Plea of Affandi Ridhwan at his Bandung trial
De Nieuwsgier, 27 May 1953: at Affandi Ridhwan's trial in Bandung for cooperation with Darul Islam, he argues he acted with central government approval, asking why he should be punished if Leimena contacted RMS bands and 'Mrs Salawati Daoed' negotiated with Kahar Muzakkar's bands. Salawati Daud appears only as a preced
Defence requests release (trial of Affandi Ridwan)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (2 Jun 1953, p.2): trial of Affandi Ridwan in Bandung; in his plea he asks why he should be punished for negotiating with Kahar Muzakar's bands with central government approval, if Leimena contacted RMS bands and Mrs Salawati Daoed negotiated with Kahar Muzakar. Defenders Kasman Singodimedjo
'Acted solely with government approval'
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 3 Jun 1953, p. 3: in his Bandung trial for cooperation with Darul Islam, Affandi Ridhwan argues he acted with government approval, citing Leimena's contacts with RMS gangs and Mrs Salawati Daud's negotiations with Kahar Muzakkar's gangs; counsel Kasman Singodimedjo asks for acquittal.
Mistakes of the past (on SOBSI and Gerwis)
Het Vrije Volk opinion piece 'Fouten van vroeger' (14 May 1954, p.15) on Indonesian labour relations: SOBSI has profited from foreign employers' past neglect, the government chooses political over economic paths, and when strike leaders are prosecuted SOBSI and the communist women's association Gerwis appear in court w
Trial begins in Jakarta: Dutch woman defends Untung
Trouw (14 Feb 1966): on the eve of the Untung and Njono trials in Jakarta, Dutch-born lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers, herself a PKI member, takes on the defence after others refused. Profiles her and her husband as 'non-extreme' communists with Leiden training. No mention of Gerwani; context for the 1965-66 Mahmillub t
Dutch woman sole defender
ANP report in Algemeen Dagblad (1966-02-15) on Dutch-born lawyer Trees Sunito-Heyligers, the only Indonesian jurist willing to defend PKI/SOBSI leader Njono before the special military tribunal. Her husband Sunito was jailed after the coup and she was dismissed from the state bank. No Gerwani mention; context for the 1
Not public: the Njono trial
Limburgsch Dagblad, 15 February 1966, p. 1: start of the closed Mahmillub trial of SOBSI leader Njono, who says he was told to inform Sukarno of a 'council of generals' but joined the coup instead. Students demanded a public trial; only selected journalists are admitted. Njono is defended by Dutch-born lawyer Trees Soe
Woman in the news: Trees Soenito, 'Everyone has the right to a defence'
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 16 February 1966, p. 14: profile from Utrecht of Trees Soenito-Heyligers, who took on Njono's defence in the Jakarta coup trial. Her parents in Amersfoort say she often took pro deo cases and believes everyone has a right to a defence. No Gerwani content.
Indonesian Plot: Tribunal Verdict on Njono Due Today (Canberra Times, 21 February 1966)
Canberra Times, 21 Feb 1966, p. 6 (AAP-Reuter): the military tribunal trying PKI leader Njono is due to give its verdict; prosecution demanded death. His government-appointed woman lawyer, Mrs Trees Sunito, had 32 hours to prepare. Foreign press barred; Chinese agency criticism of the trial noted. Gerwani not named.
Indonesian Plot: Tribunal Verdict on Njono Due Today (Canberra Times, 21 February 1966), duplicate
Canberra Times, 21 Feb 1966, p. 6 (AAP-Reuter): the military tribunal trying PKI leader Njono is due to give its verdict; prosecution demanded death. His government-appointed woman lawyer, Mrs Trees Sunito, had 32 hours to prepare. Foreign press barred; Chinese agency criticism of the trial noted. Gerwani not named.
