Loose and fast from the Republic
De Locomotief, 13 May 1948: satirical column by an 'Indonesian collaborator' on life in the Republic. It says former Minister of Labour S.K. Trimurti, after the fall of the Amir cabinet, is 'a wiser but sadder woman' who no longer speaks publicly, and that Republican women were reluctant to speak at meetings. Hostile,
Communist Blueprint For Asia (Western Mail, 18 August 1949), reprint
Western Mail (Perth), 18 Aug 1949, reprint of Denis Warner's article presenting the Feb 1948 Calcutta youth conference as a Moscow-directed 'blueprint' for Asian revolution. Indonesian delegate Francisca Fanggidaej is listed among the 'guests'; Warner says there is little to show 'his' politics and doubts Indonesian in
Factory inspector murdered by gang
Arnhemsche Courant, 7 Nov 1949: report that a gang terrorising the Masamba area of South Sulawesi killed factory inspector Th. Pluyter on 2 Nov; the gang is said to have been led by Makassar council member Salawati Daud, who drove there in a municipal car. A colonial-era press allegation against a future Gerwis/Gerwani
Murder and terror in South Celebes: gang leader arrested
Bredasche Courant, 7 Nov 1949, article on a gang terrorising Masamba (South Sulawesi) that killed factory inspector Th. Pluyter; it names Makassar council member Salawati Daud as leader and adds that she has since been arrested and the gang broken. Colonial-press allegation against a future Gerwis/Gerwani figure. Other
Bredasche Courant, 7 November 1949, front page: Murder and terror in South Celebes
Full front page (OCR) of the Bredasche Courant, 7 Nov 1949. Indonesia items cover Roem on RTC sovereignty transfer, Hatta on finances and left-wing opposition, and the arrest of 'gang leader' Salawati Daud, a Makassar council member accused of leading the Masamba gang that killed inspector Pluyter. Other articles (Male
Merdeka, 15 August 1951: Gerwis central board resolutions
Merdeka, 15 Agustus 1951 (hlm. 2): Antara report on Gerwis central board resolutions: gifts for victims of the revolution and colonial wars including those of the 'September 1948 affair', and an education programme of rebuilt schools and village people's schools.
Abadi, 15 August 1951, p. 3: Gerwis Demands Recognition for Revolution Victims
Abadi, 15 Aug 1951, p. 3: Gerwis central board urges the government to give clothing or money to revolution victims and families on 17 August, including romusha, laskar, and victims of the 'September 1948 affair (from both sides)'.
Abuses in Indonesian prisons: conditions of the August 1951 detainees
De Waarheid, 27 Oct 1951, p. 3: correspondent's article on poor food, medical care and conditions of those arrested in Indonesia since August 1951 under the Sukiman government (Cipinang prison, Malang, Banten), including named detainees. Ends with a Gerwis statement calling the arrest of its leader (S.K.) Trimurti and
Abuses in Indonesian prisons (full newspaper page, 27 Oct 1951)
Full De Waarheid page, 27 Oct 1951 (p. 3), mostly unrelated Dutch and international news (British elections, Tito, Rotterdam court, serial novel, notices). Only the Indonesia article, 'Wantoestanden in Indonesische gevangenissen', is relevant: poor prison conditions for those arrested since August 1951, and a Gerwis st
Pancasila proves a hindrance: Gerwis explains adoption of People's Democracy
De Vrije Pers report (12 Feb 1952) on a Gerwis meeting explaining its adoption of "People's Democracy" instead of Pancasila as its basis, since Pancasila had hampered organising. Speakers (Miss Moedjiati, Miss Muninggar) described anti-imperialist, anti-feudal aims, a national front against the RTC, and insisted Gerwis
Analysis of Communist Propaganda in Indonesia (OIR 5714.7, 1952)
OSS/State Department report OIR 5714.7 (30 May 1952) analysing PKI propaganda: party structure, front organisations, relations with international communism and themes. Names Gerwis under Mrs Mudigdo as the communist vehicle competing with Kowani for women, and BTI under S. Sardjono; appendices cover publishing, films,
