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,
Republican deliberations (arrest of Francisca Fanggidaej after Madiun)
Het Dagblad (Batavia) report (4 Dec 1948, p.1) on republican cabinet deliberations and arrests of communists after Madiun. It reports Francisca Fanggidaej, once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI, was captured with Colonel Djokosoejono and Politburo member Sardjono, and, per her statement, that 23 women were with Amir Sj
Situation in the republic: no measures against Tan Malaka's group
De Locomotief, 7 Dec 1948: Army Contact Service report after the Madiun affair. It says Francisca Fanggidaej, earlier delegated to Prague by the BKPRI, was captured with Col. Djokosujono and PKI's Sardjono. According to her, 23 women were among Amir Sjarifuddin's troops; 14 surrendered with 800 men and 7 more on 29 Nov
No measures against Tan Malaka's group (arrests after Madiun)
Indische Courant voor Nederland (11 Dec 1948, p.2): Republican officials deny measures against Tan Malaka's Gerakan Revolusi Rakjat, though Ibnu Parna was arrested. It details arrests of communist leaders: Colonel Djokosoejono, PKI politburo's Sardjono and Francisca Fanggidaej (once delegated to Prague by the BKPRI); p
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
Discontent in Albania (page; Indonesia items incl. factory inspector killed by gang)
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia page (7 Nov 1949) with many items. Relevant: a short report that a gang led, it is said, by Makassar councillor Salawati Daud killed Faroka inspector Th. Pluyter near Palopo; six arrested. Other Indonesia item: Mohamad Roem returns from the Round Table Conference. Albania, Moscow parade and ot
Indonesian minorities protest (includes: inspector killed by gang)
Zutphensch Dagblad page (7 Nov 1949): a short report that a gang said to be led by Makassar councillor Salawati Daud murdered Faroka inspector Th. Pluyter near Palopo; six arrested. Also Roem's return from the Round Table Conference, speculation on the Yogyakarta head of state, ECA aid, and an Amsterdam meeting of Sout
Murder of Dutchman in South Celebes: arrest of gang leader stirs Indonesian press
Algemeen Handelsblad correspondent's report (Batavia, 1949-11-11) on the Masamba murder of Dutchman Pluyter and the arrest of Makassar councillor Salawati Daud as gang leader. Notes the Indonesian press presents her as a freedom heroine and martyr, compared to Wolter Monginsidi; Maria Ulfah Santoso of the women's congr
Murder of Dutchman in South Celebes: arrest of gang leader stirs Indonesian press (page 1, 11 Nov 1949)
Page-image version of the same Algemeen Handelsblad report (1949-11-11, p. 1) on the Masamba murder of Pluyter and the arrest of Makassar councillor Salawati Daud as gang leader, with Indonesian press and Maria Ulfah Santoso presenting her as a freedom heroine. Surrounding headlines (Paris conference, Bonn, atomic cont
The lot of Salawati
Nieuwe Courant, 3 December 1949: commentary profiling 'Lot Salawati' (Salawati Daud) as 'very left and very revolutionary', leader of the Masamba gang. It speculates that she was humiliated at the Indonesian Women's Congress in Yogyakarta and then at home in Makassar, and sought rehabilitation through violence; it also
Insulting the Head of State
Nieuwe Courant, 11 May 1951: the editor of the daily Massa was summoned by the military police over an article by S.K. Trimurti on the 1 May celebration, said to insult Sukarno. Quoted passages mock Sukarno's May Day promises, 'we are used to that from brother Soekarno since the Japanese time'. Editor Soemaritoro accep
Indonesian miscellany (with item on Moedigdio and the Waworoentoe case)
Het Vaderland miscellany column 'Indonesische tjampoeran' (30 Jun 1951, p.12) with many short items. Relevant: an emergency meeting of parliament's home affairs section chaired by Mrs Moedigdio (Mudigdio) resolves to ask the government about Mrs Waworoentoe, dismissed as mayor of Manado and placed under house arrest by
S.K. Trimurti (Gerwis) on National Awakening Day, 20 May (Harian Rakjat, 20 May 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 20 May 1952. A front-page item quotes S.K. Trimurti of Gerwis telling the paper that 20 May should truly become a day of unity in the struggle for independence; she recalls the 1948 Yogyakarta commemoration and the unrealised National Program, blaming organisational fragmentation. The issue also covers S
Accusations against Hatta refuted (Fonds Nasional)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (8 Apr 1957, p.1): Hatta's secretary and Mr Sumanang rebut press claims that Hatta failed to account for the 'Fonds Kemerdekaan Indonesia'/'Fonds Nasional'; they describe how its gold and silver jewellery was handled during the revolution. Mrs Trimurti, wife of Sajuti Melik, is said to be ab
Suara Merdeka, 27 October 1965, p. 1: Yogyakarta demands dissolution of PKI and Gerwani; Umi Sardjono
Suara Merdeka (Semarang), 27 Oktober 1965, hlm. 1. Richest page for Gerwani in this set: state of war in Central Java; 55 Yogyakarta organisations demand dissolution of the PKI and Gerwani; a demand to dismiss Umi Sardjono from the Kotrar political bureau.
