Andre Rosiade's Action Was Like Jan Pieterszoon Coen When He Became A Moral Cop

Illustration of the Law of Death at Batavia City Hall (doc. Photo Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The media scene was recently shocked by the action of DPR RI member Andre Rosiade, who was involved in raids on online prostitution issues in the city of Padang. It got even more excited, because his steps as a moral policeman had even dragged his name as the trapper for the commercial sex worker (PSK).

Despite getting criticism from various parties. He joked through a tweet on his twitter, if what he was doing was simply to protect the people of Padang from the Azab of Allah SWT.

"For this reason, I cooperate with the Police to eradicate Online Prostitution. I do not want to be the Weak of the Ummah," wrote Andre, as quoted by VOI, Thursday, February 6.

Whether from the tweets or steps taken by the politician from the Gerindra, presumably something similar to what the ancient Batavia founder Jan Pieterszoon Coen always put it. If, in his early days as Governor-General, Coen wanted to change life first in the offices of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) trade association in the Dutch East Indies which was full of scandal so that the lives of those who worked would become civilized.

By Allah, as those who were born and raised in Padang, do not want this city to be subject to Allah's punishment because immorality is rampant. And the public also reports to me a lot. For this reason, I collaborate with the Police to eradicate Online Prostitution. I don't want to be as weak as the Ummah🙏

- Andre Rosiade (@andre_rosiade) February 4, 2020

Quoted from Jean Gelman Taylor in his book entitled Social Life in Batavia, he said Coen once said “There are too many sad abortion cases that we know of, and also cases where a mistress tried to kill (her master) with phenyl or other such poisons. "

Presumably, that was the reason Coen at that time strictly forbade the possession of one or more female slaves, one or more mistresses, in one's own house or other place for any reason. In addition, Coen, a devout Calvinist, clearly wanted the European citizens of Batavia to "marry and be well" in society.

Furious

Not only because of his letter to Heren XVII, the Board of Directors of the VOC in the Netherlands, that asked good women from the Netherlands to be brought in. Coen's track record as a moral police was really tested in 1627. At that time, his friend who was also a member of the Council of the Indies, Jacques Specx entrusted his son, Sara Specx to Coen. And therein lies the big problem that tests the man who conquered Jayakarta on May 30 May 1618.

Jacques said: “While I returned to Patria (Holland) to fulfill Heren XVII's request, I left Sara, my daughter, to you. I believe you can take care of him. "

Despite agreeing to her best friend's request, Sara Specx, who was born to the Japanese woman who was made a concubine, was born in her mother's country in 1617, she was later made a staatdochter (daughter of the State) by Coen, and was employed as one of Evan Ment's companions, Coen's wife.

Unfortunately, in June 1629, when she was just 12 years old, what in the 17th century was considered ripe for a woman. So that Sara was then fascinated by the good looks of a Vaandrig (subordinate soldier) of mixed blood who used to guard the Batavia castle.

Together with the young man who was born in Arakan, Myanmar and the son of a Dutch merchant with an indigenous woman, Sara Specx had an illicit relationship at the Batavia castle which angered Coen.

Achmad Sunjayadi in his book entitled (Not) Taboo di Nusantara, explains this in detail. “One night, the young couple who were romantically drunk didn't realize the consequences of their actions. The poor girl who probably just got her period was in flagrante delicto (caught red-handed) making out with her lover at Coen's house. And the case of sexual violations at Batavia Castle became a hot scandal at that time. "

Inevitably, the entire castle, including Coen, was slapped and had his reputation tarnished. Even though he had been mandated to look after Sara by his best friend, Sara's behavior had gone too far. Coen was immediately assertive and harsh on the offense.

“Their severest punishments! Hang them !, ”Coen shouted.

As a result, because he was embarrassed because the scandal was present in his own house, he must have given a severe sentence. In fact, Coen even ignored suggestions from the church council and his wife Eva to cancel the sentence.

Even though his wife himself had reminded him, "Forgive Sara. He's your best friend's son who was entrusted to the city, ”Evan persuaded.

Unfortunately, a decision has already been made. Right on June 6, 1629 the sentence was handed down, until the two of them were ready to be executed in front of the courtyard of the Dutch town hall (stadhuis) in the Kota Tua area, which is now known as Taman Fatahillah.

The young man was beheaded, while the girl was "punished" by simply witnessing the punishment of her lover. Even so, Sara was still stripped naked, tortured with a whip, and made a spectacle by the audience present at the execution.

Afterwards, Coen's sentencing decision not only caused an uproar throughout the Dutch East Indies. Interestingly, the whole Netherlands was also excited. Regarding the tense atmosphere of the execution at Fatahillah Park, although not on the momentum of the death penalty for adulterers at Batavia Castle, an illustration can be obtained from Van Marrik's writings in a book written by HCC Clockener Brousson, Batavia Early 20th Century.

He revealed: “The field is full of people, mostly women. All nations are watching. Those who arrived late did not hesitate to climb onto the train. The colonizers of food and fruits took advantage of the crowds of people to colonize their wares. Meanwhile the convict walked calmly while smoking a cigar towards the gallows guarded by the guards. "

Some say Coen's move is a weapon to eat lord. There are also those who think Coen's steps are only looking for sensation. And there are also those who think Coen's steps are right. For him, the Law had to be upheld, and Coen certainly didn't want to lick his own saliva.