After death-penalty demand: Njono's counsel pleads acquittal
Trouw (21 Feb 1966): after the prosecutor demanded the death penalty for SOBSI leader Njono, his lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers argues nothing proves a plot to overthrow the government; Njono gave an hour-long political defence. Lawyer complains of two days' preparation; PKI-linked Colonel Latief reportedly arrested. N
Students try to prevent swearing-in: trial of Untung begun
Gereformeerd Gezinsblad wire item (25 Feb 1966, p.1) on the opening of Colonel Untung's trial in Jakarta for treason and armed rebellion. The prosecutor claimed Untung gathered 5,000 people before the coup, including Tjakrabirawa troops, paratroops and 2,000 members of the PKI and its linked women's organisation Gerwan
Trial after failed coup: Untung admits order to murder generals
Het Vrije Volk/Reuters report (25 Feb 1966, p.21) on Colonel Untung's trial before the Jakarta court-martial: he admits his order to take away the generals meant they should be killed, says he acted to save Sukarno from a military plot and denies PKI membership. Lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers asked Sukarno to pardon Nj
Dutch-born jurist arrested in Djakarta
Short Algemeen Handelsblad item (1968-01-05): Jakarta police arrested Dutch-born jurist Trees Soenito-Heyligers (52) on suspicion of membership of the banned HSI. She had defended K. Njono, sentenced to death for the 1965 coup; her husband Soenito, parliament secretary and member of the left-wing Urec movement, was arr
Mrs Soenito from Zwolle arrested in Indonesia
Friese Koerier Reuters item (5 Jan 1968, p.11): Jakarta police arrested Dutch-born lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers, 52, on suspicion of membership of the banned communist scholars' association HSI. She had defended trade unionist Njono two years earlier; her husband Soenito, parliament secretary, was arrested after the
Dutch-born jurist arrested in Indonesia
Limburgsch Dagblad, 5 January 1968, p. 1: Reuters/ANP report that Jakarta police arrested Dutch-born lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers (52, from Zwolle) as a suspected member of the banned scholars' association HSI; she had defended trade-union leader Njono, sentenced to death. Her husband Soenito, parliament secretary an
Arrest of Mrs Soenito in Jakarta
Tubantia (5 Jan 1968): Jakarta police arrest Zwolle-born lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers on suspicion of membership of the banned Himpunan Sarjana Indonesia; she had defended SOBSI leader Njono, sentenced to death. Biographical detail on her and her husband Soenito, arrested after the coup. No Gerwani content.
Dutch jurist arrested
Nederlands Dagblad, 6 January 1968, p. 1: brief report that Jakarta police arrested Dutch-born lawyer Trees Soenito-Heyligers on suspicion of membership in the banned scholars' association HSI; she had defended SOBSI leader Njono, who was sentenced to death for the 1965 coup. A second item on Cyprus is unrelated. No Ge
Rape case may fully restore rule of law: the Sum Kuning case (Hugh Mabbett, Straits Times, 1970)
The Straits Times, 31 December 1970, p. 10, by Hugh Mabbett: Yogyakarta court acquits 17-year-old egg seller Sum Kuning (Sumarijem), who reported rape by youths from powerful families and was charged with a false report. Police tortured a noodle seller, Trimo, and threatened her with electric torture and an accusation
Berita Harian, 9 May 1973: first woman to be tried over 1965 coup attempt (Sumali)
Berita Harian, 9 May 1973 (Reuters, lead only). A court spokesman said the first woman to be tried over the 1965 coup attempt would soon appear in a local court: Sumali, described as a leader of Gerwani, the PKI women's wing.
Former Gerwani chair jailed (Berita Harian, 1974)
Berita Harian, 12 February 1974, p. 3, AP: a court in Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra, sentences Mrs Amnah, former Gerwani chair, to life imprisonment for involvement in the PKI's failed 1965 'power seizure' (per Radio Jakarta); Maryo, ex-chair of the BTI, gets 20 years. Shows continuing New Order trials of Gerwani leader
Jakarta (Reuter): female communist leader sentenced
Trouw (12 Jun 1975), short Reuter dispatch via Antara: Sutinah Wiryosutejo (Sutinah Wiryosutedjo), a former member of the banned women's organisation Gerwani, sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for involvement in the 1965 'coup'. The court found her role proven the week before. Names a Gerwani member tried long after
Release demanded for four women in Indonesia (Sulami and others)
ANP item in De Volkskrant (19 Jun 1975): the Dutch Women's Movement demanded immediate release of four Indonesian women, Sulami, Sri Ruhimirjati (probably Sri Ambar Rukmiati), Sudjinah and Suharti (surname garbled), for whom prosecutors sought 20 years to life after about seven years of detention, partly for collecting
South China Sunday Morning Post, 26 Apr 1998, p.8, Jenny Grant: report on the trial in Medan of the sorcerer Datuk (Achmad Suradji), accused of killing 42 young women. After first confessing he retracted and blamed 'an outlawed communist women's group known as Gerwani', claiming police forced his confession; the articl
Berita Harian, 14 Nov 2015: Indonesia People's Tribunal 1965
Berita Harian, 14 Nov 2015 (lead only). On day two of the International People's Tribunal 1965 in The Hague, witnesses described sexual abuse; the lead introduces Tintin Rahayu (a pseudonym), who was among student leaders. Relevant to testimony on sexual violence and justice.