The international women's congress in Budapest: Dutch delegates and manifesto
De Waarheid report (4 Jan 1949) on Dutch delegates Annie Gelok and Mien Bosch at the second WIDF congress, with the full manifesto. Gelok said the Dutch Women's Movement alone sided with the Indonesian people and demanded troop withdrawal; the paper notes Indonesia's WIDF-affiliated women's organisation was absent beca
Chairwoman of Dutch Women's Movement in Peking for Asian women's conference
De Waarheid report (7 Dec 1949) on arrival in Peking of WIDF secretary-general Vaillant-Couturier and 20 delegates to the Asian women's conference, greeted by Deng Yingchao. The delegate list includes Lillah Suripno from Indonesia alongside Dutch vice-chair Rie Lips-Odinot, Eslanda Robeson and women from France, Korea,
Sunday Worker, 1 January 1950, p. 2: Asian women tell the U.S.A. (Asian Women's Conference, Peking)
Sunday Worker, 1 Jan 1950, p. 2: page with several items; the relevant article, datelined Peking, reports the Asian Women's Conference where women leaders from 15 Asian countries, including Indonesia, Burma and India, pledged struggle against imperialism. Delegates said conditions in Burma and Indonesia were alike unde
Soviet Woman, 28 Feb 1950, p. 47: A. N. Atanepesova's account of the Conference of Women of Asian Countries, Peking, late 1949 (198 delegates). Indonesia appears via delegate 'Lilia Suripno', who described partisan women fighting Dutch troops with babies on their backs. Reflects early WIDF-linked Asian solidarity; Gerw
'They were not allowed to take part': 17 August is a day of mourning
De Locomotief, 15 Aug 1950 (Aneta): SOBSI, Rukun Tani, a youth front, PRRI and the women's organisation GERWIS form a committee to commemorate the 'People's Proclamation of 17 August 1945', declaring 17 August 1950 a day of mourning because the RTC-style unitary state buries the 1945 republic. They protest the ban on b
Shen Zijiu and others to represent WIDF at Indonesian women's congress (Renmin Ribao, 20 November 1950)
Short Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 20 Nov 1950 (p. 4): Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke and Qi Yun of the All-China Democratic Women's Federation, with secretary Zhou Shumin, leave Beijing on 17 Nov as WIDF representatives to attend the All-Indonesian Women's Congress to open in Jakarta on 24 Nov. Early evidence of WIDF links to In
Shen Zijiu and others to represent WIDF at Indonesian women's congress (Renmin Ribao, 20 November 1950)
Short Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 20 Nov 1950 (p. 4): Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke and Qi Yun of the All-China Democratic Women's Federation, with secretary Zhou Shumin, leave Beijing on 17 Nov as WIDF representatives to attend the All-Indonesian Women's Congress to open in Jakarta on 24 Nov. Early evidence of WIDF links to In
Chinese women did not get visas to Indonesian women's congress
De Nieuwsgier, 3 Jan 1951 (AP): Peking radio complains that the Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong refused visas to three Chinese women delegates to an Indonesian women's congress; they returned to Beijing and filed a report with the WIDF, which had delegated them. Organisation of the congress is not named in the text.
Indonesia refuses visas, Chinese women's delegation returns to Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 6 January 1951)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jan 1951 (p. 4): the Chinese women's delegation (Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke, Qi Yun) sent for the WIDF to the All-Indonesian Women's Congress could not attend because the Indonesian government refused entry visas despite repeated negotiations with the Indonesian consul in Hong Kong. They reported to WIDF and r
Indonesia refuses visas, Chinese women's delegation returns to Beijing (Renmin Ribao, 6 January 1951)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Jan 1951 (p. 4): the Chinese women's delegation (Shen Zijiu, Zeng Ke, Qi Yun) sent for the WIDF to the All-Indonesian Women's Congress could not attend because the Indonesian government refused entry visas despite repeated negotiations with the Indonesian consul in Hong Kong. They reported to WIDF and r
Indonesian women support conclusion of a peace pact (Renmin Ribao, 13 March 1951)
Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 13 Mar 1951 (p. 4), relaying TASS and the Dutch paper De Waarheid: representatives of Indonesian women's organisations met in Yogyakarta, endorsed the World Peace Council's Berlin call for a five-power peace pact, and resolved that Indonesian women's organisations should link with and join
Indonesian women support conclusion of a peace pact (Renmin Ribao, 13 March 1951)
Xinhua item in Renmin Ribao, 13 Mar 1951 (p. 4), relaying TASS and the Dutch paper De Waarheid: representatives of Indonesian women's organisations met in Yogyakarta, endorsed the World Peace Council's Berlin call for a five-power peace pact, and resolved that Indonesian women's organisations should link with and join
In Yogyakarta two committees for 17 August
De Nieuwsgier, 31 July 1951: in Yogyakarta SOBSI initiates a rival '17 August' committee including trade unions, the youth front, PKI, PSII, Murba, BTI and Gerwis, claiming the city's official committee only wants to 'celebrate' without expressing the people's struggle. It will explore a merger. Another item (Pakistan-
Indonesian Women Had Part in Congress (Sunday Herald, 26 August 1951)
Sunday Herald (Sydney), 26 Aug 1951, p. 18: Beryl Wright of the Australian Federation of University Women reports that Indonesian women took part, for the first time, in an international conference at Bali (UN Information South-East Asian regional conference of non-governmental bodies); they were interested in equal pa
Indonesian Women Had Part in Congress (Sunday Herald, 26 August 1951), duplicate
Sunday Herald (Sydney), 26 Aug 1951, p. 18: Beryl Wright of the Australian Federation of University Women reports that Indonesian women took part, for the first time, in an international conference at Bali (UN Information South-East Asian regional conference of non-governmental bodies); they were interested in equal pa
Results of the Peking Conference go beyond Asia and the Pacific (WIDF, 1952)
WIDF 1952 report on the Peace Conference of Asian and Pacific Countries (Peking, 2 Oct 1952; 367 delegates, 37 countries): speeches by Soong Ching Ling, Monica Felton, Malayan, Korean and American delegates on Korea, germ warfare, women's and children's rights and national independence. Umi Sardjono of Indonesia is lis
Indonesian workers defend their unity; Gerwis congress resolution on Round Table agreement
De Waarheid, 16 Jan 1952, p. 4: report on workers' protests against Sjahrir's PSI splitting unions (the Perbupri breakaway from SOBSI's plantation union Sarbupri in Jember). A closing section says the Gerwis annual congress in Surabaya unanimously demanded abolition of the Round Table Agreement and return of New Guinea
Kartini Day commemoration in Jakarta, 1952
De Nieuwsgier, 24 Apr 1952 (Aneta): a packed Jakarta hall marks Kartini Day, organised by women's and girls' associations including Gerwis and PPI, with the Indonesia Raya and Kartini songs, a minute's silence, a speech by Miss Ainun of Pemuda Puteri Indonesia and a handicraft exhibition. AURI wives held a separate com
Freedom Day celebration committee formed on basis of National Reveil declaration
De Nieuwsgier, 15 July 1952 (Sin Po): a Jakarta meeting of 34 parties and organisations forms a Freedom Day (17 August) committee led by the PKI's Greater Jakarta section by 26 votes; PNI, Parkindo, SOBSI and Gerwis sit on it, Masjumi and PSI abstain. It adopts the National Reveil joint declaration signed by 60 groups.
