Berkhouwer (also for socialists) goes too far
De Waarheid, 11 Jul 1975, p. 1: report that the four women tried in Jakarta (aged 50-60, arrested 1966, nine years' detention not deducted) rejected all charges; Sri Ambar had earlier refused to testify at the 1967 trial of PKI leader Sudisman unless she could show her torture injuries. The verdict notes no sign of rem
Brave stance before tribunal: 'No regret for activities': heavy sentences against Indonesian women
De Waarheid, 11 Jul 1975, p. 1: report that the Jakarta tribunal sentenced four women: Sulami, secretary of the banned Gerwani, to twenty years; Sudjinah, editor of the organisation's paper, 18 years; Sri Ambar, SOBSI board member, and Suharti, BTI board member, 15 years each. Headlined as courageous conduct before the
Berkhouwer (also for socialists) goes too far (reprint 12 Jul 1975)
De Waarheid, 12 Jul 1975, p. 1: report that the four women tried in Jakarta (aged 50-60, arrested 1966, nine years' detention not deducted) rejected all charges; Sri Ambar had earlier refused to testify at the 1967 trial of PKI leader Sudisman unless she could show her torture injuries. The verdict notes no sign of rem
Brave stance before tribunal: heavy sentences against Indonesian women (reprint 12 Jul 1975)
De Waarheid, 12 Jul 1975, p. 1: reprint of the report that the Jakarta tribunal sentenced four women: Sulami, secretary of the banned Gerwani, to twenty years; Sudjinah, editor of the organisation's paper, 18 years; Sri Ambar (SOBSI board) and Suharti (BTI board) 15 years each. Headlined 'courageous conduct before the
TAPOL Bulletin no. 11, August 1975, on the 'show trials' ahead of the tenth anniversary. Key item (p.3): four women, including Gerwani General Secretary Sulami, sentenced after a five-month trial to 15-20 years for subversion (helping the PKPS movement, illegal cells, alleged recruitment of cooks and seamstresses for L
Literature imprisoned
De Waarheid, 20 Sep 1975, p. 3: fragment of an article on a visiting Indonesian parliamentary 'delegation' asking whether they discussed Indonesian literature; it lists imprisoned writers (Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bujung Saleh, Sitor Situmorang, Rivai Apin, Hadi Soesastro, Benny Tjung, Mrs. Sugiarti Siswadi, Samandjaja,
Women, mothers (what Suharto's envoys kept silent about)
De Waarheid, 20 Sep 1975, p. 3: article asking what the Indonesian parliamentary delegation did not mention: Plantungan women's camp in Central Java (386 women), Bukit Duri and Semarang prisons, and named women prisoners: Umi Sardjono, chair of the underground Gerwani, vice-chairs Salawati Daud and Mudigdio, Maasje Siw
Tortures (article by Annie van Ommeren in 'Vrouwen')
De Waarheid, 18 Oct 1975, p. 5: closing part of a review of the NVB monthly 'Vrouwen'. Annie van Ommeren's article stresses women's role against the regime, with Gerwani members prominent, names prominent women held and tortured with burning cigarettes and electric shocks in Plantungan, Bukit Duri and Bulu prisons, and
Dutch Parliament Written Question 111 (1975): Government Position on Indonesian Political Prisoners
Dutch Second Chamber written question no. 111 (Aug 1975) by Fred van der Spek and Foreign Minister Van der Stoel's reply, on an Indonesian embassy claim that the Dutch government fully understood Indonesia's political prisoner problem. Context on Dutch diplomacy over post-1965 detainees.
TAPOL Bulletin no. 15, April 1976. Editorial links East Timor killings to the 1965-66 massacres; the issue devotes pages to a mimeographed East Java massacre report and to translated fictional accounts (Gestapu: Indonesian Short Stories, ed. Harry Aveling). Gerwani appears incidentally: victims included members of the
Last year: Amnesty frees 1,688 political prisoners
Amigoe di Curaçao, 10 Apr 1976: the Curaçao branch of Amnesty International adopts three prisoners, including Sri Kusnapsiah, 67, imprisoned in Indonesia for over ten years. No organisation is named in the text, but the case is of interest as a long-term woman political prisoner from 1965. Also reports 1,688 releases i
TAPOL Bulletin no. 16, June 1976, issued before the IGGI meeting. Contents: smuggled letter on prison torture including sexual torture of women (some miscarried), Fraser congressional hearings with Benedict Anderson, Sudomo interview on categories A/B/C and Buru, analysis of Oei Tju Tat's trial, Papuan killings, Amnest
TAPOL Bulletin no. 18, October 1976. Editorial 'Eleven Years' and reports on Sudomo's reneged release pledges, new arrests, IGGI's $2,400m credit, the death sentence on Sgt-Maj Marsudi for the generals' killings (with testimony that Lubang Buaya training was officially organised by the Air Force), an inside account of
Constitution (Amnesty press conference on Indonesian prisoners)
Nederlands Dagblad, 6 October 1976, p. 5: partly missing report on an Amnesty International press conference in the Netherlands about Indonesian political prisoners. It states that the women in the women's camps are for the most part members of the militant Gerwani, discusses church relief for prisoners' families, and
Suharto's answer (Lekra artists persecuted)
De Waarheid, 6 Nov 1976, p. 2: fragment on Suharto's destruction of the Lekra cultural movement in 1965 (book burnings, banned art), with a long list of murdered or imprisoned artists, including Pramoedya, Henk Ngantung, Bujung Saleh and writer Sugiarti Siswadi, noted as sentenced to 12 years (OCR garbled). Also an unr
Remaining 29,000 follow: Indonesia releases 2,650 communists after 11 years
