Dictatorial powers for President Sukarno (Madiun affair)
Indische Courant voor Nederland front page (29 Sep 1948) on the Madiun affair: the KNIP working committee grants Sukarno full emergency powers for three months (25-1); Hatta blames 'PKI-Musso'; arrests of FDR communist leaders in Magelang, curfews in Kediri; Solo youth back the government. Soewarti of the labour party
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
Delegates to World Peace Congress
Nieuwe Courant, 3 November 1950: conference of the Committee for World Peace in Yogyakarta, attended by branches and representatives of Kowani, Gerwis, Front Pemuda Indonesia, BTI, Sobsi, Pesindo and others. It endorsed the Prague appeal, proposals for the London congress (five-power peace, Dutch army withdrawal, no fo
'World Peace' (peace conference in Yogyakarta)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (4 Nov 1950, p.2): a World Peace Committee conference in Yogyakarta approved the Prague appeal, proposed demands for the Nederlandse army's withdrawal from Indonesia and an end to foreign interference (Irian, Moluccas) for a London congress, and reported 180,000 signatures. Delegates include
Wanita Sedar No. 14, 25 July 1951
Issue 14 of Wanita Sedar, fortnightly organ of Gerwis (25 July 1951). Covers preparation for the first Gerwis congress (57 branches, WIDF links), the Indonesian delegation to the Berlin youth festival including three Gerwis delegates, women in Czechoslovakia, and organisational news.
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-
Two committees in Yogyakarta for 17 August
Aneta item in De Vrije Pers (31 Jul 1951): on SOBSI's initiative a "17 August" committee was formed in Yogyakarta with trade unions, Front Pemuda, PKI, PSII, Murba, BTI and Gerwis, as an alternative to the city administration's committee, which SOBSI said would only "celebrate a feast".
S.K. Trimurti: Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani conference) (Harian Rakjat, 13 March 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 13 Mar 1952, p.3: article by S.K. Trimurti on the Kongres Wanita Indonesia (Kowani) conference due from 15 March in Jakarta. She urges unity among all women's organisations (naming Perwari, Muslimat, Wanita Demokrat, Gerwis), voting by consensus, and action on women's unemployment, prices and labour. The
Trimurti (Gerwis) at national unity meeting for 20 May (Harian Rakjat, 14 May 1952)
Harian Rakjat, 14 May 1952. Pp. 1 and 4 report a meeting convened on Ki Hajar Dewantara's initiative to organise commemoration of 20 May (National Awakening Day); S.K. Trimurti of Gerwis spoke first, backing the plan and urging concrete action; Perwari and Gerwis are named among the women's organisations present. The f
Women's delegation to Denmark
Java-Bode, 7 April 1953, p. 2: short news item listing the Indonesian delegation to the international women's congress in Denmark (Copenhagen), leaving end of May. Gerwis is represented by S.K. Trimurti, Kartinah and Maasje Siwi; other members come from Wanita Demokrat, Partai Wanita Rakjat, Sarbupri and as individuals
Java-Bode 7 April 1953, page: Women's delegation to Denmark
Whole-page OCR of Java-Bode, 7 April 1953 (p. 2), reproducing the same short item on the Indonesian delegation to the women's congress in Denmark, in which Gerwis members Trimurti, Kartinah and Maasje Siwi are named. Other page articles (Andi Azis trial, Electoral Law, cabinet matters) are unrelated.
Women's delegation to Denmark
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 15 Apr 1953, p. 3: names the Indonesian delegation to the world women's congress in Denmark (end of May): Trimurti, Kartinah and Maasje Siwi of Gerwis, plus Wanita Demokrat, Partai Wanita Rakjat, Sarbupri and individual delegates including Dr Towoliu.
Women's delegation to Denmark (full page)
Full page, Indische Courant voor Nederland, 15 Apr 1953. Only the article on the Indonesian women's delegation to the Denmark world women's congress concerns Gerwani: Trimurti, Kartinah and Maasje Siwi of Gerwis among delegates. Other articles (17 October affair, Ministry of Defence, WHO, local news) are unrelated.
CIA report, 6 May 1954: Financial preparations for the Gerwis congress, March 1954
CIA report, 6 May 1954: Trimurti and Dr Thung Sin Nio collecting funds to finance the Gerwis (now Gerwani) congress in Jakarta, 25-31 March 1954, including from Chinese-Indonesian donors. Evidence on congress financing and cross-community support.
On the plantations: Rie Lips tells about Indonesia
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: Rie Lips's account of her Java trip: plantation workers' wages (about 3 rupiah per day), child labour on tea and rubber estates, and volunteer village schools. Quotes the Gerwani congress appeal that those who can read should teach others; Soviet delegate Alexandra Kolopowa speaks; photo
Mrs Salawati Daud elected to the Standing Committee (Bintang Timur, 23 June 1954)
Bintang Timur (Jakarta daily), 23 Jun 1954, p. 2 of a multi-article issue. Relevant item reports that the Indonesian Peace Committee's plenary elected Prof. Ir. Purbodiningrat of Yogyakarta as chair; its committee lists include Mrs Salawati Daud (Gerwani leader) among names such as Ny. Aruji Kartawinata and Mr. Astrawi
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".
'Mobilise national unity': Sukarno at the Gerwani congress
De Waarheid, 15 Dec 1961, p. 4: report that President Sukarno addressed the Gerwani congress on Thursday, rejecting the Luns policy on West Irian, calling force 'probably the only language imperialists understand' and urging mobilisation of national unity among nationalists, religious groups and communists, before his
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 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
ANP news report, 16 December 1961 (Indonesia: military)
ANP radio bulletin, 16 Dec 1961: a two-line fragment saying a minister spoke at a conference of the Indonesian women's organisation Gerwani about measures against the Dutch, with banners in Yogyakarta demanding Western New Guinea. Evidence of Gerwani's role in the West Irian campaign.
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
W. Irian: biggest issue for Indonesian people today
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Jan 1962, p. 3: Gloria Garton, UAW national president, reports on her 3.5 weeks in Indonesia as WIDF and UAW representative at the 4th Gerwani Congress in Jakarta (14-17 Dec 1961) and a Java tour, with meetings of up to 2,000 in Semarang and Yogyakarta. Says West Irian is the biggest unifying issue
W. Irian: biggest issue for Indonesian people today
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Jan 1962, p. 3: Gloria Garton, UAW national president, reports on her 3.5 weeks in Indonesia as WIDF and UAW representative at the 4th Gerwani Congress in Jakarta (14-17 Dec 1961) and a Java tour, with meetings of up to 2,000 in Semarang and Yogyakarta. Says West Irian is the biggest unifying issue
The winding road of the women's federation (Historia, 2017)
Historia article (2017) tracing the Indonesian women's federation from the 1928 congress to its capture by the New Order in 1966, framed by Ruth Indiah Rahayu's view that the movement 'died' and was confined to Dharma Wanita and PKK. Popular history.