JAKARTA - Jan Pieterszoon Coen is the founder of Dutch colonialism. The Governor-General of the Governor-General of the VOC twice --1619-1623 and 1627-1629- was also famous for his devout Calvinism. He even helped educate his people to obey God. It acts as a moral guardian. There is no mercy for the Dutch who perpetuate the practice of adultery, especially pedophilia. They were threatened with the death penalty.
In the history of Dutch colonialism, the figure of Coen is the most recognizable. He became a figure who was able to think beyond the times. The plan for a trade monopoly in the archipelago was his idea. However, Coen does not only think about monopoly matters. Instead, he thought bigger, namely to build a colony in the archipelago. Not just any colony. But a colony filled with civilized Europeans. A colony that prioritizes obedience to God.
As a form of seriousness, Coen's early years as Governor General were mostly dedicated to eradicating moral ills. Eradication was strengthened when Coen conquered Jayakarta and turned it into Batavia in 1619. He immediately wanted Batavia to emerge as a city that adhered to religious values.
All because of life in the Colonial Lands, which many take religious values for granted. As a result, adultery appeared in every corner of the city nicknamed the Queen of the East. “Initially there was little that could be done to control the situation. Soldiers and sailors have been uprooted from their homeland, short of women, and placed in remote trading offices in areas of foreign civilization.”
“They heard the rumors about the harem stemming from the senior merchants' initial meetings with the daughters of the Asian nobles. While their own superiors took the slaves for personal needs. In such circumstances, the moral values that they brought from their homeland begin to fade and can no longer be expected,” said Jean Gelman Taylor in the book Social Life in Batavia (2009).
Coen made every effort to eradicate moral ills. Binding regulations that apply to all Dutch people living in Batavia were issued by him. The Dutch in Batavia were prohibited from having one or more female slaves as concubines for any reason. For Coen, too many sad abortion cases have occurred in Batavia.
After all, the problem of a concubine trying to kill her master with poison out of jealousy and other things was getting to the fore. The regulations were initially ineffective. Coen then understood the situation that there were still many high-ranking VOC officials who used the services of female slaves as 'sleeping companions'.
Right after two years of the founding of Batavia, Coen tightened its regulations even more. It is clearly stated that all men with any position are prohibited from committing adultery. Whatever the shape. The rule was also shown to European women. European women were forbidden to have sex without ties to their fellow races, let alone other peoples – from Mardijkers to Moors.
“To control this backflow, the Supreme Government has implemented a number of strict regulations that regulate social life according to the norms of life in the 'Christian Republic.' Concubinage and 'gathering together' are strictly prohibited and those caught doing so are severely punished. To implement this policy, the city attorney rode horses and the priest on foot diligently combed the neighborhoods and houses," wrote historian Hendrik E. Niemeijer in the book Batavia of the Colonial Society of the XVII Century (2012).
Death penalty for pedophilesIn enforcing the rules, Coen did not indiscriminately. Even those who committed adultery that Coen considered deviant, such as homosexuals and pedophiles, were also tried. This form of adultery was usually limited to sailors and VOC merchant ships who traded on the oceans.
Dutch-Batavia shipping which for almost a year had them not include their wives. What happens they are required to be single and abstain from sexual relations. In the absence of women, this inevitable lust gives rise to same-sex sexual perversion.
At that time homosexuals on ships were mostly done by old sailors to young sailors. Coen understands that problem. Long before he became governor general of the VOC, Coen had often been sailing as a teenager since he was a teenager. Thanks to that he understood very well the Hierarchy of positions on a VOC merchant ship which often showed deviant behavior.
Usually, merchant ships of that era had crews with various functions. There are captains, helmsmen, stewards, commanders, ship crews, to young people. The domination of men is what makes homosexual deviations happen a lot. Even the case of pedophilia from old sailors to young people who are still listed as minors often occurs. The position of the youth themselves is dominated by those who go to sea to seek experience.
“Then there are also young people, ship cadets who sailed to seek experience. Their job is to accompany the captain when he comes ashore and supervise the servants. While sailing, they have to supervise the watchmen and people who work on the bridge,” said Adrian B. Lapian in the 16th and 17th Century Archipelago Shipping and Commerce (2008).
Adultery aboard these merchant ships was seen as a serious offense by Coen. No kidding, for those who commit adultery -- homosexuals or pedophiles -- the death penalty will await. Coen did not care about the length of the trip between the Netherlands and Batavia.
He just wanted the Dutch under his control to obey God and create a colony with good middle class people. Like in the Netherlands, he said. As a result, Coen firmly said there was no sex on the cruise. Doing so is tantamount to death.
“When VOC merchant ships sailed the oceans, like European ships, to look for commodities for merchandise on other continents, there were very strict rules that crew members had to obey. The regulation is a prohibition against the practice of homosexuality.”
“Although the death-defying voyage of the VOC ships to the east took months, the prohibition against the practice of homosexuality was still enforced. If it is proven that the crew of the ship has carried out a similar punishment, the death penalty will be the reward. This is very difficult, especially since they have to hold back one of their essential needs for a long time,” concluded Achmad Sunjayadi in the book [Not a Taboo in the Archipelago (2018).
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