Interview with Indonesian delegates Suwarti (Gerwis) and Sujonegoro (Renmin Ribao, 6 June 1952)
Interview in Renmin Ribao, 6 June 1952 (p. 4, by Kong Dongping), with Indonesian delegates Suwati (Suwarti), Gerwis leader and MP, and the national capitalist Sujonegoro, in Beijing. Both denounce US economic domination, the Round Table agreements and the rubber embargo's price collapse. Suwati says over 500,000 Indone
Interview with Indonesian delegates Suwarti (Gerwis) and Sujonegoro (Renmin Ribao, 6 June 1952)
Interview in Renmin Ribao, 6 June 1952 (p. 4, by Kong Dongping), with Indonesian delegates Suwati (Suwarti), Gerwis leader and MP, and the national capitalist Sujonegoro, in Beijing. Both denounce US economic domination, the Round Table agreements and the rubber embargo's price collapse. Suwati says over 500,000 Indone
Literaturnaia Gazeta, 10 Jun 1952: World Peace Council Bureau statement (Suwarti signs)
Front page of Literaturnaia Gazeta, 10 June 1952, carrying a World Peace Council Bureau statement defending the French peace movement. Signatories include 'Mrs. Suwarti (Indonesia), member of parliament' (Gerwis/Gerwani leader Suwarti), alongside Joliot-Curie, Eugenie Cotton (WIDF), Brecht and Neruda. Also notes the Pe
Umi Sardjono: 'Regulation no. 19 is still unjust' (Harian Rakjat, 23 July 1952)
Harian Rakjat, Jakarta, 23 July 1952 (full issue; p. 3 relevant). Article by Umi Sardjono on Government Regulation 19/1952 (widows' pensions): nearly all women's organisations object, some demanding repeal, others accepting pensions but opposing polygamy. She says the rules in effect encourage polygamy, and recalls tha
US State Dept. report IR-6165, January 1953: Communism in the Free World - Indonesia section on Gerwis
US State Department Office of Intelligence Research report IR-6165, 'Communism in the Free World' (January 1953), a compilation of about 30 country studies of communist capabilities, held in the CIA reading room. The Indonesia study (IR-6165.3) covers PKI aims and tactics, labour, and front organisations. Section VI.A
World mourns Stalin, including Gerwis telegram (Renmin Ribao, 17 March 1953)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 4), roundup of world mourning for Stalin: Togliatti's article and Brazilian, French and British tributes. In the Indonesia section the PKI issued a proclamation and held a memorial meeting (Sudisman eulogising), Harian Rakjat and other papers eulogised him, and Gerwis sent a telegram of gr
World mourns Stalin, including Gerwis telegram (Renmin Ribao, 17 March 1953)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Mar 1953 (p. 4), roundup of world mourning for Stalin: Togliatti's article and Brazilian, French and British tributes. In the Indonesia section the PKI issued a proclamation and held a memorial meeting (Sudisman eulogising), Harian Rakjat and other papers eulogised him, and Gerwis sent a telegram of gr
Sukarno urges communist to support transfer of New Guinea; Mrs Lips-Odinot, interpreter of 'peaceful' Netherlands
Algemeen Handelsblad (1954-04-05): President Sukarno received participants of the Gerwani congress; Dutch communist MP Rie Lips-Odinot conveyed the sympathy of the 'peace-loving part of the Dutch people'. Sukarno replied that good relations require return of New Guinea, and she endorsed Indonesia's claim. The paper cal
Gerwani central board (80,000 members) supports the WIDF at ECOSOC (Bintang Timur, 29 May 1954)
Bintang Timur (Jakarta daily), 29 May 1954, p. 2 of a multi-article issue; only one item concerns Gerwani. Its central board (DPP Gerwani), speaking for 80,000 members, protests to the UN against ECOSOC's removal of the WIDF from consultative status, citing a letter from WIDF president Eugenie Cotton, and demands reins
