With the Gerwis congress in sight: Jakarta feature on preparations
De Waarheid, 27 Jan 1954, p. 5: correspondent's Jakarta feature ahead of Gerwis's second congress (opening 26 March 1954), describing its literacy courses, hygiene campaigns, defence of women under customary law, wage struggles (Sampurna cigarette factory Surabaya, Kaliklatak coffee estate) with SARBUPRI, and the mass
Mayor explains composition of regency election committees in Jakarta
De Nieuwsgier, 13 Feb 1954: Jakarta Mayor Sudiro explains the composition of the three regency election committees, giving one seat each to Masjumi, PNI, Gerwis, NU, PKI, PIR, Perwari and others. Gerwis's seat falls from two to one, with a Gerwis woman seated to represent 'socialism'; the Wanita Demokrat seat passes to
Protest (women's organisations protest in Medan)
Java-Bode, 24 February 1954, p. 2: Medan women's organisations, including Perwari, PPNI, Wanita Rakjat, Ikatan Wanita Rakjat and Gerwis, protested to the resident that women have no seat on the North Sumatra election committee and demanded revision. The resident promised to forward it to the Minister of Justice.
Election committee (North Sumatra)
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 3 Mar 1954, p. 3: composition of the North Sumatra election committee announced; women's organisations in Medan including Perwari, Wanita Rakjat, Ikatan Wanita Rakjat and Gerwis protest to the resident that women are not represented and demand revision.
Women celebrate 8 March in Jakarta, 1954
De Nieuwsgier, 9 Mar 1954: International Women's Day is commemorated in Jakarta's Gedung Pertemuan with Mrs Rasuna Said, Dr Thung Sin Nio and members of Gerwis's central board present. Chair Mrs Effendie says women worldwide mark the day of sisterhood for equal rights and peace regardless of conviction.
International Women's Day
Java-Bode, 9 March 1954, p. 2: report on the International Women's Day commemoration in Jakarta attended by Rasuna Said, Dr Thung Sun Nio and Gerwis central board members. Chair Mrs Effendie listed Indonesian women's grievances: price rises, no democratic marriage law or labour law for women, maternal and infant mortal
International Women's Day in Salatiga, 1954
De Locomotief, 11 Mar 1954: Salatiga's federation of women's associations marks International Women's Day on 8 March; a Gerwis representative explains the day's origin, followed by a talk on baby care, a health-service film and children's dances. Shows Gerwis giving the political history of the day within a mixed local
International Women's Day (1954)
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 17 Mar 1954, p. 2: International Women's Day meeting in Jakarta attended by MP Rasuna Said, Dr Thung Sin Nio and Gerwis central board members. Chair Mrs Effendie lists price rises, no democratic marriage law, no women's labour law, divorce, polygamy and maternal deaths; Rasuna Said pled
Introduction to a story on the struggle against polygamy in West Java
De Waarheid, 24 Mar 1954, p. 5: editorial caption introducing a published story about a local victory against polygamy in West Java a few months earlier through united action. It says the issue is also on the agenda at the Gerwis congress that has just begun, attended by Rie Lips-Odinot. The story itself is not part of
Public Masyumi meeting: 'Quran doctrines must be basis of our state'
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad (1954-03-29, p. 2): report of a public Masyumi meeting in Bandung. Mrs. Ijom Suleiman argues Islam gives women equal rights and duties; Masyumi West Java secretary Rusjad Nurdin rejects PKI claims that Masyumi are American compradors and urges Muslims never to join the PKI or organisations it i
Good relations with Netherlands only after return of Irian (Gerwani received by Sukarno)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (5 Apr 1954, p.1): President and Mrs Sukarno received Gerwani members (the former Gerwis) after their five-day Jakarta congress. Sukarno said a just state cannot be achieved by one sex alone. Dutch communist MP Rie Lips-Odinot, who attended, voiced Dutch sympathy; Sukarno replied that good r
President receives Gerwani: 'Men and women must build the state together'
Java-Bode, 5 April 1954, p. 2: President Sukarno and his wife received Gerwani (formerly Gerwis) members at the end of their five-day Jakarta congress. Sukarno said the just and prosperous state cannot be built by one sex alone, and that women's problems are solved not by equal rights alone but by that state, which men
A great and strong people fights for a better life: Rie Lips on Java
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: opening of an interview with Rie Lips, vice-chair of the NVB, back from six weeks on Java after the Gerwis/Gerwani congress. She rejects stereotypes of Indonesians as lazy, dirty or stupid, citing women who work in factories or walk hours to attend meetings of the women's movement, 'the
Istanboul: Indonesian women are bustling (Sukarno's second marriage)
Istanbul newspaper Istanboul (19 Sep 1954, p.3): a short Jakarta dispatch 'Les femmes indonésiennes se démènent' (Indonesian women are bustling) says rumours about Sukarno's second marriage are exaggerated per a committee formed to safeguard his reputation, while Indonesian women attach great importance to the marriage
Istanboul: Indonesian women are bustling (Sukarno's second marriage; extract)
Istanboul (19 Sep 1954, p.3), snippet extract: Jakarta dispatch saying rumours about Sukarno's second marriage are exaggerated, and that Indonesian women attach great importance to the marriage since it could decide their future status.
