Indonesian women's leaders meet Song Qingling (Renmin Ribao, 18 August 1956)
Renmin Ribao, 18 Aug 1956, p. 1 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Song Qingling, visiting Indonesia, is welcomed at a gathering of Indonesian women's leaders on 16 August, chaired by Mrs Abdulgani, with Kowani chair Mrs Santoso and wives of leading politicians present. Song speaks on peaceful coexistence and women's rights. Gerwani i
Indonesian women's leaders meet Song Qingling (Renmin Ribao, 18 August 1956)
Renmin Ribao, 18 Aug 1956, p. 1 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Song Qingling, visiting Indonesia, is welcomed at a gathering of Indonesian women's leaders on 16 August, chaired by Mrs Abdulgani, with Kowani chair Mrs Santoso and wives of leading politicians present. Song speaks on peaceful coexistence and women's rights. Gerwani i
ACWF banquet for Mrs Abdulgani and the Indonesian women's delegation (Renmin Ribao, 30 September 1956)
Renmin Ribao, 30 Sep 1956, p. 2 (Xinhua): the All-China Democratic Women's Federation hosts a banquet for an Indonesian women's delegation led by Mrs Abdulgani, including Perwari chair Mrs Sudaman and wives of parliamentary leaders. Deng Yingchao stresses shared anti-colonial experience. Gerwani is not named.
ACWF banquet for Mrs Abdulgani and the Indonesian women's delegation (Renmin Ribao, 30 September 1956)
Renmin Ribao, 30 Sep 1956, p. 2 (Xinhua): the All-China Democratic Women's Federation hosts a banquet for an Indonesian women's delegation led by Mrs Abdulgani, including Perwari chair Mrs Sudaman and wives of parliamentary leaders. Deng Yingchao stresses shared anti-colonial experience. Gerwani is not named.
Calls for unity to stop American interference; Gerwani protest to the UN (Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta; Jiang Yousheng commentary): Indonesian organisations back Djuanda's statement against US and Chiang Kai-shek aid to the rebels. Gerwani telegraphed the UN Secretary-General on 4 May protesting American interference; BTI, the Peace Committee and seventeen Jakarta mass org
Calls for unity to stop American interference; Gerwani protest to the UN (Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 6 May 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta; Jiang Yousheng commentary): Indonesian organisations back Djuanda's statement against US and Chiang Kai-shek aid to the rebels. Gerwani telegraphed the UN Secretary-General on 4 May protesting American interference; BTI, the Peace Committee and seventeen Jakarta mass org
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;
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
Over ten thousand overseas Chinese hold memorial meeting in Cimahi (Renmin Ribao, 15 July 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 15 Jul 1960, p. 5 (Xinhua, Jakarta): over 15,000 ethnic Chinese hold a memorial in Cimahi, West Java, for Ye Jinniang and Yang Mumei, killed 3 July by West Java military during forced removals. Gerwani's Central Council and its Jakarta, Bandung, West and East Java and Cimahi branches sent representatives.
Over ten thousand overseas Chinese hold memorial meeting in Cimahi (Renmin Ribao, 15 July 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 15 Jul 1960, p. 5 (Xinhua, Jakarta): over 15,000 ethnic Chinese hold a memorial in Cimahi, West Java, for Ye Jinniang and Yang Mumei, killed 3 July by West Java military during forced removals. Gerwani's Central Council and its Jakarta, Bandung, West and East Java and Cimahi branches sent representatives.
Weekly Situation Reports on Indonesian Politics, September 1960
Compilation of Djakarta embassy weekly situation telegrams to the State Department, September 1960, on the army-Sukarno struggle over the PKI ban and a temporary ban on party activity. Gerwani is mentioned only in passing among PKI front organisations (with SOBSI, BTI) protesting bans.
Chen Yi arrives in Jakarta bringing the Chinese people's friendly wishes (Renmin Ribao, 29 March 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 29 Mar 1961, p. 1 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Chen Yi arrives in Jakarta on a friendship visit and is met by Subandrio, Henk Ngantung, PKI's Njono and heads of mass organisations including the Indonesia-China Friendship Association and Gerwani, with crowds and banners; Sukarno receives him at Merdeka Palace. Gerwa
Chen Yi arrives in Jakarta bringing the Chinese people's friendly wishes (Renmin Ribao, 29 March 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 29 Mar 1961, p. 1 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Chen Yi arrives in Jakarta on a friendship visit and is met by Subandrio, Henk Ngantung, PKI's Njono and heads of mass organisations including the Indonesia-China Friendship Association and Gerwani, with crowds and banners; Sukarno receives him at Merdeka Palace. Gerwa
US Embassy Despatches on PKI Tactics and the SOBSI Women's Labour Seminar, May 1961
US Embassy Djakarta despatches to the State Department, May 1961. One reports conservative views (Mohammad Roem) that the PKI won a limited victory by gaining legal recognition. The other reports the SOBSI National Seminar on Labouring Women (Jakarta, 11-14 May 1961), attended by Djuanda and Gerwani central board membe
Gerwani holds congress; Sukarno calls for unity to recover West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 16 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 16 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opens on 14 Dec with over 400 delegates; Umi Sardjono's opening address stresses the 1945 revolution's aims and West Irian. Guests include Chinese, Soviet and East German delegations, Aidit and PNI's Sidik. Sukarno speaks, rejecting '
Gerwani holds congress; Sukarno calls for unity to recover West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 16 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 16 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opens on 14 Dec with over 400 delegates; Umi Sardjono's opening address stresses the 1945 revolution's aims and West Irian. Guests include Chinese, Soviet and East German delegations, Aidit and PNI's Sidik. Sukarno speaks, rejecting '
