Colonial Affairs: Infidelity in the Dutch East Indies Bureaucracy
Jakarta,CNBC Indonesia – Infidelity occurs if there is an opportunity and can be done by anyone. in fact, civil servants (PNS) in the colonial era, or what was called at that time official, also dissolved in romance scandals behind the dutch East Indies bureaucracy table.
As insight, the arrival of the dutch people to various cities in the Dutch East Indies since 1816 had a big influence on the local community. Historian Peter Carey in Race,power,and colonial violence in the Dutch East Indies (2023) mentions this period is commonly referred to as the times Baroe comes or the era of moral decline.
The migrants came with a typical European lifestyle that is frequently enough seen as immoral in Java. Starting from drunkenness to having an affair. Infidelity generally occurred as they found it challenging to bring a legitimate wife while on duty due to cost factors.
One case of an affair that ensnared a colonial apparatus often occurred in Yogyakarta. One of them was carried out by Yogyakarta Resident, Nahuys van Burgst (1816-1822). For six years in office, he made Prince Diponegoro and the Keraton surprised because he dared to openly have an affair.
“The prince was confused about the triangle relationship in which the resident and his deputy, Assistant RCN D’Bo, seemed to have a relationship with the same woman,” said Peter Carey.
Nahuys was recorded in a relationship with his own wife and subordinates.