Harian Kami, 1 September 1967: arrest of Nyonya Djubaedah
Harian Kami, 1 September 1967. Arrest in Jakarta on 29 Aug 1967 of Nyonya Djubaedah, wife of Nun Tjik AR, called 'cashier of Gerwani' and 'G30S/PKI ringleader', after two years in hiding; includes her biography.
From politics to mysticism: S.K. Trimurti in her own words (Tempo, 21 Apr 1990)
Tempo profile (21 April 1990), in S.K. Trimurti's own first-person voice, of her life from teacher and Partindo cadre to labour minister and spiritualist. She says she co-founded Gerwis around 1950 (Ketua III, Yogyakarta), that Gerwis became Gerwani at its third congress under Umi Sardjono, and that in 1965 she quit Ge
South China Sunday Morning Post, 23 Apr 2000, p.10, Vaudine England: profile of Sudjinah Halina (72), former Gerwani activist and political prisoner, as Indonesia reopens debate on 1965. She recounts Solo childhood, guerrilla courier work (1947-49), study at Gadjah Mada, the 1955 Prague youth festival, a job with the W
The last night: after the headlights went out (Aidit's last night at home, Tempo, 2007)
Tempo piece (1 October 2007) reconstructing D.N. Aidit's last night at home, 30 September 1965, from his son Ilham and brother Murad. His wife Dr Soetanti Aidit angrily quarrels with him and urges him not to leave; he goes anyway. The article sets out the contested versions of where he went that night. Soetanti appears
Mysterious poet and supporter of children's literature: Sugiarti Siswadi (Tempo, 1 May 2021)
Tempo article, 1 May 2021, by Isma Savitri and Hardian Putra Pratama, on Lekra writer Sugiarti Siswadi: Lekra central leadership member from 1959, children's-literature advocate, author of the banned Sorga Dibumi, and editor of Api Kartini. Researchers cannot trace her life; one suspects she was jailed in Semarang in 1
Tempo, 2 October 2021: Umi Sardjono and the stigma on Gerwani (why we rewrote the history of Gerwani and Umi Sardjono)
Tempo editor's note (2 Oct 2021, Moyang Kasih Dewi Merdeka and Seno Joko Suyono) on why the magazine rewrote Umi Sardjono's life. It describes her silence after release, trauma and fear of surveillance (Wieringa 1981, Pohlman 2005), her arrest at Senayan and Bukit Duri detention, the lack of memoir or traces, and sourc
Tempo English, 4 October 2021: End of the Road (Umi Sardjono)
English-edition Tempo cover story 'End of the Road' (4 Oct 2021, Retno Sulistyowati), a translation from the Umi Sardjono special report. It traces Umi's formation in Pathuk Youth, Pesindo, BBW with S.K. Trimurti, Madiun 1948 arrest, founding of Gerwis (Semarang, 3-6 Jun 1950), Gerwani growth from 80,000 to 650,000 (19
Tempo English, 4 October 2021: Umi Sardjono and allegations against Gerwani (editors' note)
English edition of the Tempo editors' note 'Umi Sardjono and Allegations Against Gerwani' (4 Oct 2021, Moyang Kasih Dewi Merdeka) introducing the special report. It describes Umi's silence, trauma and fear of surveillance (Wieringa 1981, Pohlman 2005), her arrest at Senayan and detention at Bukit Duri, the absence of m
