1966 – 1969
Angkatan Bersendjata, 4 Jan 1966. Reports the arrest in Tangerang of Sariningsih, called a 'Gerwani Lubang Buaya' fugitive, and a joke on Gerwani 'savagery'; also 1,204 detainees (83 women) in South Jakarta.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 6 Jan 1966. Antara claims PKI leaders 'admitted' Gerwani and Pemuda Rakyat were physically trained in North Sumatra before 1 October; two Pekalongan women 'known as Gerwani' forced to recite the shahada; Soetiman's 'confession'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 10 Jan 1966. Padang report that PKI leader Muin 'confessed' the party's self-dissolution was a tactic and was arrested with two Pemuda Rakyat members and 'a Gerwani chairwoman'; dismissals at Gadjah Mada.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 11 Jan 1966. NTB military order (31 Dec 1965) dissolving the PKI and affiliates including Gerwani, BTI, SOBSI, Lekra, Baperki and Universitas Rakyat (UNRA), confiscating their property; about 66,000 detainees in Central Java.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 14 Jan 1966. Feature from Soetiman's 17 Dec 1965 statement: Gerwani and Pemuda Rakyat 'warmly welcomed' Yani's body and fought a half-hour battle on 2 October. Gerwani militarised but no mutilation or sexual element yet.
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.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 17 Jan 1966. Semarang report on the death of Karyono Purbominoto (alleged Pati 'Dewan Revolusi' designer) noting his wife Marsih, village head and 'pentolan Gerwani', remains at large; KAMI protests.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 19 Jan 1966. Reports Hansip's arrest of Tridjoko, 'Gerwani ringleader of Tuban', and a Tabanan (Bali) round-up that included 'a local Gerwani leader'; Sukarno's dialogue with KAMI.
Angkatan Bersendjata Sunday edition, 30 Jan 1966. Includes the soldiers' joke 'Gerwani Phobi' equating Gerwani with a kuntilanak who 'snatches' genitals, an early instance of the sexual slander; plus Nasution's daughter posed with an RPKAD rifle.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 31 Jan 1966. The 'Pos Piket' column jokes about 'kuntilanak GERWANI'; also a 'confession' by Partindo official Waridjan and railway police seizure of 'a suitcase of human hair'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 5 Feb 1966. Kodam Udayana round-up: 24 PKI/BTI arrests at Kupang, six 'Gerwani' escorted from Klungkung to Denpasar, and other detainees; Suharto on securing the revolution.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 7 Feb 1966. Yogyakarta report that BTI member Suradijo, called an 'executioner of Lubang Buaya', was shot 'fleeing'; his reported confession says Gerwani members tortured and stabbed the generals while singing.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 15 Feb 1966, during Njono's Mahmillub trial. Security round-up 'Lagi-lagi Gerwani' reports arrests in Klungkung and Denpasar 'among them one Gerwani'; Aidit and the 'Revolutionary Council' testimony.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 25 Feb 1966, during Untung's Mahmillub trial. A Padang anecdote mocks a PKI figure who called Gerwani 'Gargani' and Lekra 'Lecigak'; new Dwikora cabinet installed.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 28 Feb 1966, during Untung's Mahmillub trial. The 'Pos Piket' corner jokes that the alleged 'Dewan Djenderal' tape is 'the tape of Gerwani at Lubang Buaya', presupposing the sexual slander as common knowledge.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 11 Mar 1966 (Supersemar day). Regional column reports Pasaman husbands divorcing wives who are Gerwani, and release of 37 ex-detainees in Pati including six ex-Gerwani; PGRI petition to dissolve the PKI.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 12 Mar 1966, the Supersemar issue, with Sukarno's 8 March International Women's Day address, Muslimat NU's Mahmudah Mawardi demanding a PKI ban 'because women feel the effects', and the decree dissolving the PKI.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 8 Apr 1966. A boxed feature blames ex-PKI mayor of Solo Utomo Ramelan's 'Silir' complex for preparing 'the immoral drama of Lubang Buaya with Gerwani and PR as actors', a sexualised slander frame.