US Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (1957): Gerwani leaders and branches, Umi Sardjono chair
US Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (1957) extracts: a Central Borneo women's committee, including Gerwani, backing Sukarno's Concept and asking that marriage law be prioritised; Kowani's Fourth Congress (Surabaya) with Mudigdio of Gerwani as treasurer; Muljani as Central Java Gerwani chair; new North Sumatra and Jakart
1957 'Letter to an Unknown Friend' by Sudjinah (Gerwani) on Indonesian children's conditions, framed by colonial history, Japanese occupation and the Round Table agreement. Gives statistics (15-20% infant mortality, one doctor per 59,000, illiteracy 65%, 5 of 12 million children in school) and notes Gerwani, with the I
Indonesia: social protection for mothers and children (Suwarti Bintang Suradi, 1957)
Excerpt from the WIDF Information Bulletin No. 14 (1957): Mme Suwarti (Suwarti Bintang Suradi), member of the Gerwani executive, reports on social insurance and protection for mothers and children in Indonesia. She notes obstacles for women officials, company rules such as Shell-BPM ending employment on marriage, lack
We Saw and Heard at the Council Meeting, Helsinki 1957: Umi Sardjono for Gerwani
WIDF magazine 1957 'We Saw and Heard at the Council Meeting' with delegate speeches at the Helsinki Council. Umi Sardjono, President of Gerwani (640,000 members), reports a nationwide marriage-law campaign, the 1955 elections (five Gerwani members in parliament, six in the Constituent Assembly, 52 provincial councillor
Bandung in brief: Gerwani reception
Short Algemeen Indisch Dagblad item (1957-01-02): to conclude its regional congress, Gerwani will hold a reception on 3 January at 19.30 at the Gedung Jajasan in Bandung, at which the congress decisions will be announced.
Pewarta Soerabaia, 3 January 1957: 'Gerwani anniversary' (Malang)
Pewarta Soerabaia, 3 Jan 1957, p. 4: Malang item on Gerwani Kota Besar Malang celebrating its sixth anniversary (30–31 Dec 1956) with a history of its founding, about 100 members and a sandiwara; page damaged.
Yu Siyem, Gerwani activist, by Sulami (Harian Rakjat, 16 January 1957)
Harian Rakjat, 16 Jan 1957, p. 3: women's page ('Wanita') with a short story by Sulami (Gerwani) about 'Yu Siyem', a village market woman and Gerwani branch activist who recruits neighbours, tours distant villages and wins her husband's support, showing membership expansion and the Anak-Cabang structure. Also Soviet sc
CIA directories, February 1957: International communist-front organizations (WIDF section)
CIA compilation of reference data (February 1957, data to 1 October 1956) on international communist-front organisations and friendship societies, including the Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF). The WIDF directory lists headquarters, publications, executive officers and national affiliates. Under Indo
Jakarta diary: International Women's Day
Java-Bode, 11 February 1957, p. 2: Jakarta women's organisations formed a committee to prepare International Women's Day on 8 March: chair Mrs Jahja Malik (Perwamu), vice-chair Mrs Hermen, first secretary Mrs Kusnan of Gerwani, second secretary Mrs Darpin Busono (Baperki), treasurers Mrs Mandagi and Mrs Prawoto.
Surabaya Post, 15 February 1957, p. 2: Surabaya International Women's Day committee
Surabaya Post p. 2, 15 February 1957: brief reporting that the Surabaya women's organisation federation formed a committee, chaired by Gerwani, to celebrate International Women's Day, with other left and nationalist women's groups as officers. Evidence of Gerwani's leading role in local women's coalitions.
Sukarno's Konsepsi widely supported; Nahdlatul Ulama opposes (Renmin Ribao, 24 February 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Feb 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): reports support for Sukarno's Konsepsi (mutual-cooperation cabinet) from SOBSI and Gerwani, whose 22 Feb statement cites imperialist plots and the rebellions of Lubis, Simbolon and Hussein; Nahdlatul Ulama's Duta Masyarakat and parliamentary chair Asjin oppose it.
Sukarno's Konsepsi widely supported; Nahdlatul Ulama opposes (Renmin Ribao, 24 February 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Feb 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): reports support for Sukarno's Konsepsi (mutual-cooperation cabinet) from SOBSI and Gerwani, whose 22 Feb statement cites imperialist plots and the rebellions of Lubis, Simbolon and Hussein; Nahdlatul Ulama's Duta Masyarakat and parliamentary chair Asjin oppose it.
