WIDF (1950): From All Parts, Women Write to the WIDF

=== [PDF page 1] === To Conlerence of the South African Indian Congress held in September the necessity for unity among the oppressed populations, for the cooperation “already forged in the fight for freedom and the franchise”, as well as the necessity to “close ranks still more between the colored people and White democrats ‘—the only effective means of struggling against the nationalist, racist government. The Conference denounced the agsression against Korea and demanded that Free China be admitted to U.N.O, mcn:bership. It. aeclared its “devotion to world peace and protested against all forms of war preparation, especially condemn- IPs stomic warfare as inhuman and barbarous. It demanded the outlawing of atomic weapons and the destruction of existing stocks. The W.IDF. salutes the courageous Struggle of the women of South Africa in unity and action, and hopes, along With them, “that the formation of a veritable women’s organisation for South Africa” wil) soon become a reality—for the defence of the tragically Oppressed women and children. stressed ; INDONESIA tenncennnncenoronnnrennncd. OR 350 years, Indonesia remained under the yoke of colonialism and its women today are still matn tained in a feudal state Today, fol lowing upon the Duteh ana the Jap ‘nese, American Imperlalists ane extracting a high price from Indonesia The “Rockfellow Corporation Owns hundreds of oil wells here More than a million acres of the rubber plantations belong to American monopolists. And their Strategic bases and aerodromes have been built on Tidonesian soil. Large numbeis of Women work in the factories Processing salt and opiun, fabricating quinine, and in the rubber Plantations and the mines. In the factories or in their homes, the women weave cloth, Some of which requires a high desree of artistry. in general, their wage seldom exceeds half of what js paid to men and this for a work day of 10 hours or more. Throughout the Japanese Dutch occupation periods the ex- Dloitation of women knew no bounds: th Ir poverty was frightful. understood that the Such indescribable have UWaYS participated and facine ression PARTS, WOMEN in the strugele of the people as 4 Whole for national independence—- the only means of fuaranteeing their own rights. And when, on August 17th 1945, date of the proclamation of independence by the Republic of Indonesia, the People’s Army wrested power from the hands of the Japanese, continued the fight against British intervention and later against the Dutch troops, women fought in the front lines, and at the rear, increased production and handled food Supplies. At that time, many women’s organisations developed and a unified movement was founded. Under the Sjarifuddin sovernment, women were granted recognition of their fundamental rights and especially “equal pay for equal work”. But a period of reaction came about as American Policies began to prevail. A month’s wage enables workers to live for exactly ten days. Labour legislation is no longer observed. The Marshall Plan has led to bankrupcy for hundreds of small firms. Indonesian policemen are sent to the U.S.A. to learn repressive techniques, Massacres of democrats, dissolution of organisations, repression against patriots’ families ape increasing, 30,000 Indonesian patriots were slain tn HNeplember tan A SCCONd wave of MOpreston Th hatiag enforeed hy Duleh Loops qod in Clst bands. In all, the country bas been delivered Lo British, Dutch and American capital, But despite these Breat difficulties, the Popular struggle js being pursued. On May 1, 1950, 390,000 people paraded in Djakarta, the capital, 100,000 in Surabaya and 80,000 in Jogjacarta They demanded setting up of a People’s Democratic Republic of Indonesia, condemnation of the aggressive Policies of the United States, and pledged full support in the Struggle for World peace, In East Sumatra, the peasants have taken over 86,000 hectares of land. Many strikes have been held in which women have participated in great numbers, chiefly in the plantations, As a result of popular pressure, the Government has refused use of Indonesian ports to. Dutch Ships en route to Korea It also agreed to formation of a Committee to send medical aid to the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam The faced women’s organisations are with a grand task: to bring together on a vast scale, women of all social ana religious beliefs, to win in common their own rights and those of their children and help to reinforce the peace forces in Indo- Sia, Struggling to prevent its kecoming an imperialist base for aggression. Ssioe PIPER ORC DOG ISRAEL MORE than 300,000 people have signed the Stockholm Appeal. In the towns and villages, in the barracks, everywhere, the meetings sponsored by the various movements for peace are meeting with great success, The women’s Section of the Unified Labour Party (MAPAM), the Association of Progressive Women and the Democratic Arab Women’s rganisation, working within the overall peace movement, have participated actively in collecting signatures and helped to expand the campaign. These organisations carried the Stockholm Appeal before the Conference of the Israel Council of Working Women and urged the Couneil to call upon all working Women to take frart an the ative lite Poiana Thi ( one hy itlerelips meyretod the propaant mentioned then called Woineh theniselye 8, | hw Wore & (heipee Upon all Working moa publi statement whic h said: “Since a Conference majority has rejected our Proposal, we call upon all the women of Israel, without distinction as to race, religion or political belief, to sign and collect signatures on the Appeal against the weapon of destruction and aggression, for its effective and strict international control and for denunciation of any government which should first, make use of it as a criminal of war.” This appeal was heeded—more than 43% of the adult population has signed the Stockholm Appeal. Well known women such as Rachel KAGAN, member of the Israel parliament, and Irma PO- LAK of the Federation of Zionist Women, have placed their signatures on the Appeal. The defence of Peace is that basis for unity which, in Isracl, as in other counthes, wall enable mobilisation of women of widely divergent opinions, but agreed as to the defence of life, With great persistence, the Defenders of Peace are continuing their work of education and union.