Detention Camps in Asia (Brill, 2022): 'Torture Camps in Indonesia, 1965-1970' (Pohlman), opening with Sudjinah's memoir
Brill edited volume (2022) on detention camps in modern Asia; the chapter 'Torture Camps in Indonesia, 1965-1970' (Annie Pohlman, pp. 137-155) opens with Sudjinah's memoir Terempas Gelombang Pasang. It names Sudjinah and Sulami as fellow leaders of Gerwani who, after eighteen months underground and a clandestine pamphl
Detention Camps in Asia (Brill, 2022): 'Torture Camps in Indonesia, 1965-1970' (Pohlman), opening with Sudjinah's memoir
Brill edited volume (2022) on detention camps in modern Asia; the chapter 'Torture Camps in Indonesia, 1965-1970' (Annie Pohlman, pp. 137-155) opens with Sudjinah's memoir Terempas Gelombang Pasang. It names Sudjinah and Sulami as fellow leaders of Gerwani who, after eighteen months underground and a clandestine pamphl
Tempo, 20 August 2022: Mia Bustam's third memoir (learning not to hold grudges)
Tempo feature (20 Aug 2022, Dian Yuliastuti and Seno Joko Suyono) on the launch of Mia Bustam's third memoir, 'Kelindan Asa dan Kenyataan'. It recounts her arrest in Yogyakarta on 23 Nov 1965, 13 years' detention without trial (Vredeburg, Wirogunan, Plantungan, Bulu) for Lekra membership, release in 1978, and her later
Mia Bustam's paintings and embroidery (Tempo, 20 Aug 2022)
Tempo feature (20 Aug 2022) by Seno Joko Suyono and Nurdin Kalim on the paintings and embroidery of Mia Bustam, former wife of the painter S. Sudjojono. Her children recall her Lekra activity, the loss of a self-portrait when the Lekra secretariat was raided in 1965, and works made in Wirogunan prison (1966-71) and at
Tempo.co, 10 December 2024: Mia Bustam's fourth memoir, portrait of a resilient woman
Tempo.co report (10 Dec 2024, Istiqomatul Hayati and Ihsan Reliubun) on the launch of Mia Bustam's fourth memoir, 'Mutiara Kisah Masa Lalu' (Ultimus, 7 Dec 2024), completing her tetralogy. It gives her biography, arrest on 23 Nov 1965, 13 years' detention (including Plantungan) as a Lekra member, and her children's acc
Tempo.co, 10 December 2024: Pearls of Mia Bustam's tetralogy - first love, divorce and prison
Tempo.co report (10 Dec 2024, Istiqomatul Hayati and Ihsan Reliubun) on Mia Bustam's four memoirs: 'Sudjojono dan Aku' (written from 1985, on her marriage and divorce, edited by Hersri Setiawan), 'Dari Kamp ke Kamp' (13 years' detention), 'Kelindan Asa dan Kenyataan' and 'Mutiara Kisah Masa Lalu'. Her children explain
Tempo, 16 November 2025: Rare archive of Lekra artist Mia Bustam (Biennale Jogja solo exhibition)
Tempo magazine report (16 Nov 2025, Shinta Maharani and Iwan Kurniawan) on the Biennale Jogja solo exhibition of Lekra artist Mia Bustam at Benteng Vredeburg (opened 6 Oct 2025), based on Astrid Reza's thesis. It covers her arrest, nearly 14 years' detention (Plantungan gardener), embroidery, paintings, Api Kartini mag