English text of the PKI programme (Fifth National Congress, 1953): Indonesia as semi-colonial and semi-feudal after the Round Table agreements, with demands on land, labour and democracy. Background on PKI aims.
As One! For Equality, For Happiness, For Peace: World Congress of Women, Copenhagen 1953
Report volume (WIDF, Berlin, 1953) on the World Congress of Women, Copenhagen, 5-10 June 1953: reports, speeches, documents, resolutions and the officers elected. Gerwani and Gerwis are not named. Indonesia appears in the congress report (p. 4), which says its 10 delegates and observers came from six organisations, one
FBIS, 3 January 1953: Women's demand (GPII women's branch congress)
One-line FBIS item (3 Jan 1953): the women's branch of the Indonesian Islamic Youth League (GPII) held a congress in Jakarta and demanded vocational training for Indonesian women and a government physical-education vocational school for women. Background on Muslim women's organisations contemporary with Gerwis.
Joys and sorrows of Indonesia in the past year
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 7 Jan 1953, p. 3: year-in-review chronology for 1952 (selected entries translated). Mentions the August 1951 raids, the 17 October 1952 affair, release of East Java arrestees on 30 Oct, a goodwill mission to Kahar Muzakkar under Mrs Salawati (8 Apr), and Aidit and Njoto refused entry to
Neues Deutschland, 16 Jan 1953, p. 2: Forward to the 1953 World Congress of Women!
Neues Deutschland, 16 January 1953, p. 2. 'Vorwärts zum Weltkongreß der Frauen 1953!', a staff report on the DFD federal board session in Berlin where Elli Schmidt presented awards. Indonesia is a passing mention only: IDFF (WIDF) representatives from Czechoslovakia, Indonesia and the USA attended as a sign of solidari
FBIS, 4 March 1953: Labor Party cites women's efforts (Korean Workers' Party decision for International Women's Day)
FBIS-monitored Pyongyang radio text (4 Mar 1953) of a Korean Workers' Party Central Committee decision for International Women's Day: praises Korean women in the war, calls for wartime production and vigilance. One line lists the 'awakened democratic women of India, Indonesia' and others in the WIDF-led struggle (WIDF
FBIS, 21 April 1953: Kartini Day observance
FBIS item (21 Apr 1953): the Jakarta Kartini Day committee closed the 1953 observance with a grand meeting at the State Palace; Mrs Sukarno said Kartini Day's essence is charity and self-improvement and that Indonesian women's supreme duty is to take part in the coming general elections. Background for official women's
Harian Rakjat, 30 April 1953, p. 1 (May Day edition)
Harian Rakjat, 30 April 1953, hlm. 1 (edisi Hari Buruh). Front page of the May Day special: CC PKI's May Day message, statements recalling 1952 demonstrations, the Tandjung Morawa 'death tractor' and a united May Day committee of seven federations; women appear only as supporting 'wanita' organisations.
Harian Rakjat, 30 April 1953, p. 8
Harian Rakjat, 30 April 1953, hlm. 8. Last page of the May Day issue: protest at bans on parts of the May Day programme, army budget, and reports of violence against women framed as moral decay and polygamy.
Harian Rakjat, 22 May 1953, p. 1
Harian Rakjat, 22 Mei 1953, hlm. 1. Front page on the Tandjung Morawa tractor incident debate in parliament; no Gerwis or women's item, but context for the agrarian conflicts later celebrated by Gerwani.
Harian Rakjat, 22 May 1953, p. 2
Harian Rakjat, 22 Mei 1953, hlm. 2. Masthead page with an editorial on Indonesia lagging in legislation and the CC PKI 33rd-anniversary message, which lists 'kaum wanita' among mass sectors that have organised themselves but lacked proper party leadership.
Neue Zeit, 28 May 1953, p. 2: On the journey to the World Congress of Women
Neue Zeit, 28 May 1953, p. 2: short ADN dispatch from Copenhagen, "Auf der Reise zum Frauen-Weltkongreß", reporting that women's delegations from China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Iceland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Australia, Indonesia and Costa Rica have set out for the World Congress of Women opening on 6 June. Indone
Neues Deutschland, 4 Jun 1953, p. 1: Women's delegations seen off to the World Congress
Neues Deutschland, 4 June 1953, p. 1: picture caption 'Frauendelegationen zum Weltkongreß verabschiedet'. Delegates from Burma, Indonesia, Austria, the GDR and China were formally seen off in Berlin to the World Congress of Women in Copenhagen (opening 5 June); the photo shows Wilhelmine Schirmer-Pröscher with the Chin
International Organ Competition in Haarlem
Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant, 18 July 1953, p. 9: page with an organ-competition review (unrelated) and short items on the Dutch High Commissioner's East Java tour and Foreign Minister Luns in Karachi, who held talks with the Indonesian foreign minister. No Gerwani, Gerwis or women's movement content; the indexed name 'T
News anthology: Moestopo defends polygamy and pensions for four wives
News digest in De Vrije Pers (31 Dec 1953). Colonel Dr. Moestopo, for the "Corps of Fighting Women", defended polygamy and the pension rule for up to four wives, arguing withdrawal would stimulate prostitution. Gerwis is not named, but this is context for the contemporary polygamy debate.