Dawn Over the Equator: Monica Felton on the Second Gerwani Congress, 1954
Monica Felton (WIDF Vice-President) writes in 1954 on the Second Congress of Gerwani, which she attended: 349 delegates, 80,000 members, a meeting with President Sukarno, resolutions on West Irian, the 1955 elections, a nationwide marriage law, democratic rights and support for the government against armed gangs. She s
FBIS, 4 April 1954: 'Gerwani' representatives visit Sukarno
FBIS-monitored Jakarta radio (4 Apr 1954): President and Madame Sukarno received Gerwani members after their Second Congress; Sukarno said equal rights are not women's final mission, which needs a just, prosperous country. A Dutch women's movement member spoke for peace; Sukarno tied Indonesian-Dutch understanding to W
Keynotes of the Council Meeting: Unity and Confidence (Bertrand, 1955)
Simone Bertrand, WIDF Assistant General Secretary, reports in 1955 on the Fifth WIDF Council meeting in Geneva (45 countries). She cites GERWANI as a remarkable example: mostly peasant and plantation women, membership up from 80,000 to 281,000 in a year, and with nine organisations it formed a committee opposing a US b
Working for Peace in Asia (Suharti, 1955)
1955 article by Suharti (Suharti Suwarto), Vice-President of Gerwani, based on her speech at the WIDF Council in Geneva. Links the Bandung Conference to peace; says Gerwani had 281,000 members; calls for reunion of Western Irian; reports women's election preparations, winning the right to be polling officers, support f
For Friendship: Gyanchand, Suryadarma and Che Zahara on the World Congress of Mothers (1955)
1955 WIDF magazine feature 'For Friendship' with statements by Anusuya Gyanchand (India), Utami Suryadarma (Indonesia) and Che Zahara (Malaya) for the World Congress of Mothers. Suryadarma, a vice-president of the Preparatory Committee and of the Foundation for the Well-being of Indonesian Children, links Bandung to pe
Sukarno: with two billion people's support Indonesia will win; West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 23 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 23 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno receives WIDF vice-president Maria Maddalena Rossi, invited to Gerwani's Third National Congress, and says two billion people back Indonesia on West Irian; second item reports Djuanda placing the West Irian struggle under the National Security Council and the D
Sukarno: with two billion people's support Indonesia will win; West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 23 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 23 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno receives WIDF vice-president Maria Maddalena Rossi, invited to Gerwani's Third National Congress, and says two billion people back Indonesia on West Irian; second item reports Djuanda placing the West Irian struggle under the National Security Council and the D
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.
IVth Congress of the Women's International Democratic Federation, Vienna, June 1958
WIDF volume on the IVth Congress, Vienna, 1-5 June 1958: speeches, reports and resolutions. Gerwani appears directly: Mudigdio, vice-president of Gerwani and head of the Indonesian delegation, speaks (pp. 89-92) for 663,740 members, citing equal-pay claims, the Third Gerwani Congress (December 1957), West Irian, work w
The Struggle is Just and a Just Struggle will Surely be Victorious (Suwarti, 1957/58)
Article by Suwarti Bintang Suradi (Gerwani), dated Berlin 20 Dec 1957, in WIDF's magazine on Indonesia's West Irian campaign: mass rally of a million in Jakarta, ten-minute silence, general strike in Dutch firms, takeover of Dutch enterprises, KLM ban, UN defeat, international support. Names Gerwani among organisations
Afro-Asian Women's Conference holds plenary session (Renmin Ribao, 18 February 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 18 Feb 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Colombo): first plenary of the Afro-Asian Women's Conference. Maria Ulfah Santoso, head of the Indonesian delegation, appeals for support on West Irian and against destructive use of atomic energy; the Chinese delegation walks out over the UN/UNESCO observer. Gerwani is not name
Afro-Asian Women's Conference holds plenary session (Renmin Ribao, 18 February 1958)
Renmin Ribao, 18 Feb 1958, p. 6 (Xinhua, Colombo): first plenary of the Afro-Asian Women's Conference. Maria Ulfah Santoso, head of the Indonesian delegation, appeals for support on West Irian and against destructive use of atomic energy; the Chinese delegation walks out over the UN/UNESCO observer. Gerwani is not name
Millions of Women Abroad behind the Indonesian People's Struggle for Independence
Api Kartini (1959) article on how the WIDF (GWDS) and millions of women abroad supported Indonesia's independence struggle, noting Gerwani as an Indonesian member. Recounts WIDF's 1947 message to the UN against the Dutch aggression, Dutch women's protests (Schoonhoven, NVB), 1949 actions and later solidarity on Irian B
FBIS, 28 March 1959: Aidit broadcast speech (farewell to the Chinese people)
FBIS-monitored Xinhua text (28 Mar 1959) of D.N. Aidit's farewell broadcast to the Chinese people after a fortnight's PKI delegation visit. He praises the Great Leap and people's communes, defends them against 'imperialist lies', and argues peasant women welcome communal dining and nurseries because 'a smoky kitchen is
Pravda, 6 May 1959: 'The Indonesian people on guard for peace' (signed Sudjinah, Djakarta)
Page 5 of Pravda (Moscow, 6 May 1959) with a piece headed 'The Indonesian people on guard for peace', signed 'Sudjina, Djakarta' (identified by the sweep as Sudjinah). It reports the Indonesian Peace Supporters Committee: Prof. Purbodiningrat's statements, an April special session demanding the dissolution of SEATO, su
