Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (1959-60): Majalah Api Kartini (Maasje Siwi), Umi Sardjono di DPR-GR

Title: Monthly Indonesian Press Survey (1959-60) - Maasje Siwi periodical (S. Asijah, Darmini, Parjani Pradono, S.K. Trimurti), Umi Sardjono DPR-GR [HathiTrust coo.31924079086512] Source: HathiTrust Digital Library (full view, US government work), page OCR text via text-only view Volume: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079086512 Date retrieved: 2026-10-17 Note: page-image PDFs could not be downloaded (HathiTrust temporarily blocked image downloads); OCR text only. Page #409 Api Kartini (Fire of Kartini) The first issue of this new periodical describes incidents in the life of Mother Kartini. Cooking, fashions, medicines, and the education of children are also discussed. There is an article on Africa and the trials and tribulations of its women; another article acquaints us with Mrs Utami Suryadarma. S. Rakiah Kertapati, one of our few women writers, has written a short story for the first issue. Still another article is entitled "The President and the Women's Struggle." There are also illustrations and jokes. There is need for a good, but not too serious, women's periodical; one which can point out the proper role to be played and the proper place to be occupied by women in the struggle for complete independence, true democracy, and lasting peace. Api Kartini fulfills this need and will give life to the struggle of the women of Indonesia. The periodical is published by the Jajasan Melati and is headed by Maassje Siwi. Members of the editorial board and assistants are: S. Asijah, Darmini, Parjani Pradono, S. K. Trimurti, Rukiah Kertapati, Sugiarti Siswadi, Master of Laws Trees Sunito, Rukmi B. Resobowo, and others. (9 Jun 59) Suara Tani (Voice of the Peasant) Among the subjects which Suara Tani deals with are the followorganizational improvement; the improvement of education; the improveing: ment of working methods; demands for the establishment of people's cooperatives of workers; the policies of the BTI (Indonesian Peasants Front) in Parliament, in the regional assemblies, and in public life; the work of the agriculture offices; methods of making compost; and methods of maintaining fish hatcheries. Although the BTI is not the only mass organization of peasants in Indonesia, the periodical Suara Tani is, apparently, the only peasant's periodical now being published in Indonesia. Both Suara Tani and Api Kartini are monthlies. Suara Tani has been published for years and is a leader in the peasant's movement. The articles in Suara Tani are short, lucid, and complete. They can be easily understood by the cadres in the peasant's movement and by the peasant who can read and write. A peasant's magazine, however small and in whatever form, has a meaning and influence in determining the role of the peasant in the revolution which cannot be minimized. To eradicate the system of landlordism and to meet other demands, there is a need for power, firmness, correct tactics, and working methods. Suara Tani fulfills this need. (10 Jun 59) Page #760 2566 In the first general election 257 persons were elected to Parliament. This figure was increased to 272 with the appointment of another 15 persons by the government. The 257 elected members came from the following parties: PNI 57, Masjumi 57, NU 45, PKI 39, PSII 8, Parkindo 8, Partai Katolik 6, PSI 5, Perti 4, and Ipki 4; GPPS, PRN, PPPRI, Murba, Partai Buruh, and PRI each 2; Prim Akui, Acoma, PPTI, PRD, R. Sudjono Prawirosudarso, PIR-Wongso, PIR-Hazairin, Permai, Baperki, Grinda and Persatuan Daya (Dyak Union) each one. The government appointed 6 persons to represent the Chinese minority group, 6 persons to represent the European minority group, and 3 persons to represent West Irian. Subsequently, representatives of small parties, appointees, and individuals grouped themselves in fractions or associated themselves with large parties. Following Parliament's agreement to continue to work under the 1945 Constitution a change in total membership occurred. Eight members did not take the oath under the 1945 Constitution and this reduced the number of members to 264. These eight members were: Burhanuddin Harahap, Mawardi Noor, Mohammad Natsir, and Sjarif Usman, all of whom were Masjumi members participating in the PRRI revolt; Mrs Rahman El Junasiah and Kasman Singodimedjo, who were Masjumi members under arrest for speeches they had made; K. R. H. Abdul Azis, an Akui member; and Tan Eng-hong, a government appointee for the Chinese minority group who had been ase sociated with NU. Thus, the membership of Parliament was set at 264 at that time. This figure breaks down as follows: PNI 58, Masjumi 53, NU 46, PKI 33, Nasional Progresif 12, Parkindo 9, PSII 8, Partai Katolik 8, Pembangunan 6, PSI 5, Pendukung Proklamasi 5, Ipki 5, Perti 4, Persatuan 3, PPPRI 2, GPPS one, PPTI one, PIR-Hazairin one, and 4 independents. Thirty members of the old Parliament now represent functional X groups in the new Parliament, these include: 12 PNI members: Amung