Another Irian committee: West Irian liberation committee with Gerwis
De Vrije Pers item (14 Jan 1952) on a new West Irian liberation committee in (apparently) Surabaya/East Java, with posts split among Badan Perjuangan Irian, SOBSI, PKI, PNI, Indo-National Party and Murba; its organisation section includes Front Pemuda, Pemuda Kesatuan Indonesia and Gerwis. It also demands ending the Ro
Irian Committee Surabaya
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1952-01-18, p. 3): in Surabaya a Panitya Pembebasan Irian Barat is formed at the initiative of the Badan Perdjoangan Irian Timur Jawa with SOBSI, PKI, PNI, Murba and others; Gerwis sits in the organisation section with youth fronts. It seeks to end the RTC agreement and abolish the Union.
The Irian question
Java-Bode, 5 April 1954, p. 2: Rie Lips Odinot, a Gerwis congress guest, conveys Dutch peace-lovers' sympathy to Sukarno, who replies that good Dutch-Indonesian relations are impossible until West Irian is returned to Indonesia, calling it the greatest political barrier.
Unrest in Indonesia continues
Algemeen Handelsblad (1954-07-02): a Committee of Co-operating Parties of 31 parties and organisations, including PKI, PNI, NU, SOBSI and Gerwani, urges the Dutch government to declare High Commissioner Van Bylandt persona non grata, recall Indonesia's delegation, abolish the Netherlands-Indonesia Union unilaterally an
Cooperating parties want High Commissioner persona non grata
De Gooi- en Eemlander, 2 July 1954: a committee of 31 cooperating parties and organisations, including the PKI, PNI, SOBSI and Gerwani, demands that Dutch High Commissioner Count van Bylandt be declared persona non grata. It also asks for unilateral abolition of the Netherlands-Indonesia Union and a West Irian administ
Action against Netherlands High Commissioner
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (2 Jul 1954): a committee of cooperating parties and organisations, including Gerwani with PKI, PNI, NU and SOBSI, urges the government to declare Netherlands High Commissioner Count van Bylandt persona non grata, recall the delegation from The Hague, end the Union and form a West Irian admini
Indonesian parties act against High Commissioner: committee asks unilateral end of Union
Ons Noorden (3 Jul 1954): a committee of 31 cooperating parties and organisations, Gerwani among them with PKI, PNI, NU and SOBSI, urges the government to declare Netherlands High Commissioner Count van Bylandt persona non grata, recall the delegation from The Hague, end the Netherlands–Indonesia Union and form a West
Tens of thousands gathered in Djakarta: resolution demands unilateral incorporation of Irian
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-12-06, p. 2): tens of thousands rally on Merdeka Square, Jakarta, organised by the West Irian Liberation Committee with women's organisations. Speakers include Perwari chair Mrs. Kartowijono and Mrs. Sardjono of Gerwani, who reads the resolution demanding unilateral incorporation of West
Mass demonstration in Jakarta demands incorporation of West Irian
De Locomotief, 6 Dec 1954: tens of thousands rally on Merdeka Square, Jakarta, organised by the West Irian liberation committee with women's associations. Speakers include Umi Sardjono of Gerwani, who read out the resolution demanding unilateral incorporation of West Irian, severing relations with the Netherlands and a
Mass demonstration in Jakarta demands incorporation of West Irian (duplicate copy)
Second copy of the De Locomotief report of 6 Dec 1954 on the Merdeka Square mass meeting for West Irian. Umi Sardjono of Gerwani spoke and read the resolution demanding unilateral incorporation, severing of Dutch relations and abrogation of the agreements; text differs slightly in wording ('colonial Dutch government').
Mass demonstration on Medan Merdeka for West Irian
De Nieuwsgier front-page report (6 Dec 1954) on a mass demonstration at Medan Merdeka, Jakarta, organised by the West Irian liberation committee with women's organisations, demanding incorporation of Irian and rupture with the Netherlands. Speakers included Mrs. Sudarman Hadikusumo, Mrs. Kartowijono (Perwari) and Mrs.
Action for liberation of Irian (mass meeting, Jakarta, December 1954)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (6 Dec 1954, p.2): a mass meeting in Jakarta, organised by the Irian liberation committee and women's organisations, adopted a resolution urging unilateral incorporation of Irian, breaking relations and agreements with the Netherlands. Speakers included Mrs Sularman Hadikusumo (Wanita Demokr
Mass demonstration in Jakarta for incorporation of West Irian
Java-Bode, 6 December 1954, p. 2: report on a mass rally at Merdeka Square, Jakarta, by the West Irian liberation committee with the women's associations' central body, drawing tens of thousands. Umi Sardjono of Gerwani read the resolution demanding unilateral incorporation of West Irian, breaking relations with the Ne
West Irian struggle committee: meeting and procession in Semarang
De Locomotief, 13 Dec 1954: Semarang public meeting of the West Irian struggle committee draws thousands, with speakers from Gerwani, PSII, PNI, PKI and the Biro Pusat urging national unity. A kilometres-long procession of about 50,000 people followed, with wreaths laid at Tugu Muda.
