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

THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DUTCH COLONIALISTS

On July 26th—28th 1948, the Federation of Indonesian Women's Congress (KOWANI) held its Congress in Solo, Central Java, at which 3 Islamic women's organisations (Muslimat, GPII and Aisjah affiliated to the Masjumi Fanatic Religious Party) made the following proposals:

- That Kowani should only have the status of an ordinary co-ordinating body. - All decisions should be approved unanimously by all member organisations, i.e. in the case of objections the co-ordinating body would not have the right to make decisions.

The Congress refused to accept these proposals. Consequently, these women's organisations (GPII, Muslimat and Aisjah) withdrew from the Federation of Indonesian Women's Congress.

From August 28th till September 2nd, 1949, an All Indonesian Women's Conference was held at Jogjakarta. This conference took place at a most difficult time. The Indonesian people, in combatant partisan units, were fighting renewed Dutch colonial aggression. It became apparent at the conference that there were elements present in favour of a compromise with the Dutch. These tendencies were also found in leading government circles.

On November 2nd 1949, the Round Table Conference Treaty was signed at The Hague. This treaty was drawn up and completely controlled by the U.S.A. together with reactionary Indonesian government officials and the Dutch Drees-Luns Colonial Government. Some prominent women leaders who supported the RTC agreement succeeded in changing Kowani's national revolutionary status to a non-political social organisation. They announced the withdrawal of Kowani from the W.I.D.F.

After the Kowani had proclaimed its own dissolution, it reappeared in November 1950, with the name; Kongress Wanita Indonesia (not abbreviated), with the status of a centralised co-ordinating body. Women's organisations who are members of this body have the right to choose for themselves whether they will affiliate to the W.I.D.F. or not.

On June 4th 1950, the GERWIS (Movement of Conscious Indonesian Women) was founded at Semarang. Gerwis was an amalgamation of 6 women's organisations and played a great role in the people's resistance movement against the Dutch troops in the occupied areas. It joined the Kongress Wanita Indonesia and became a member of the W.I.D.F.

At its first Congress in 1951, it had a membership of 6,000 on the island of Java. But the reactionary government of that time persecuted many leaders of the Gerwis and jailed them without trial. Nevertheless, the Congress succeeded in drafting a constitution and a working programme for the Gerwis.

GERWANI IS FOUNDED

In 1954, the Gerwis held its second Congress in Djakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Foreign guests from the W.I.D.F., the Soviet Union, the Netherlands and Australia were invited to attend and participated in the Congress. The Congress decided to change Gerwis to GERWANI (Indonesian Women's movement). The organisational structure of Gerwani is based on a solid foundation. There are various commissions for dealing with different problems. The commissions are based on the following subjects:

- rights of women and children; - information and culture; - organisation; - finance.

The commissions thoroughly discuss all issues, make the necessary recommendations to the central body and then carry out their activities according to the central body's guidance. They are always led by a member of the central executive. Their membership consists of central executive and rank and file members with a particular knowledge of the work to be undertaken. As a result of this it is possible, on the one hand to secure the help of adequately qualified women, and on the other to appreciate the efficiency of such women and make them familiar with the work of the leadership.

Gerwani's main fields of work are in the villages, districts and in local committees. The majority of Gerwani's members consist of peasants and working women. The middle class women in the towns and cities also constitute an important section in the work of the organisation.

During the preparations for the general elections in 1955, the Gerwani grew rapidly and branches were set up on all the main islands such as Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, Moluccus and the Western islands (Bali, Lombok, Flores, etc.). According to reports of January 1957, it has 182 branches in 16 provinces with a total membership of 642,460.

As a result of the electoral campaigns both for parliament and the constituent assembly in 1955, and for the local assemblies in June—July 1957, 5 Gerwani members were elected as members of Parliament and 6 to the Constituent Assembly, while 60 members were elected to the Municipal Councils.

Because many of Gerwani's members belong to different political parties, it was decided not to nominate a special member of Gerwani as a candidate in the election. This resulted in many of her members being nominated as candidates from various political parties, such as the Indonesian Communist Party, Permai (Marhaenis Association) and the Partai Rakjat (People's Party).

Together with other women's organisations, wide-scale campaigns were launched for a democratic marriage law, the present marriage system still allows polygamy and does not provide protection for wives, especially in cases of divorce. The Gerwani is taking joint action with the peasant movement and trade unions for higher wages, for social protection of women and children and for an effective distribution of food supplies to the people in general.

700,000 MEMBERS

At the end of December 1957, the Gerwani held its third Congress in Solo. Among the guests were Mrs Madelena Rossi, the Vice-President of the W.I.D.F. and Mrs Zeinat Djedaoui from Egypt. It was revealed at the Congress that the total number of members of Gerwani had reached 700,000. This Congress made a very strong statement on the liberation of West Irian which is still under the yoke of Dutch colonialism. It also condemned foreign intervention conducted by the U.S.A. which endeavours to drag Indonesia into the SEATO — military pact. It has also issued a strong protest on the question of atomic tests. Among the various actions of solidarity by the Gerwani was a protest condemning the death sentence imposed by the French reactionary government on Djamila Bouhired and her fellow patriots.

At local district centres courses for instructors are given by the Gerwani leaders. Activists are equipped with a detailed knowledge of a) the Constitution of Gerwani b) the W.I.D.F. and its activities c) how to deliver a speech or conduct a meeting d) current campaign of Gerwani, for example, the reforms in the Marriage Law or electoral laws suggested during the elections, and other necessary current information.

At present the Gerwani is actively preparing and agitating for the parliamentary elections to be held in September this year.

In co-operation with other women's organisations it is conducting a campaign against illiteracy and the setting up of kindergartens and elementary schools.

In short, the women's movement of Indonesia is faithful to its glorious traditions, to unite under the banner of women's emancipation and to struggle continuously for, a new democratic Indonesia and for a lasting world peace.

After the Indonesian Women's Congress held on December 22nd, 1928, at Djokjakarta, the movement of Indonesian women entered a new epoch of struggle and became an inevitable part of the national revolutionary movement for independence. Recognising colonialism and imperialism, and not men, to be their real enemies, it no longer wanted the women's struggles to be isolated from the national movement in general.

There were three important problems on the agenda of the Congress, namely: the position of women in marriage; equal education for women and men; the question of polygamy.

The Congress decided not to discuss questions directly connected with the independence struggle. They later formed the P.P.I. (Association of Indonesian Women), which submitted proposals to the Dutch government urging an increase in the number of schools for Indonesian girls, subsidies to widows and orphans of government employees, and regulations governing the issuing of marriage certificates to help combat polygamy.

December 22nd became symbolic of women's unity in their struggle for emancipation, for the fulfilment of their ideals and rights for progress and a better life.

This date has always been celebrated by the women of Indonesia as an official holiday, which they call in Indonesia: Hari Ibu, meaning Mothers' Day.