Limburgsch Dagblad, 2 December 1976, p. 1: Jakarta announces release of 2,650 communist prisoners held since 1965 without trial, with a promise to free the remaining 29,000 within three years. At a ceremony 150 swore loyalty to Suharto; among them were students, former civil servants and members of the banned women's m
Jakarta releases 2,650 political prisoners
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 2 December 1976: Reuter report that Indonesia released 2,650 prisoners held since 1965 without trial. At a ceremony 150 swore loyalty to Suharto, among them students, former civil servants and members of the banned leftist women's movement Gerwani; 29,000 remain, with a promise to free them
Indonesia releases prisoners
Nederlands Dagblad, 3 December 1976, p. 3: Jakarta announces release of 2,650 communist prisoners held since 1965 without trial, repeats the promise to free the remaining 29,000 within three years. At a ceremony 150 swore loyalty to Suharto; they included students, ex-civil servants and members of the banned women's mo
Unclassified US State Department cable (7 Sep 1977) reporting Amnesty International's list of 62 imprisoned or disappeared former legislators; Indonesia has the longest list (21). Among the Indonesians named are Kartinah Kurdi and 'Umiharti Sardjono' (Umi Sardjono), both former Gerwani leaders, still detained 12 years
Bygningsarbeideren, 1977: Amnesty prisoner Sri Ambar Rukmiati (SOBSI women's bureau)
Norwegian building-workers' union paper, 1977, carrying Amnesty International's 'Prisoners of Conscience Year' appeal on imprisoned trade unionists. It profiles Sri Ambar Rukmiati, head of SOBSI's women's department: elected to the national board in 1964, arrested autumn 1966 and tortured, two teenage daughters also ar
Bygningsarbeideren, 1977: Amnesty prisoner Sri Ambar Rukmiati (SOBSI women's bureau)
Norwegian building-workers' union paper, 1977, carrying Amnesty International's 'Prisoners of Conscience Year' appeal on imprisoned trade unionists. It profiles Sri Ambar Rukmiati, head of SOBSI's women's department: elected to the national board in 1964, arrested autumn 1966 and tortured, two teenage daughters also ar
PDI campaign rally at Lapangan Banteng with Moh. Isnaeni, S.K. Trimurti and Wilopo (Idayu photo album, c. 1977)
Photograph from the Yayasan Idayu S.K. Trimurti albums (Perpusnas Khastara): a PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party) campaign rally at Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, with speakers including Dra. S.K. Trimurti, Wilopo and Moh. Isnaeni. The caption OCR gives 1977, so the 1977 election campaign. S.K. Trimurti is the labour and wo
TAPOL Bulletin no. 19, January 1977. Leads on 'release equals transmigration': Sudomo's 1 Dec 1976 release of 2,500 B-category tapols into 'transmigration centres' and Buru. Reports that women tapols at Plantungan (since 1971) were moved to Bulu prison, Semarang, apparently for transfer to a 'hard-core' women's camp at
TAPOL Bulletin no. 20, February 1977. Leads on East Timor massacres and torture; also a Jakarta detention-centre riot, US and Dutch aid, a Sulawesi tapol interview, 'double counting' of releases and non-involvement certificates. Item 'Plantungan to Close?' (p.4) reports about 100 women tapols moved to Bulu Prison, Sema
TAPOL Bulletin no. 21, April 1977 (London). Covers the ICRC mission to seven Indonesian detention sites, Carter and human rights, East Timor testimony, Kopkamtib detention legality, official denials and the May elections. It prints a smuggled letter from a Salemba tapol to the Red Cross describing starvation, beri-beri
Meeting of women fighters at Gedung Kebangkitan Nasional, 21 May 1977 (Idayu photo album)
Photograph from the S.K. Trimurti albums (Perpusnas Khastara), captioned as a meeting of women fighters (wanita pejuang) at the Kebangkitan Nasional building on 21 May 1977. It documents Trimurti-circle commemorative activity under the New Order; Gerwani is not mentioned. Description based on caption only; Trimurti's p
Opening of the Bazaar Karnaval by Ibu Trimurti, Gedung Joang 45, 13 August 1977 (Idayu photo album)
Photograph from the Yayasan Idayu S.K. Trimurti albums (Perpusnas Khastara), image 02: the opening of a carnival bazaar by Ibu Trimurti at Gedung Joang 45, Menteng Raya, Jakarta, on 13 August (year 1977 per the file name; title truncated). No text could be read. Shows Trimurti's public role after the New Order; no Gerw
Opening of the Bazaar Karnaval by Ibu Trimurti, Gedung Joang 45, 13 August 1977 (Idayu photo album)
Photograph from the S.K. Trimurti albums (Perpusnas Khastara), captioned as the opening of a carnival bazaar by Ibu Trimurti at Gedung Joang 45, Menteng Raya, 13 August (1977). It shows Trimurti in a public ceremonial role in the 1970s; Gerwani is not mentioned. Description based on caption only.
State Department cable to Embassy Singapore, 30 Aug 1977: Dr. Sutanti Aidit (Congressman Koch)
Declassified State Department cable (State 207433, 30 Aug 1977) to Embassy Singapore. Prompted by Congressman Koch's challenge, it says research confirms that Dr. Sutanti Aidit was a member of Gerwani's central committee but not of the PKI's, a point the Indonesian embassy also gave, and that earlier correspondence wou
State Department cable to Embassy Singapore, 30 Aug 1977: Dr. Sutanti Aidit (Congressman Koch)
Declassified State Department cable (State 207433, 30 Aug 1977) to Embassy Singapore. Prompted by Congressman Koch's challenge, it says research confirms that Dr. Sutanti Aidit was a member of Gerwani's central committee but not of the PKI's, a point the Indonesian embassy also gave, and that earlier correspondence wou