Ekaterina in Java: Soviet delegates and the Gerwani congress
De Nieuwsgier, 7 Aug 1954: a Dutch-Indonesian paper recounts that Russian delegates invited to the Gerwani congress arrived after it ended but toured Java with organisers. Ekaterina Sheveleva's Izvestia report praises roads built by colonisers, laments farmers' primitive tools and notes a women's union meeting at a rai
Gerwani of Lampung: first congress, resolution against pornography
De Locomotief, 16 Nov 1954: a one-line item that Gerwani of Lampung, at its first congress at Tanjungkarang, decided to submit to the government a resolution requesting a ban and confiscation of pornographic reading matter and improper newspaper and film advertisements. Other items (Stork-Werkspoor orders, Tokyo, Phili
Maisuri, symbol of resistance to forced marriage (Harian Rakjat, 26 January 1955)
Harian Rakjat, 26 Jan 1955, p. 3: women's-page feature 'Maisuri, symbol of resistance to forced marriage', signed Ny. Suwarti (DPP Gerwani). Maisuri refused a marriage imposed by her family to an older man (Kyai Ahmad) who already had wives; the piece uses the case to argue against forced marriage and for a marriage la
Mme Suharti, president of the Indonesian Women's Movement; Sukarno and polygamy
La Presse (17 May 1955, p.10): feature on a Muslim feminist campaign against polygamy, starting with the Pakistani PM Mohamed Ali's second marriage and spreading to Java. Says Fatmawati Sukarno was recruited and that Hartini was pregnant during the Bandung Conference. A snippet names Mme Suharti, president of the 'very
Mme Suharti, president of the Indonesian Women's Movement; Sukarno and polygamy (extract)
La Presse (17 May 1955, p.10), snippet extract of the polygamy feature: unrest in Indonesia over Sukarno's marriage to Hartini, in which Mme Suharti, president of the 'very communist-leaning' Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerwani), took advantage; Hartini's pregnancy surfaced as the Bandung Conference drew attention.
Pravda, 5 Aug 1955: Gerwani telegram in Indonesian cabinet crisis (excerpt)
Keyword-hit excerpt of Pravda, 5 Aug 1955 (TASS, Jakarta) on the cabinet crisis after Masjumi's Burhanuddin Harahap was asked to form a government. Harian Rakjat published telegrams from SOBSI, BTI, Gerwani, Pemuda Rakjat and others demanding a truly democratic government, opposing a Masjumi cabinet and 'a military dic
Advertisement: ten years of the Indonesian Republic (De Waarheid issue)
De Waarheid, 17 Aug 1955, p. 1: newspaper house advertisement for the day's issue marking ten years of the Indonesian Republic, pointing readers to the poem 'Vrijheid' by Sugiarti Siswadi on p. 1 and an article by Cor Geugjes on p. 3. The item contains no text on Gerwani itself.
Pravda, 1956: working people of Indonesia respond to the 20th CPSU Congress
Pravda, No. 59, 1956 (c. 28 Feb), p. 3: Jakarta dispatch 'The working people of Indonesia speak' among foreign responses to the 20th CPSU Congress. SOBSI leaders (Sumandi, Sudoyo, Sudadi) praise the Congress; Gerwani leader Suharti says she followed it via newspapers and Moscow radio in Indonesian and is 'amazed' at So
Pravda, 1956: interview with Gerwani leader Suharti (excerpt)
Keyword-hit excerpt of Pravda, No. 59, 1956 (Jakarta dispatch of 27 Feb) on Indonesian reactions to the 20th CPSU Congress: SOBSI Jakarta secretary Sudadi and Suharti, 'leader of the women's organization Gerwani', who says she followed the Congress and admires Soviet progress toward communism. Followed by an unrelated
Jakarta protests against Dulles visit; Gerwani statement (Renmin Ribao, 13 March 1956)
Two Xinhua dispatches from Jakarta in Renmin Ribao, 13 Mar 1956 (p. 4). First: US Secretary of State Dulles was met at the airport on 12 March by demonstrators shouting against SEATO, and a girl was arrested for sticking a slogan on his car. Second: Gerwani issued a statement on 11 March condemning the visit as an atte