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 2 Mei 1966. Final instalment of a series on ex-Bali governor Sutedja lists PKI 'military training centres' in Bali, among them a Gerwani centre led by Nyonya Gede Puger, with trainers 'presumably graduates of Lubang Buaya'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 14 Mei 1966. Front-page report of Ibu Soeharto telling armed forces wives to adopt their husbands' ideology: 'let it not happen that an ABRI wife becomes a member of Gerwani'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 25 Mei 1966. Curiosity item in 'Bung Piket': 'Rosni (Gerwani)', a woman who 'went adventuring with Gestapu PKI', reports meeting a red long-haired creature on Mount Tandikat; a job ad requires 'no indication with Gestapu/PKI'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 18 Juni 1966. Front-page editorial welcoming KODAM Jaya's ban on Partindo members at MPRS, arguing Partindo drew its members from the PKI, SOBSI, BTI, Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani; Suharto warns against the 'Lubang Buaya trap'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 22 Juni 1966. Reports the MPRS endorsing Supersemar and calls for a total communism ban; an Antara item from Palu says Laskar Ampera 'secured' eight PKI remnants including three members of Gerwani's leadership.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 9 Juli 1966. 'Istri-istri ABRI turun tangan': Ny. Nasution says army wives take over social work, hampered earlier by 'Gestapu/PKI such as Gerwani', illustrating the displacement of Gerwani's welfare activities by military wives.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 7 September 1966. Page 2 regional item mentioning Gerwani; front page shows New Order consolidation (Suharto: no place for PKI; Sukarno 'I am a Marxist') and Mahmillub death sentences in Medan.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 13 September 1966. 'Bung Piket' retrospective names 'the PKI with its accomplices BTI, SOBSI, PR, GERWANI, BAPERKI, HSI, CGMI' as the 'thieves' of October 1965; issue also rich in items on women including Fatmawati Sukarno.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 14 September 1966. 'Bung Piket' part 8 says the PKI imposed its will 'through PR or its Gerwani' with 'devilish' slander tactics; a KAPPI brigade is named after Ade Irma Suryani Nasution.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 20 September 1966. 'Bung Piket' part 13 asserts the PKI held military training 'under cover of volunteer training à la Lubang Buaya' whose core was PR and Gerwani, in the Fifth Force campaign; editorial on Madiun.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 1 Oktober 1966 (edisi Hari Kesaktian Pancasila pertama). First-anniversary issue and the richest Gerwani source in the batch: prints the official 'Risalah singkat tragedi nasional' claiming officers were tortured 'beyond humanity by members of Pemuda Rakyat and GERWANI', plus 'Bung Piket' retrospe
Angkatan Bersendjata, 2 Oktober 1966 (edisi Mingguan). Sunday weekly edition continuing the army's 'Risalah singkat tragedi nasional' (p. 3), repeating that four officers were tortured 'by members of Pemuda Rakjat and GERWANI' before being thrown into the Lubang Buaya well.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 4 Oktober 1966. Front-page item: a women's action front states that the 'barbarous acts of Gerwani/PKI at Lubang Buaya' do not spring from the character of Indonesian women, distancing 'true' women from Gerwani.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 9 Oktober 1966 (edisi Mingguan). Cultural-page polemic against Lekra calls it a 'myth' that 'without Gerwani the women's movement has no meaning'; issue dominated by ABRI's 21st anniversary and the Subandrio trial.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 15 Oktober 1966. 'Urap sari Mahmillub': at the Subandrio trial the court screened a documentary film of Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani training at Lubang Buaya, with Gerwani described as having 'lost their sense of womanliness' carrying weapons in slacks.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 18 Oktober 1966. Minister Soetjipto says the 'Old Order' denied that Gerwani and Pemuda Rakyat 'immorally' trained at Lubang Buaya while the New Order has found photo and film documentation made by participants.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 24 Oktober 1966. Report of PKI Politburo member Sakirman's arrest in Solo alleging a secret plan to mobilise ex-PKI/PR/Gerwani, especially released detainees.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 29 Oktober 1966. Satirical column where a visitor must declare whether he took part in 'Lubang Buaya training'; the mention of Gerwani reflects the pervasive loyalty-screening culture.