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
Gerwani statement on abrogating the KMB; women at the SOBSI national council (Bintang Timur, 23 February 1956)
Front page (with pp. 2-4) of Bintang Timur, Jakarta, 23 Feb 1956. The DPP Gerwani issues a statement, after a meeting with Central Java, West Java and Jakarta delegates, demanding full unilateral abrogation of the KMB agreements. Women delegates Setiati Surasto (Sarbupri), Sri Ambar, Tuti, Rantiyem and Emmy Purwati att
Farewell visit to departing overseas Chinese by Indonesian people's organisations (Renmin Ribao, 7 March 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, Gerwani and the Indonesian Mothers' Committee against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs visit West Java Chinese gathered in Jakarta to return to China, bringing coffee, tea, medicine and soap; women hug Chinese wome
Farewell visit to departing overseas Chinese by Indonesian people's organisations (Renmin Ribao, 7 March 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 7 Mar 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, Gerwani and the Indonesian Mothers' Committee against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs visit West Java Chinese gathered in Jakarta to return to China, bringing coffee, tea, medicine and soap; women hug Chinese wome
Friendship association and other groups see off returning overseas Chinese (Renmin Ribao, 19 June 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 19 Jun 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, the Peace Committee and Gerwani see off East and West Java Chinese leaving on Chinese ships. Peace Committee chair Mrs Arudji (PSII) and Gerwani leader Mrs Mandaki speak of lasting friendship; returnees say
Friendship association and other groups see off returning overseas Chinese (Renmin Ribao, 19 June 1960)
Renmin Ribao, 19 Jun 1960, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): representatives of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, the Peace Committee and Gerwani see off East and West Java Chinese leaving on Chinese ships. Peace Committee chair Mrs Arudji (PSII) and Gerwani leader Mrs Mandaki speak of lasting friendship; returnees say
Api Kartini No. 5-6, Year 5, May-June 1963
Double issue (May–Jun 1963) on the return of West Irian and the 10 May 1963 anti-Chinese riots in West Java, with Sukarno speeches condemning racism and an editorial blaming an ex-Masjumi/PSI/Permesta network.
FBIS, 4 June 1963: Indonesian women condemn Java riots (Gerwani letter)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua item (4 Jun 1963): the National Women's Federation of China received a letter from the Central Council of the Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerwani) condemning the May 1963 anti-Chinese 'racist counterrevolutionary' riots, blaming ex-Masjumi, PSI and other elements with foreign subversive agents ai
Jakarta women danced as generals were murdered (The Hindustan Times, 15 October 1965)
The Hindustan Times, 15 Oct 1965: report of a police witness's account at Lubang Buaya that Communist women danced naked in a circle while six generals and a lieutenant (mistaken for Nasution) were tortured to death, with torn-out fingernails and faces mutilated. Gerwani is not named, but this is an early instance of t
Berita Yudha, 26 October 1965
Berita Yudha, 26 Oktober 1965. Antara: West Java police close and freeze assets of seven private universities suspected of G30S links, including Universitas Rakyat (UNRA) in Bandung and Cirebon; important for the education strand.
The Anti-Communist Campaign in Indonesia: A Chronology (USIA R-158-65), Nov 1965
USIA Research and Reference Service report R-158-65 (November 1965), a chronology of the anti-Communist campaign in Indonesia, 1-20 October 1965, built on Indonesian and foreign radio and press. Gerwani entries: Suharto's 4 Oct TV statement linking the generals' murders to Pemuda Rakjat and Gerwani training grounds; NU
Sukarno: my life is in danger
Trouw (3 Nov 1965), wire report: Sukarno tells ministers his life is in danger; demonstrations in Medan demand Subandrio's removal; a Muslim leader urges dissolving the PKI. Reports that Gerwani was expelled from the women's congress Kowani, chaired by Mrs Subandrio. Early evidence of Gerwani's isolation weeks after 30
The army: violence against Gerwani women near Solo
De Waarheid, 8 Nov 1965, p. 3: report that the army continues violent actions against progressives; per an army communique, paratroopers near Solo shot nine women who stood before tanks and refused to move, said to be Gerwani members. Also notes army encouragement of Muslims to destroy communists' buildings in Tasikmal
Girl admits role in coup (South China Morning Post, 20 November 1965)
South China Morning Post, 20 Nov 1965, p.20 (Jakarta, 19 Nov; UPI/AP via Antara): a girl captured near Bandung admitted taking part in the killing of the six generals at Lubang Buaya and among those who shot the Army commander, and admitted membership of Gerwani, the Communist women's auxiliary. The item also reports a
Indonesia: golden time
Algemeen Handelsblad column 'Golden time' (1965-11-29) on post-coup Indonesia: loyalty advertisements in newspapers, frozen bank accounts for suspected persons, price rises and Conefo stamps, a quarrel in a Malang court. A final item, 'Gerwani, kill her', describes villagers near Tasikmalaya chasing 'Gerwani' with kniv
Angkatan Bersendjata, 15 January 1966
Angkatan Bersendjata, 15 Jan 1966. Veterans' Legion denounces a rival delegation at the Havana Tricontinental of 'PKI/Pemuda Rakyat, Gerwani, SOBSI elements'; Siliwangi bans all writings of the PKI and its affiliates.
Communist leader in West Java captured near Bandung: Gerwani members arrested (Berita Harian, 1967)
Berita Harian, 11 July 1967, p. 3, Reuters: the army announces capture near Bandung of Yakob Margolang, who allegedly tried to form a new Communist party in West Java; several women believed to be members of Gerwani, 'the secret organisation of Communist women', were also arrested. Context: army warnings against pro-Su
Angkatan Bersendjata, 8 February 1969: 'The Djatibarang Incident'
Angkatan Bersendjata, 8 Februari 1969: 'Peristiwa Djatibarang'. Editorial blames a Jatibarang religious clash on 'remnants of Gestapu-PKI', citing 'Gerwani-PKI figure Nj. Suwarti' arrested in Priok working as a Qur'an teacher under a cover job.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 14 March 1969: 'Uncovering the Djatibarang Incident' (II)
Angkatan Bersendjata, 14 Maret 1969: 'Menjingkap Peristiwa Djatibarang' (II). Part II of a series claiming a 'household course' was a mask for PKI cadre activity, based on the confession of junior-high girl Purwati; a template of the 'Gerwani underground' narrative.
TAPOL Bulletin no. 44 (London, March 1981): army takeover of the legal sector, Free-Aceh trials, Pramoedya's Buru novels harassed, East Timor, US human rights report. A short item (p.4) reports that eight women political prisoners long held in Bukit Duri were moved to Tangerang women's prison: Sulami (20 years), Sudjin
Komnas Perempuan's 2007 report on gender-based crimes against humanity in 1965: 122 testimonies, an account of Gerwani's history and the 1965 press campaign behind the Lubang Buaya slander, and catalogue of rape, sexual slavery, detention and Buru. Key official source on women's experience.