Amran and Ismangun Pudjowidagdo for farmers, Rasjid Sutan Radja Emas, Sukamsi Djojoadiprodjo, Rusli Tjandradinata and Semanhadi Sastrowidjojo for workers, S. M. Taher for youth, Mrs. L. Sutrasno for women, Doctor Hulman Lomban Tobing and Master of Laws Gele Harun for intellectuals, Sumardi Jatmosumarto for cooperatives, and Husein Kartasasmita for national businessmen; 4 NU members: K. H. Muslich for farmers, Murtadji Bisri and Z. Arifin Tanamas for workers, and K. H. Abdul Djalil for Moslem theologians3 3 PKI members: Djamhari for farmers, Njono and Harjowisastro for workers; Masjumi member Doctor Sukiman Wirjosandjojo for intellectuals; 2 Nasional Progresif members: Siauw Giok-tjhan for cooperatives, K. Werdojo for workers; 6 Pembangunan members: Hartojo Prawirosudarmo for farmers, Runturambi and Usman Mufti Widjaja for workers, Mrs Umi Sardjono for women, Master of Laws Suprapto for intellectuals, and Supardi for veterans; Parkindo member M. Sondakh for Protestant theologians; and PPTI member Siech Djalaludin Moslem theologians. Page #761 2566 There are 24 women members of the new Parliament compared to the 17 women members of the old Parliament. The 17 members of the old Parliament were: Mrs Sumari, Mrs Supeni, Mrs Sutiah Surya Hadi, and Mrs L. Sutrasno of PNI; Mrs Sunarjo Mangunpuspito and Mrs Djunah Pardjaman of Masjumi; Mrs Mariam Kanta Sumpena, Mrs Asmah Sjahruni, Mrs Mahmudah Mawardi, Mrs Mariamah Djunaedi, and Mrs Hadinijah Hadi of NU; Mrs Sundari Abdurachman, Mrs Mudikdio, Mrs Ch. Salawati, and Mrs Suharti Suwarto of PKI; Mrs Umi Sardjono of Pembangunan; and Mrs Suzana Hamdani of PSI. Mrs Sunarjo Mangunpuspito, Mrs Djunah Pardjaman, and Mrs Suzana Hamdani are not in the new Parliament. Mrs Umi Sardjono and Mrs L. Sutrasno now represent functional groups in Parliament. The following ten new women members also represent functional groups in Parliament; Mrs Wachid Hasjim, Mrs Sudarman, Mrs Francisca Fanggiday, and Mrs Memet Tanumidjaja for women; Mrs Rumamah, Mrs Suharti Alimarkaban, and Mrs Kartinah Kurdi for farmers; and Mrs Setiati Surasto, Mrs Tuti, and Miss Ting Suwarni for workers. Thus, there are a total of 24 women members in Parliament, one half representing parties, one half representing functional groups. [The following table is based on information taken from the above article and from other Indonesian press sources. The differences between the 1955-1959 figures are attributable to the association of small delegations, individuals, and appointees with larger parties; the Persatuan Daya representative is associated with the NU fraction; a Partindo delegate and a GPPS delegate joined in the Nasional Progresif fraction after the re-establishment of Partindo in August, 1958; the Pembangunan fraction holds 6 PKI seats; the minority appointees, presumably, were included among the independents or in the Ipki, Masjumi, NU, Parkindo, Partai Katolik, or PNI fractions, whose membership in 1959 increased over that in 1955; the PRI delegate may have associated himself with the Ipki fraction, which was at one time included in the Pendukung Proklamasi fraction. The reduction in total membership shown in the July 1959 figure was due to the failure of 6 Masjumi delegates, the Akui delegate, and a Chinese minority appointee associated with the NU fraction to take the oath under the 1945 Constitution. Page #765 2566 Theologians, 15 members; Moslem, 8 members: K. H. Achmad Gazali, K. H. Abdul Djalil (NU), K. H. Husein Hifni, K. Dasuki Sjiradj, K. H. Achmad Chatib, K. H. Rachmatullah, Sjech Djalaluddin (PPTI), and K. Asjnawi; Protestant, 3 members: Reverend S. Marantika, Reverend P. H. Rompas, and Reverend M. Sondakh (Parkindo); Catholic, 2 members: Father Conterious and Father Ismael; Bali Hindus, 2 members: Ida Bagus Wajan Gde and Bagus Putu Mantra. Youth, 6 members: S. M. Thaher (PNI), Jusuf Hasjim, Hardojo, Suwardi, Doctoral Candidate Sutanto, and Aminuddin Azis. Women, 6 members: Mrs L. Sutrasno (PNI), Mrs Wahid Hasjim, Mrs Umi Sardjono (Pembangunan), Mrs Sudarman, Mrs Francisca Fanggiday, and Mrs Memet Tanumidjaja. Intellectuals, 5 members: Doctor Hulman Lumban Tobing (PNI), Master of Laws Gele Harun (PNI), Master of Laws R. Sunario, Master of Laws Suprapto (Pembangunan), and Doctor Sukiman Wirjosandjojo (Masjumi). Cooperatives, 3 members: Sumardi Jatmosumarto (PNI), Siauw Giok-tjhan (Nasional Progresif-Baperki), and Muchari. and Puger Mataram. National Businessmen, 2 members: Husein Kartasasmita (PNI) 1945 Generation, 2 members: Sajuti Melik and Sidik Kertapati. Veterans, 2 members: Supardi (Pembangunan) and Subroto Ario Artists, 2 members: Gajus Siagian and Jubaar Ajub. Journalists, 2 members: Asa Bafagih and Djawoto. West Irian, one member: H. L. Rumaseuw. 3. Position of Parties on Budgetary Items Following is a summary of an article in the 4 March 1960 issue of Suluh Indonesia. With the close of the first and second general debates by Parliament on the 1960 Draft Budget and the government reply to the debates, we present the following summary of the basic position taken by the groups in Parliament.