Women's Solidarity from Many Countries (against the Karel Doorman)
Api Kartini (1960) compilation of foreign women's solidarity statements against the Dutch dispatch of the carrier Karel Doorman and troops to Irian Barat. Includes Dutch women's movement (NVB) protests to parliament and a Rotterdam petition, a WIDF statement backing Indonesia, and a message from Australian miners' wive
For Democracy, Women's Rights, Food and Clothing (Fourth National Congress of Gerwani, 1961)
Api Kartini report on the 4th National Congress of Gerwani, Jakarta, December 1961 (about 400 delegates and observers), with Sukarno attending. Lists foreign guests: Gloria Garton for WIDF, Soviet, Chinese and East German delegates. Sukarno called Gerwani one of the forces for the Irian Barat struggle and urged total u
Women's Footsteps in 1961 (Hurustiati Subandrio)
Article by Hurustiati Subandrio (1961) reviewing women's activity at the start of 1961. She lists the Gerwani-organised National Seminar of Peasant Women (17-20 January, Gedung Wanita, Jakarta), the Asian-African Women's Conference in Cairo, and preparations for the Indonesian Women's Congress (6-8 February). She links
Gerwani holds congress; Sukarno calls for unity to recover West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 16 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 16 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opens on 14 Dec with over 400 delegates; Umi Sardjono's opening address stresses the 1945 revolution's aims and West Irian. Guests include Chinese, Soviet and East German delegations, Aidit and PNI's Sidik. Sukarno speaks, rejecting '
Gerwani holds congress; Sukarno calls for unity to recover West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 16 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 16 Dec 1961, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opens on 14 Dec with over 400 delegates; Umi Sardjono's opening address stresses the 1945 revolution's aims and West Irian. Guests include Chinese, Soviet and East German delegations, Aidit and PNI's Sidik. Sukarno speaks, rejecting '
Disarmament Congress (Moscow, 1962)
Api Kartini (1962) report on the World Congress for Disarmament and Peace, Moscow, July 1962 (about 2,500 delegates, 100 countries). The Indonesian delegation was led by Dr. Hurustiati Subandrio, who attacked colonialism and cited Irian Barat; Rameswari Nehru and J.D. Bernal are quoted. Also covers Indonesian mass-orga
General Mobilisation (Api Kartini, 1962)
Api Kartini (early 1962) editorial 'General Mobilisation' on the Irian Barat campaign after Sukarno's Trikora. Quotes Hurustiati Subandrio's radio appeal for all Indonesians, men and women, to mobilise and fight rice shortages; describes volunteer registration, women students' military training, and Dutch brutality (ev
Friends Supporting the Liberation of Irian Barat (Guests at Gerwani's Fourth Congress)
Api Kartini (early 1962) report on foreign guests at Gerwani's 4th National Congress (Jakarta, December 1961): Gloria Garton (WIDF and Australian women), Dzhura Ilkhamova and Nina Voronina (USSR), Kuo Chien and Chang Chieh-hsun (China), and Nitze of East Germany. They toured Yogyakarta, Bogor and Bandung, praised Gerwa
Women of 18 Nations Support Irian Barat
Api Kartini (1962) clipping: 'Women of 18 Nations Support Irian Barat', reporting a women's meeting in Vienna (Austria), with the surviving text mostly the tail of an article on Laos, praising Laotian women partisans and the Pathet Lao and welcoming a coalition government. OCR is minimal; Gerwani not named.
Irian Barat Is the Most Important Issue (Gloria Garton)
Article by Gloria Garton (1962), translated into Indonesian from the Australian 'Tribune' and quoted from Harian Rakyat, reporting her Indonesian visit. She says Indonesians, including women who suffered Dutch imprisonment, regard Dutch-held West Irian as a threat to independence, express wishes for friendship with Aus
Protest at US support for Dutch seizure of West Irian; Gerwani letter to Robert Kennedy (Renmin Ribao, 17 February 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Feb 1962, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): during US Attorney General Robert Kennedy's visit, Indonesian student bodies, trade unions and Gerwani protest US support for Dutch 'self-determination' on West Irian; Gerwani delivered a protest letter to the US embassy. Students shout 'Recover West Irian' at Gadjah M
Protest at US support for Dutch seizure of West Irian; Gerwani letter to Robert Kennedy (Renmin Ribao, 17 February 1962)
Renmin Ribao, 17 Feb 1962, p. 3 (Xinhua, Jakarta): during US Attorney General Robert Kennedy's visit, Indonesian student bodies, trade unions and Gerwani protest US support for Dutch 'self-determination' on West Irian; Gerwani delivered a protest letter to the US embassy. Students shout 'Recover West Irian' at Gadjah M
Soviet Woman, 31 Mar 1962: 'Our Deeds and Dreams' (Mme Adam Malik on Indonesian women)
Soviet Woman, 31 Mar 1962, p. 29: article by Madame N. Adam Malik, wife of Indonesia's ambassador to the USSR, for International Women's Day. Outlines Indonesian women's movement history (1928 Mothers' Congress, Kartini Day), says legal equality is not yet practical equality, and pledges women's support for the West Ir
US Embassy Weekly Situation Telegrams, April 1962
Two US Embassy Djakarta weekly situation telegrams (JOINT WEEKA 14 and 15), 6 and 13 April 1962, on the West New Guinea dispute, PKI-Sukarno friction, Partindo, wage demands and military matters. Gerwani appears only once: it joined SOBSI and others in protesting the 'undemocratic' draft election bill providing for pop