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 6 November 1966 (edisi Mingguan). Preview of Omar Dhani's Mahmillub trial lists as evidence his order to provide facilities for the training of Pemuda Rakyat and Gerwani 'volunteers' at Halim.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 24 November 1966. PAB report of the detention in Riau of a couple, Anas and Jusmaniar, 'ex-PKI/Gerwani ringleaders' of Sawahlunto/Sijunjung, trailed by a KAPPI student.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 24 Desember 1966: '4 tokoh Gerwani digulung'. Front-page report that Jakarta commander Amir Machmud said a December 1966 cleansing operation rolled up nearly 90% of the PKI's new regional committees and arrested four Gerwani figures.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 5 Januari 1967. Two items on Gerwani women: prosecutor Tamzir announces trials of A, B, C category prisoners as a New Year gift, including 'ex-Gerwani figures' in the Bukit Duri women's prison; and underground activity.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 25 Januari 1967. One-line brief that detainees in Metro, Central Lampung, including Gerwani, held Idulfitri prayers together under the local commander; also Kodam Jaya arrests.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 13 Februari 1967. Issue on the DPR-GR resolution and memorandum (9 Feb 1967) on Sukarno's accountability for G30S/PKI; Gerwani mentioned in an inner-page item.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 21 April 1967 (Hari Kartini). Small Antara item: an RPKAD climbing team on Merapi found a skeleton locals said was 'probably a woman member of Gerwani' who fled arrest; Kartini Day editorial.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 27 April 1967. South Kalimantan governor Aberani Sulaiman says mothers must 'eradicate women of the Gerwani type, the Lubang Buaya type' to realise 'true Indonesian women'; KOWANI Kartini meeting.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 9 Juli 1967 (edisi Mingguan). Family column 'Jadilah seorang wanita yang baik' defines womanhood through motherhood and invokes 'how savage and cruel Gerwani women' were in torturing the generals, using the slander as a moral counterexample.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 12 Juli 1967. Report on the 11th session of Sudisman's Mahmillub trial (witnesses Karel Supit and Sardjono); Gerwani mentioned on p. 3 as the court was to hear further witnesses.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 5 Agustus 1967. Siliwangi commander Dharsono hands West Java prosecutors case files of 141 'G.30.S/PKI persons' from Pemuda Rakyat, BTI, SOBSI, Gerwani and Lekra; Sukarno confined to Bogor.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 1 Oktober 1967 (edisi Mingguan). Second-anniversary issue with a front-page lead 'Dianiaja' alleging the generals were tortured and mutilated and contradicting Sukarno; the richest Lubang Buaya slander item in this run.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 11 Oktober 1967. Editorial welcoming foreign press support quotes Otto Kuyk's Dutch book 'Sukarno Tabeh': on the night of G30S women seized the bound generals and tortured them in the filthiest and cruelest ways.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 16 Oktober 1967. Antara report: 25 ex-PKI arrested in Banyuwangi for underground activity and spreading a Sukarno cult, including 'P.S, a former Gerwani member' and a Chinese courier.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 21 November 1967. 'Operasi Tjakra' in North Sumatra: 215 PKI members arrested for an alleged 'Gerakan 12 Nopember'; Pemuda Rakyat, BTI and Gerwani members at Tanjung Morawa and 'women members of Gerwani' among those arrested.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 5 Desember 1967. Follow-up on 'Operasi Tjakra': 750 arrested in North Sumatra including ex-PKI, PR, Chinese nationals and Gerwani; a Gerwani fugitive from Lubuk Pakam caught on a plantation.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 24 Februari 1968. Padang report: Kodim 0306 orders monthly head-shaving of all Gestapu/PKI category A, B and C members (at least 7,000) 'to foster awareness', 'except Gerwani members'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 27 Maret 1968. Security report 'PKI malam' arrests during the MPRS session; reports the capture on 22 March 1968 in Tanjung Priok of Nj. Soeharti So[...], a Gerwani figure disguised as a Qur'an teacher.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 25 Mei 1968. Short Pendam Jaya report on a Kodim 0501 'order operation' in Jakarta seizing firearms and detaining three people including 'an ex-Gerwani woman, Tuminah' in Kemayoran.
