The Birth and Growth of the Indonesian Women's Movement (Part II)

INDONESIAN WOMEN SUFFER JAPANESE OCCUPATION

In March 1942, the Dutch colonial government surrendered to the Japanese forces who invaded Indonesia.

During the Japanese occupation almost all organisations were banned, with the exception of one women's organisation which was set up by the Japanese themselves, called the "Fudjinkai." In order to draw women into this organisation the Japanese fascist rulers used the pretext of teaching the women First Aid and catering, but its main purpose was to get cheap labour. Many women were duped. Instead of being given courses and lectures they were sent to serve Japanese military officials and officers as "geishas" in places as far away as Singapore.

Democratic rights were completely abolished and all kinds of tortures were inflicted on patriots and political detainees. Poverty and miserable living conditions were common all over the country. People died of hunger in the streets. The meat of cats and dogs, and many sorts of grass, never eaten before, were consumed. But these horrible circumstances did not subdue the fighting spirit of the people and their opposition to Japanese fascist atrocities.

Men and women, workers and peasants, all inspired with a revolutionary spirit, joined together to conduct a secret and stubborn battle against Japanese power and against the betrayers of their people, the puppets of the fascist invaders.

In 1944, the victory of the Allies put an end to the Japanese regime. In 1945 the Indonesian people proclaimed their independence. They drew valuable lessons from the anti-fascist struggle. With President Sukarno at their head, the Indonesian people rallied and strengthened their democratic and revolutionary forces throughout the country. Women took part in all activities, both in the social sphere and with the armed partisans, defending the young republic against the brutal attacks of the Dutch colonialists.

DURING AND AFTER THE PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE INDONESIAN REPUBLIC

The PERWARI was inaugurated on December 15th—17th, 1945 at Klaten, Central Java, the first women's organisation to be set up after the proclamation of independence. It was followed by other organisations, for instance the PPI (Indonesian Young Women), Muslimat (Moslem Women's Organisation), PWKI (Association of Christian Women) etc.

Taking into consideration the development of the women's movement, these organisations felt the need to form one coordinating body for all these organisations. This was done in 1946, on 24th—26th February at Solo, Central Java. It was called the Congress of Indonesian Women, or Kongres Wanita Indonesia (Abbreviated to KOWANI). Its aims were to promote women's rights in the economic, social, political and cultural fields.

On June 14th—16th, the KOWANI held its second Congress at Madiun, East Java, in which 14 organisations took part. They decided to call the Congress The Federation of Indonesian Women's Congress, instead of the Congress of Indonesian Women. Its aims were: to urge and maintain social justice, to guarantee human rights, and to implement the independence of the Indonesian Republic.

The leading body of the Federation consisted of representatives of various affiliated organisations.

Among the points decided upon were, in the international sphere: to affiliate to the W.I.D.F. and nationally to give full support to the defence of the Indonesian Republic against imperialist aggression. To work in the Red Cross and public kitchens in the rear.

In order to co-ordinate its defence activities with activity in the front line, the KOWANI contacted the Government Bureau of Resistance and local committees set up by mass organisations holding special conferences for this purpose, in east, central and west Java.

The same year, the KOWANI sent a delegation to the East Asian Conference in India and the next year to the All Indian Women's Conference, at the same time establishing relations with Malayan women.

The women's movement in Indonesia made steady progress during the fight against the Dutch who, with the help of British troops, U.S.A. armaments and their Indonesian lackeys had re-occupied big cities such as Djakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya.

Women played a great role in the people's resistance movement against the Dutch troops sent by the Luns-Drees colonial Dutch government to trample down the sovereignty of the young Indonesian Republic. Hand in hand with the people's resistance movement, Indonesian women courageously joined partisan units in villages and in mountain areas. They made an enormous contribution to the national independence of their homeland. Women are still devoting all their efforts to opposing those who are trying to undermine their country's sovereignty and trying to disrupt plans for building a happy future for children and for the preservation of world peace.