 (machine-translated): coverage of the end of Khrushchev's 12-day visit to Indonesia (farewell speeches by Khrushchev and Sukarno; Calcutta stop). Pp. 2-3 report a farewell meeting on 29 Feb with delegates of mass organisations, naming 'the Indonesian women's movement (Gerwani)' a
Pravda, 2 Mar 1960: Gerwani welcomes Khrushchev among mass organisations (excerpt)
Keyword-hit excerpt of Pravda, No. 62, 2 March 1960, report 'People must live happily!' on Khrushchev's Indonesia visit. Leading figures of SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakjat, the women's movement Gerwani, the Peace Committee, the Soviet friendship society and Lekra gathered with gifts at his residence; SOBSI's Njono spoke of f
Sovetskaya Kirgiziya, 3 Mar 1960: Khrushchev's visit to Indonesia
Sovetskaia Kirgiziia, 3 Mar 1960, p. 2: TASS coverage of Khrushchev's 12-day Indonesia visit: toasts with Sukarno, Khrushchev's farewell at Kemayoran, and crowds. On the last day Khrushchev received delegates of mass organisations including SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani; Njono spoke. No Gerwani speaker is named
Farewell visit to departing overseas Chinese by Indonesian people's organisations (Renmin Ribao, 7 March 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, Gerwani and the Indonesian Mothers' Committee against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs visit West Java Chinese gathered in Jakarta to return to China, bringing coffee, tea, medicine and soap; women hug Chinese wome
Farewell visit to departing overseas Chinese by Indonesian people's organisations (Renmin Ribao, 7 March 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, Gerwani and the Indonesian Mothers' Committee against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs visit West Java Chinese gathered in Jakarta to return to China, bringing coffee, tea, medicine and soap; women hug Chinese wome
Pravda, 22 Mar 1960: Tairova on Khrushchev's Asian tour; Gerwani and Umi Sardjono
Pravda no. 82, 22 March 1960 (full issue). Page 3 carries T. Tairova's account of Khrushchev's Asian tour (India, Indonesia, Burma, Afghanistan). Only a short passage concerns Indonesia's women: she describes Gerwani as the largest progressive women's organisation, with hundreds of thousands of members, led by Umi Sard
Pravda, 22 Mar 1960: Tairova on Khrushchev's Asian tour; Gerwani and Umi Sardjono (excerpt)
Pravda no. 82, 22 March 1960 (excerpt of the page). Page 3 carries T. Tairova's account of Khrushchev's Asian tour (India, Indonesia, Burma, Afghanistan). Only a short passage concerns Indonesia's women: she describes Gerwani as the largest progressive women's organisation, with hundreds of thousands of members, led by
Indonesian Defense Affairs: Biographical Profiles, April 1960
Compilation of US embassy Djakarta despatches (April 1960) giving biographical profiles of members of the Supreme Advisory Council and other leaders. Gerwani appears in the profile of PSII chairman Arudji Kartawinata, whose wife was a Gerwani member (1954) and praised China after a Nov 1959 Beijing visit; women members
Surabaya friendship association chairman visits Chinese about to return home (Renmin Ribao, 5 April 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 5 Apr 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): the chairman of the Surabaya Indonesia-China Friendship Association visits over two hundred Chinese from Malang, Kediri, Tulungagung and Blitar sheltered in Surabaya before they sail home on 1 April after the retail-trade ban. Surabaya Gerwani also sent people to presen
Surabaya friendship association chairman visits Chinese about to return home (Renmin Ribao, 5 April 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 5 Apr 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): the chairman of the Surabaya Indonesia-China Friendship Association visits over two hundred Chinese from Malang, Kediri, Tulungagung and Blitar sheltered in Surabaya before they sail home on 1 April after the retail-trade ban. Surabaya Gerwani also sent people to presen