Sukarno chairs Joint Chiefs; Indonesians join volunteer forces for West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 30 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 30 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno takes the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the West Irian operation and orders National Front registration of volunteers aged 18-40 of either sex. Railway workers pledge 60,000 volunteers; Gerwani, 'the most influential women's organisation', calls on all
Sukarno chairs Joint Chiefs; Indonesians join volunteer forces for West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 30 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 30 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno takes the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the West Irian operation and orders National Front registration of volunteers aged 18-40 of either sex. Railway workers pledge 60,000 volunteers; Gerwani, 'the most influential women's organisation', calls on all
US Embassy Weekly Situation Telegrams, April 1962
Two US Embassy Djakarta weekly situation telegrams (JOINT WEEKA 14 and 15), 6 and 13 April 1962, on the West New Guinea dispute, PKI-Sukarno friction, Partindo, wage demands and military matters. Gerwani appears only once: it joined SOBSI and others in protesting the 'undemocratic' draft election bill providing for pop
Aidit's general report to the PKI Seventh Congress, part 2 (Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962, pp. 4-5: Part 2 of D.N. Aidit's abridged general report to the PKI's Seventh Congress, covering finance for the eight-year plan, the international situation, PKI relations with the communist movement, and mass work. One paragraph says Gerwani, a 'revolutionary women's mass organisation', expa
Aidit's general report to the PKI Seventh Congress, part 2 (Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1962, pp. 4-5: Part 2 of D.N. Aidit's abridged general report to the PKI's Seventh Congress, covering finance for the eight-year plan, the international situation, PKI relations with the communist movement, and mass work. One paragraph says Gerwani, a 'revolutionary women's mass organisation', expa
Foreign Office/CRO Papers on the PKI and Malaysia Confrontation (DO 169/516, 1964)
British Commonwealth Relations Office/Foreign Office file (DO 169/516, 1964) on Indonesia and Malaysia. It combines handwritten minutes, an IRD intelligence paper on the PKI (Aidit's December 1963 plenum, Sino-Soviet line, the prospect of PKI power within five years), a brief 'Communists smoothing path to power in Indo
Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1964: Indonesian groups oppose 'Malaysia' and US subversion (Gerwani statement)
Renmin Ribao page 4, 11 May 1964: composite report on Indonesian youth and trade-union opposition to US imperialism and to 'Malaysia', with Subandrio saying Indonesia will not yield to foreign threats. The excerpt says the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), plantation and railway unions and youth and st
Renmin Ribao, 11 May 1964: Indonesian groups oppose 'Malaysia' and US subversion (Gerwani statement)
Renmin Ribao page 4, 11 May 1964: composite report on Indonesian youth and trade-union opposition to US imperialism and to 'Malaysia', with Subandrio saying Indonesia will not yield to foreign threats. The excerpt says the Indonesian Women's Movement Association (Gerwani), plantation and railway unions and youth and st
LBJ National Security File: Indonesia, Communist Parties and Internal Politics (Sept 1964-Feb 1965)
LBJ Library National Security File, Indonesia (Sept 1964-Feb 1965): White House/State memoranda, Djakarta cables and CIA OCI reports on Sukarno's leftward drift, 'Sukarnoism' anti-PKI movement, succession, Malaysia and the USIS library crisis. Includes the CIA 'Sukarno and the Communists' report, listing Women's Front
CIA Special Report SC 00642/64A, 23 October 1964: Sukarno and the Communists
CIA Office of Current Intelligence Special Report SC 00642/64A, 'Sukarno and the Communists' (23 Oct 1964, Secret; declassified 1975). Analyses Sukarno's mutual exploitation with the PKI and Aidit's strategy; lists PKI front membership claims, including Gerwani at almost two million, beside BTI, SOBSI, Pemuda Rakjat an
CIA, 'Sukarno and the Communists' (Office of Current Intelligence, 23 Oct 1964)
CIA Office of Current Intelligence report 'Sukarno and the Communists' (23 Oct 1964, ten pages), pre-coup assessment of the PKI-Sukarno relationship. Describes PKI growth to a claimed three million members and its fronts, including the Women's Front (GERWANI), 'almost two million'; also the cabinet, National Front, lan
US Embassy Airgram A-300 (Johnson Library copy): The September 30 Affair - background to the coup
Second, noisier OCR copy of the same US Embassy Djakarta airgram A-300 of 22 October 1965 (Masters), from the Johnson Library country file, 46 pages. Covers Sukarno-PKI offensive, the coup, PKI and Sukarno roles, army prospects. Gerwani is mentioned only as PKI women taunting the generals at Lubang Buaya (p.14) and as
FO 371/180309: Periodic Reports on Indonesia's Internal Political Situation (1965)
UK Foreign Office file FO 371/180309 (1965), periodic reports on Indonesia's internal political situation, mostly weekly letters from the British Embassy in Djakarta (S.J.G. Cambridge, M.J.T. McCann) to D. Tonkin, January to July 1965, with Antara and press extracts. It covers Aidit and the arming of peasants, Chairul
FO 371/180312: Internal Political Situation, Attempted Coup against Sukarno [3] (1965)
UK Foreign Office file FO 371/180312 (1965), 'Internal political situation, Attempted coup against Sukarno [3]', a volume of Embassy letters and telegrams from Djakarta (Ambassador Gilchrist, S.J.G. Cambridge), February to April 1965. It includes Gilchrist's character notes on Subandrio, Aidit and the generals, the tak