Terror in Central Sumatra: Banteng Council arrests PKI members and Gerwani leaders
De Waarheid, 28 Feb 1957, p. 7: short report that the rebel 'Banteng Council' in Central Sumatra has set up a terror regime, arresting PKI members, unionists and democrats, and placing prominent members of the women's organisation Gerwani under 'town arrest'. SOBSI in Jakarta decided to call protest strikes. Early repo
Umi Sardjono article and Mudigdio speech in parliament; Gerwani defends menstrual leave (Harian Rakjat, 7 March 1957)
Harian Rakjat, 7 Mar 1957, p. 3: includes an article by Ny. Umi Sardjono for International Women's Day on women's struggle and rights (alongside a science piece), a DPR report with Ny. Mudigdio (PKI) speaking on 6 March, and Gerwani branch items. Notes 46 organisations including Gerwani opposing abolition of menstrual
Harian Rakjat, 8 March 1957: Setiati Surasto on menstrual leave
Harian Rakjat issue of 8 March 1957 (International Women's Day), noisy OCR. Page 3 carries Setiati Surasto's women's-day article defending menstrual leave (cuti haid) for women workers under Labour Law 1951/1948. Elsewhere: a Gerwani branch (Blitar) reported gaining members, a Gerwani public lecture is announced, and t
Harian Rakjat, 9 March 1957: Umi Sardjono at the Women's Day exhibition
Harian Rakjat issue of 9 March 1957, very noisy OCR. Page 1 reports the International Women's Day exhibition (handicrafts, cooking, costumes, foreign stalls) in Jakarta, where Umi Sardjono (Gerwani leader) is among women leaders present alongside Fatmawati; the committee of ten women's organisations is chaired by Yahya
Suluh Indonesia, 29 April 1957: DPP Gerwani cable to commanders' and governors' conference
Suluh Indonesia (PNI-aligned daily), Jakarta, 29 April 1957; four newspaper pages, OCR very noisy. Front page covers the Dewan Banteng/Ismail Lengah-Sutan Sjuis clash in Padang, cabinet changes and military authority. A short item on p. 2 reports that DPP Gerwani cabled the conference of regional military commanders an
Dolgozó Nő, 1 May 1957: the Indonesian women's movement named 'Gerwani'
Hungarian women's magazine Dolgozó Nő, 1 May 1957. Short piece on the Indonesian women's movement 'Gerwani': women can now vote and stand for parliament (17 women candidates, 40 women officials), its educational work helped force a parliamentary resolution against H-bomb tests, women face cheap labour, no marriage law,
Aminah Djamil, death notice
Death notice in Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (13 May 1957, p.2): Mrs Aminah Djamil, PKI representative in North Sumatra's provisional provincial council, died on Friday night. She was also the leader of Gerwani, 'the communist women's movement', in the province. Her husband Ali Hadihroto sits on the Langkat regency exec
Suluh Indonesia, 15 May 1957: Salawati Daud on the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Congress
Suluh Indonesia, Jakarta, 15 May 1957 (four pages, OCR noisy). Lead item: Ny. Salawati Daud, MP (defence section, South Sulawesi), denies that the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Congress held in Makassar had the backing of Konstituante and parliament members from East Indonesia, and says she will raise it in parliament. Page 3 c
Suluh Indonesia, 2 August 1957: Gerwani welcomes formation of BKSPM
Suluh Indonesia, Jakarta, 2 August 1957 (four pages, OCR noisy, mostly general news: Darul Islam, Churchill, sports). A short item on p. 2, 'Gerwani sambut pembentukan BKSPM', reports that the DPP of Gerwani, speaking for 650,000 members, welcomed the formation of the Youth-Military Cooperation Body (BKSPM, set up 26 J
PKI protest over arrests in Minahassa
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-08-29, p. 3): the PKI central committee publishes North Sulawesi branch protest against arrests in Minahasa starting 20 July 1957 (about 30 detained, mostly PKI) and the sealing of the Manado PKI office. Listed detainees include Karel Supit and Mrs. Wuntu-Ottay of the Gerwani leadership i
In an alley of Kebon Sirih
Photo caption item in Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-09-09, p. 2): municipal councillors investigate living conditions of low-end sex workers in an alley of Kebon Sirih, Jakarta. Two women councillors speak with the women: Mrs. Musmini (Gerwani) standing left and Mrs. Amartiwi Saleh (PSI) in the middle.
General debates on normalisation of the country's situation
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1957-09-28, p. 2): continuation of the parliamentary debate on normalisation after the national conference, with seven speakers. Mrs. Umi Sardjono (Pembangunan) calls the result a positive principle showing the government's authority, but doubts it can be realised while arbitrary arrests and b
Pewarta Soerabaia, 7 October 1957: Surabaya women's organisations federation
Pewarta Soerabaia, 7 Oct 1957, p. 2: Surabaya women's federation elects a board (30 Sept 1957) with the governor's wife as patron and Nj. Moh. Tam of Gerwani as first secretary.
Bandung in brief
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad 'Bandung in short' column (1957-10-19, p. 2) of local news. Relevant: Gerwani, which now has fifteen kindergartens across West Java, has begun a one-month emergency course to train teaching staff, with theory taught by Miss Sri Sulistiewaty of IPPI. Other items cover rice distribution, a Red Cr
Pewarta Soerabaia, 21 November 1957: Concordia building, Malang
Pewarta Soerabaia, 21 Nov 1957, p. 4: Malang municipality orders six organisations including BTI and Gerwani (Malang regency branch) to vacate the ruins of the former Societeit Concordia within seven days.
ACWF telegram to Gerwani supporting the West Irian struggle (Renmin Ribao, 24 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua): the All-China Women's Federation telegraphs Gerwani on 21 Dec congratulating it on its national women's congress and pledging that Chinese women fully support Indonesia's struggle to recover West Irian. Short solidarity item.
ACWF telegram to Gerwani supporting the West Irian struggle (Renmin Ribao, 24 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua): the All-China Women's Federation telegraphs Gerwani on 21 Dec congratulating it on its national women's congress and pledging that Chinese women fully support Indonesia's struggle to recover West Irian. Short solidarity item.
Hon. M.M. Rossi talks with the Indonesian President: interview with Sukarno (l'Unita, 31 December 1957)
Front page of l'Unità (PCI daily), 31 Dec 1957: special-correspondent interview by Maria Maddalena Rossi (UDI president, WIDF vice-president) with President Sukarno in Jakarta on 21 Dec. Rossi says she came for the WIDF to Gerwani's congress at Solo (23-27 Dec 1957) and conveyed WIDF solidarity; Sukarno discusses colon