Angkatan Bersendjata Minggu, Agustus 1968 (edisi Minggu). Sunday edition, Independence Day issue: mostly entertainment; the single Gerwani item is a boxed city-column feature on a young jamu seller from Semarang, joking about Gerwani.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 16 Agustus 1968. Operasi Trisula commander Col. Witarmin reports the PKI underground in South Blitar crushed and lists captured leaders including five women, among them Nj. Gatot Sutarjo, 'chair of Gerwani'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 21 Agustus 1968: 'PKI eksploitir wanita2'. Part X of the 'Blitar Selatan' serial on Operasi Trisula: a 'love story' about a 'Red Women's Detachment' and profiles of three women arrested in South Blitar as 'tools of the PKI'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 24 Agustus 1968. Part XIII of the 'Blitar Selatan' serial tells the story of Sri Liestyowati (Lies) Sukatno, a 'PKI/Gerwani figure' and wife of a Pemuda Rakyat leader, with gendered and sensational claims about her beauty and demands in the forest.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 30 Agustus 1968. MPRS Secretariat corrects a claim that 'Nj. Chasanah Mansjur of the Gerwani faction' was a detained PKI ringleader: no Gerwani member sat in the 1960–65 MPRS; Chasanah Mansjur is a Muslimat NU member.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 5 September 1968: 'Bupati Kediri direcall'. The Kediri regent, a police lieutenant colonel, is recalled because his wife was 'cultivated very successfully by the Gerwani figure Nafsiah'; police say they never rehabilitate those implicated in G30S.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 10 September 1968. Editorial defends the Brawijaya commander's instruction requiring East Java parties and mass organisations to screen members, publish names of those implicated in 'Gestapu-PKI' and have boards military-approved.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 11 September 1968. Kediri labour-office head Djatmiko arrested for allegedly hosting 'Gerwani ringleader Nafsijjah' during Operasi Trisula; the regent's wife Surjati detained.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 20 September 1968. Introduction to W.W. Tjokro's memoir series 'Mengungkap 30 September '65' claims Chinese ships delivered weapons 'to PR, Gerwani and SOBSI' before the coup.
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, 25 Februari 1969: 'Kali Ini Radio Moskow'. Editorial rebuts Radio Moscow's 14 Feb 1969 comparison of the New Order to Nazi crimes, listing the dissolved 'democratic organisations' including Gerwani.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 7 Maret 1969. 'Pos Piket' column on the arrest of 'Gerwani ringleader Nj. Suwarti' in Priok as a Qur'an teacher, veiled and under a new name; Ibu Tien Soeharto's remarks on women.
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.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 15 April 1969. Antara: Medan police arrest a 30-year-old 'Gerwani' woman 'A' from Bali in a prostitution area, said to have 'taken part in the torture and killing of the TNI generals at Lubang Buaya'.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 30 April 1969. PAB report on the Navy military court trial of ex-Major Adnan Soewardi for sheltering Gen. Supardjo; a witness, Sunarti, is identified as a member of the Gerwani Salemba branch.
Angkatan Bersendjata, 8 Mei 1969. Antara: a military court in Tanjungkarang sentenced warrant officer Fauzi Totong, Natar (Lampung) officer, to seven years for rape and adultery against detained Gerwani women; evidence of sexual violence against detainees.