Pravda, 22 Jul 1952: WIDF executive committee session, Bucharest
Pravda p. 3, 22 July 1952: TASS reports from the 13th session of the WIDF executive committee in Bucharest and a mass women's meeting addressed by Eugenie Cotton. Darmini (Indonesia) is listed among debaters on Carmen Santi's report on child defence; national committees reportedly formed in Indonesia. Content of Darmin
Request for clarification on the 17 October 1952 affair
De Nieuwsgier, 6 Dec 1952: representatives of 18 parties and organisations in Surabaya, under the PNI, urge the government to clarify whether the 17 October 1952 affair was a coup, to act against all involved and to implement the Sophiaan motion. Gerwis is among the listed attendees (with PKI, PNI, SOBSI, Murba, Wanita
Salatiga: International Women's Day and a Gerwis meeting
De Locomotief, 10 Mar 1953: International Women's Day in Salatiga was marked by a baby show with 150 babies, explained by the federation chair Mrs Hadisukotjo. Separately, Gerwis held a well-attended meeting where a Jakarta central board delegate talked about her experiences at the world congress in Vienna (the 1952 Co
City news: Kartini Day tomorrow in Semarang
De Locomotief, 20 Apr 1953, city news: Semarang prepares Kartini Day, with a committee of women's associations chaired by Mrs Surya Hadi (Perwari), including Mrs Sri Hudarijah of Gerwis. Programme includes a commemoration meeting, a krontjong evening, a cooking competition, a dolls' exhibition and a foundation for a ho
Women from everywhere: many delegations already on their way to Copenhagen
De Waarheid, 20 May 1953, p. 5: preview of the WIDF World Congress of Women in Copenhagen (5-10 June 1953) with delegations from about 80 countries. Notes an Indonesian member on the WIDF preparatory committee and that Indonesian and Australian delegations are already en route; also covers Vietnamese, African, Indian,
Sunday Worker, 7 June 1953, p. 4: Issues absorb Women's World Meet (WIDF Copenhagen Congress)
Sunday Worker, 7 June 1953, p. 4: report on the opening of the WIDF World Congress of Women in Copenhagen, with debates on peace and children and delegates from many countries, including Burma, Japan and the Philippines. Indonesia appears only in a speech listing the Dutch in Indonesia among colonial powers; no Indones
Sunday Worker, 28 June 1953, p. 12: World Congress of Women, Copenhagen (Indonesian delegates)
Sunday Worker, 28 June 1953, p. 12: account of the WIDF World Congress of Women in Copenhagen, describing delegates in the lobby (including 'exquisite Indonesians') and calls for peace. A moving scene has Indonesian and Dutch women embracing after a Dutch delegate said her people fought for liberty everywhere; Vietnam,
Salatiga: national action committee formed
De Locomotief, 29 July 1953: Salatiga branches of SOBSI, BTI, PPDI, Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwis jointly convene a meeting of 35 organisations and parties, which forms a national action committee and decides to send an open letter to Sukarno urging implementation of parliament's decisions and action against Darul Islam and
Independence Day: sober celebration will mark this 17 August
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1953-08-14, p. 2): programme and committee for a sober 17 August celebration in Bandung (no slogans, only the Red-White flag), plus a sports programme. The committee's women treasurers include Mrs. Tata of Gerwis alongside Perwari and Parkiwa; PNI, Masyumi and PKI chair it. Much of the text is
Other trade unions: Sarbupri strike and BTI congress solidarity
De Vrije Pers fragment (17 Sep 1953) on trade-union reactions to the Sarbupri plantation workers' strike. It notes that the BTI's second congress, attended by SOBSI, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwis representatives, declared solidarity with the strike and instructed its branches to support strikers.
Australian women tell about World Congress
Tribune (Sydney), 14 Oct 1953, p. 6: three Australian delegates (Flo Davis, Joyce Egan, Fuchsia Lewin) describe the WIDF World Congress of Women, Copenhagen, June 1953 (1,187 women, 70 countries). They stress peace, equal pay and socialist-bloc childcare. Indonesia appears briefly: Indonesian women urge support for a K