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;
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
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
Dr Subandrio: 'No other way than force' (at the Gerwani conference)
Het Rotterdamsch Parool item (18 Dec 1961, p.2): at a conference of the 'nationalist' women's organisation Gerwani, Foreign Minister Subandrio says Indonesia would have to take military action if the Netherlands tries to give independence to Western New Guinea, calling it forced military confrontation, and that Sukarno
Peking Review no. 52, 29 December 1961: Chinese women's delegation greets Fourth Gerwani Congress
Peking Review no. 52 (29 Dec 1961), weekly Chinese state magazine. Gerwani appears only in a short 'China and the World' item (p. 20): Kuo Chien, head of the Chinese women's delegation to Gerwani's Fourth National Congress (Djakarta, 14-17 Dec), sent greetings backing Indonesian women's struggle for West Irian. The iss
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
Api Kartini No. 11-12, Year 6, November-December 1964
Double issue (Nov–Dec 1964) centred on the DPP Gerwani National Seminar on Housewives, 4–6 Nov 1964 (20 of 23 provinces), classifying housewives by class and consciousness, with addresses by Subandrio, Hurustiati Subandrio and Rukiah Kertapati.
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, '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
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 371/180322: Attempted Coup against Sukarno [13] (28 Oct-5 Nov 1965)
UK Foreign Office file FO 371/180322 (28 Oct-5 Nov 1965): Djakarta telegrams quoting Antara on the post-coup purge, Sukarno versus the generals, Medan and Central Java. Gerwani items: tel. 2418 (2 Nov, p. 52) reports a Kowani/women's congress move to expel Gerwani members; tel. 2421 (p. 57) quotes Suharto naming 'Pemud
FO 371/180323: Attempted Coup against Sukarno [14] (Nov 1965)
UK Foreign Office file FO 371/180323 (c. 4-16 Nov 1965): Djakarta telegrams, Antara extracts and Foreign Office correspondence on the PKI's destruction, Subandrio, Nasution and Sukarno. Gerwani items: tel. 2480 (p. 39) reports a 8 Nov Jakarta rally of women's organisations demanding dissolution of the PKI and Gerwani;
FO 371/180324: Attempted Coup against Sukarno [15] (Nov 1965)
UK Foreign Office file FO 371/180324 (1965), 'Attempted coup against Sukarno [15]': telegrams and letters from Djakarta, Washington and Peking, November 1965, plus appended US and Canadian reports. It records Sukarno's Heroes Day speech, Adam Malik's view of the Sukarno-generals stalemate and accounts of 30 September.
Subandrio praises Indonesia-China joint statement (snippet)
Snippet-only Renmin Ribao extract (7 Feb 1965, p. 3) on Indonesian reactions to the Sino-Indonesian joint statement and Subandrio's China visit. Gerwani is said to have telegraphed Subandrio hailing the statement. Truncated; full text is GA-01958.
Subandrio praises the Indonesia-China joint statement; organisations acclaim it
Xinhua dispatches in Renmin Ribao (7 Feb 1965, p. 3): Subandrio calls the Indonesia-China joint statement 'a big hammer striking imperialism', and National Front, youth, student groups and Gerwani acclaim it. Gerwani is mentioned only in the last sentence, as having telegraphed Subandrio. Illustrates Gerwani's place in
Sukarno chairs KOTI; organisations hail killing of Darul Islam leader Kahar Muzakkar
Xinhua dispatches in Renmin Ribao (8 Feb 1965, p. 4): Sukarno chairs KOTI, hears Subandrio's China report and news that the army killed Darul Islam leader Kahar Muzakkar; PNI, IPKI, SOBSI (3.5 million), youth groups and Gerwani acclaim the killing, with Bintang Timur and Harian Rakjat editorials on US/British threats.
LBJ National Security File: Indonesia, Communists and Internal Politics (Oct-Nov 1965)
Compilation from the LBJ National Security File (ProQuest), Oct-Nov 1965: State Department memos, CIA intelligence memoranda and Indonesia Working Group situation reports on the 30 September Movement and army counter-moves. Gerwani appears only in passing: arrests of Gerwani and Pemuda Rakyat members (6 Oct), CIA claim
LBJ National Security File: Indonesian Military Coups, Oct-Nov 1965 (Airgram A-300 'The September 30 Affair')
Supplement to the LBJ National Security File (cables, Oct-Nov 1965), centred on the long Djakarta embassy airgram A-300 'The September 30 Affair' plus telegrams. A-300 repeats the Lubang Buaya account that the generals were 'taunted and humiliated' by Gerwani women before being killed, and says Gerwani members were pla
Dramatic funeral in Jakarta: lieutenant saved Nasution's life
Leeuwarder Courant, 7 October 1965, p. 1: report on the exhumation of the seven murdered army officers from the Lubang Buaya well and the generals' funeral, with Nasution's escape and Lt Tendean's death. It relays Suharto's televised claim that the bodies lay next to a base where the air force trained Pemuda Rakjat and
Neues Deutschland, 7 Oct 1965, p. 7: Sukarno chaired the session
Neues Deutschland, 7 October 1965, p. 7: ADN/ND report 'Sukarno leitete Sitzung', quoting TASS on the Indonesian cabinet meeting at Bogor after the 30 September events. Sukarno urged calm; the newspaper 'Angkatan Bersendjata' published the demand of Nahdlatul Ulama and others that he ban the PKI, Pemuda Rakyat, the wom
Army commander bans PKI in Jakarta and surroundings, including Gerwani
De Waarheid, 19 Oct 1965, p. 3: report, citing foreign agencies, that Jakarta garrison commander General Umar Wirahadikusumo provisionally banned the PKI in and around Jakarta, along with SOBSI, Pemuda Rakjat, Gerwani and some student groups, and ordered their leaders to report to police or military posts before 24 Oct
Abrupt change in Indonesia's political situation: Suharto takes control, mass arrests, PKI offices burned
Xinhua survey in Renmin Ribao (20 Oct 1965, p. 1) of Indonesia's first three weeks after 30 September, from Chinese-side sources: Suharto takes control, mass arrests (3,000 by 17 October), PKI headquarters burned, Harian Rakjat closed, universities shut, anti-Chinese incidents. Gerwani appears in the NU demand to disso