Mass demonstration in Jakarta for incorporation of West Irian
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 15 Dec 1954, p. 3: Jakarta mass rally of tens of thousands for the incorporation of West Irian, organised by the liberation committee with the women's organisations' central body. Umi Sardjono of Gerwani reads the resolution demanding severance of relations with the Netherlands; Kartowi
West Irian soon a province: liberation committee letter to Dutch parliament
De Nieuwsgier item (7 Mar 1956): after Dutch parliamentary reports on making West Irian a Dutch territory, the West Irian Liberation Action Committee, in a letter signed by Mrs. Sudarman, Umi Sardjono and Mrs. Sutedjo, urged the Volkskongres to press for a provincial administration for West Irian and handed over Rp 1,3
Economic aid offered to Indonesia (Dulles in Jakarta)
Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, 13 March 1956: report on US Secretary of State Dulles's visit to Jakarta, where about two dozen demonstrators shouted 'Abolish SEATO' and a young woman of the left-leaning Gerwani threw a paper at his car and was detained for questioning. Dulles also met Sukarno, discussed New Guinea and off
Law concerning the RTC agreements
Java-Bode, 16 April 1956, p. 2: parliamentary debate on the government programme and abolition of the RTC agreements, with Sakirman (PKI), Prawoto and others. Umi Sardjono of the Pembangunan faction spoke on the lot of Indonesian women, still unprotected by marriage legislation.
Indonesia in a bird's-eye view
Java-Bode, 13 February 1957, p. 2: column of Indonesian miscellany (shipping, floods, police study trip to Japan, FAO expert). One item says 28 parties and organisations in Maluku and West Irian, including PNI, PKI, PSII, Gerwani and Badan Rebut Irian, telegraphed the Indonesian UN delegation backing Indonesia's West I
Sukarno now supreme commander: New Guinea plans; speech at Gerwani congress
De Tijd/De Maasbode Reuter item (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno chaired the new 15-member national defence council as supreme commander to plan the "return" of West New Guinea. It notes that at the opening of the Gerwani congress he announced again he would "use armed force to liberate West Irian".
No negotiations: Sukarno at the Fourth Gerwani Congress
De Volkskrant report (15 Dec 1961) on Sukarno's speech to what it calls the fourth congress of Gerwani, "the communist-controlled" women's movement, convened on women's role in the West Irian struggle. He rejected talks with the Netherlands, said power is created by politics, and promised armed force if the UN accepted
Sukarno now supreme commander: New Guinea plans being worked out
Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant, 15 December 1961: Reuters report that Sukarno chaired the first meeting of a 15-member national defence council as supreme commander for the 'return' of Western New Guinea. At the opening of the Gerwani congress he again said he would use armed force to liberate West Irian.
Sukarno on New Guinea 'liberation': the Dutch understand only force
Ons Noorden (15 Dec 1961): Sukarno, speaking at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says the Dutch understand only force, refuses to invite talks on West Irian, announces his command to start the struggle on 19 December (Trikora) and threatens armed force if the UN approves occupation. The paper calls Gerwani commu
Sukarno on New Guinea 'liberation': the Dutch understand only force
Overijsselsch Dagblad (15 Dec 1961), duplicate of the Ons Noorden item: Sukarno, at the fourth Gerwani congress in Jakarta, says Dutch imperialists understand only force, rules out talks and announces the 19 December command for the West Irian struggle. Gerwani is described as communist-controlled.
Sukarno in threatening speech: force the only language the Dutch understand
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (15 Dec 1961): at the opening of the Gerwani congress in Jakarta, Sukarno says the Dutch understand only force, rejects 'external' self-determination for New Guinea, and urges housewives not to worry over rice and oil shortages. Also the new defence council meets under his leadership. Paper ca
Subandrio again threatens action
Leeuwarder Courant, 16 December 1961, p. 8: short report that Indonesian defence minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, said Indonesia would have to resort to military confrontation if the Netherlands grants Western New Guinea independence, while saying Indonesia is for peace. The paper calls Gerwani a '
Minister Subandrio: time and place of New Guinea operation soon known
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (16 Dec 1961): Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at the fourth national Gerwani congress, says time and place of the New Guinea operation will be fixed within days, warns people to prepare for sacrifice, and says Indonesia would be forced to resist militarily if the Dutch proceed with a Pap
Tomorrow in Yogyakarta: Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea
De Nieuwe Limburger, 18 Dec 1961: Foreign Minister Subandrio, speaking at a Gerwani conference, says Indonesia would have to act militarily if the Dutch grant independence to a 'Papua state'; Sukarno's 'last order' on West New Guinea is due 19 December (the Trikora). Shows Gerwani as a platform for the West Irian confr
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
'Indonesia anti-colonialists' (Setiati Surasto at the ILO conference)
Short Reuters item in Het Vrije Volk (13 Jun 1962, p.13): at the ILO conference in Geneva, Indonesian delegate Mrs Setiati Surasto states that all progressive forces in Indonesia are uniting to confront Dutch colonialists' stubbornness over West Irian, and that Indonesia will use 'other means' if peaceful liberation fa