What others write
Algemeen Indisch Dagblad press review (1954-09-20, p. 2): Jakarta papers commemorate the 1948 Madiun revolt as a communist plot; Medan papers criticise the information minister; and Malay and Philippine women and press react to Sukarno's second marriage, with Malay Ibu Kaum leaders saying Muslim public figures should n
Goor: women's delegation with Sukarno (page)
Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia (20 Sep 1954), local page 'Goor' with a short item: a delegation of Indonesian women that met over Sukarno's marriage to Mrs Suwondo visited the president without public statements. Reports the divided Indonesian press and Suara Rakyat's lament. Other page items unrelated; Gerwani not named.
Marriage Stir in Indonesia (Sydney Morning Herald, 21 September 1954)
Sydney Morning Herald, 21 Sep 1954, p. 1 (AAP-Reuter): a deputation from 30 Indonesian women's organisations, headed by Mrs Katowijono of Perwani, protested to Sukarno over his marriage to a second wife, Mrs Suwondo, without the first wife's consent. Press debate; women leaders say it dealt the women's movement a bad b
Sukarno's second marriage
Dutch newspaper roundup (1954-09-21, p. 9) of Indonesian press reactions to President Sukarno's second marriage (to Mrs. Soewondo), called a serious blow to the women's movement. A delegation of women led by Perwari chair Mrs. Kortowijono visited the palace. Press is split; Indonesia Raya stresses women's long fight ov
Women's delegation at the palace: uproar over Sukarno's new marriage
Leeuwarder Courant, 21 September 1954, p. 3: Dutch roundup of the uproar over Sukarno's marriage to Hartini. A four-woman delegation led by Perwari chair Mrs Kartowijono visited the palace; Indonesian, Chinese and Malayan-region papers are quoted, some warning that the fuss helps the PKI, Indonesia Raya calling it a bl
Uproar over Sukarno's marriage not yet calmed: women's delegation received by the president
Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant (21 Sep 1954): uproar over Sukarno's marriage to Mrs Suwondo (Hartini). A four-woman delegation led by Perwari chair Mrs Kartowijono spent an hour at the palace. Indonesian papers divide; Keng Po fears PKI advantage, Indonesia Raya calls the marriage 'a great blow to the women's m
Sukarno's second marriage: Indonesian press deplores president's decision
Provinciale Overijsselsche en Zwolsche Courant (21 Sep 1954) survey of Indonesian press reaction to Sukarno's second marriage (to Mrs Suwondo): attacks on the 'palace clique', Keng Po's fear it will favour the PKI, Suara Rakyat and Pikiran Rakyat lamenting a presidential crisis. A Perwari-led women's delegation visited
Indonesian women fought ten years for their rights
Libération, Paris (21 Sep 1954, p.6), badly garbled page with a column '...et les femmes!': after Sukarno's second marriage to a divorcee, a feminist organisation says his private life cannot be separated from the presidency, and that Indonesian women fought ten years for their rights so the marriage is a heavy blow. N
Indonesian women and Sukarno's second marriage
Libération, Paris (21 Sep 1954, p.6), snippet extract: four representatives of Indonesia's women's leagues were received by Sukarno to ask why he took a second wife; 'Indonesian women have fought for ten years for their rights, and the President's second marriage has been a heavy blow for us.'
Indonesian delegations in China, including a women's delegation
Short De Nieuwsgier report (30 Sept 1954, p. 2) on the arrival in Peking of an Indonesian delegation and a separate women's delegation, invited by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the All-China Democratic Women's Federation. Mrs. S. Pudjobuntoro spoke for the women's delegation; Gerwani is not name
Indonesian women rise up against Sukarno's second marriage
Le Lorrain (30 Sep 1954, p.10), Jakarta dispatch: Sukarno's secret June marriage to Hartini Suwondo has turned political after women's organisation Perwari asked government and parliament to regulate leaders' marriages and draw up a marriage law. It blames Sukarno for not warning Fatmawati. A committee defends his repu
Indonesian women rise up against Sukarno's second marriage (extract)
Le Lorrain (30 Sep 1954, p.10), snippet extract: Indonesian women rise up against Sukarno's second marriage; recalls his secret June marriage to Hartini Suwondo, a 31-year-old divorcee and mother of five.
Indonesian delegation in China (women's delegation to Beijing, 1954)
Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra (1 Oct 1954, p.1): Aneta reports that an Indonesian delegation (led by Mr Sumanang) and a separate Indonesian women's delegation arrived in Beijing on 24 and 26 September, hosted by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Women's Federation of China. Mrs S. Pudjobuntoro spe
Parliament on Sukarno's second marriage
Het Parool report (6 Oct 1954, p.108): parliament asks the government to clarify its stand on President Sukarno's second marriage, as the controversy causes the first rift in the year-old PNI-PKI coalition. A woman MP of the socialist fraction submitted the request, and parliament received a petition from women's movem
Sukarno's marriage
Tubantia/Twentsch Dagblad brief (7 Oct 1954): the Indonesian parliament asks the government's view on Sukarno's second marriage and, with communists voting against, agrees to consider a women's movement petition to deprive Muslim men of the right to marry more than one wife. Relevant to the polygamy campaign Gerwani an