Beth Twitty along with the Governor of Alabama
Request for a boycott against Aruba
Governor asks for other states of America to join him
DIARIO Aruba
11/09/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Governor of Alabama Bob Riley made a plea to all the citizens of Alabama and was even boldly asked for all people in the US to boycott any travel to Aruba and requested Governors of other states to do something similar.

In Aruba, this is seen as something abnormal. The Prime Minister showed that America in general has a boycott against Iraq, Cuba and North Korea. But now for a Governor to decide for a whole country to start something similar with Aruba, because of a missing woman?

If it is true that this will happen, then the boycott will harm Aruba. Perhaps one has to thing that it’s time to pull the people who botched the investigation? In this direction, Premier Oduber expressed himself last Tuesday night. He said that a boycott creates an unnecessary ‘phobia’.

Earlier, there was a meeting of the Central State Commission, where the Minister of Tourism and the Prime Minister spoke. Myrna Jansen and Arlene Ellis-Schipper also spoke.

Premier Oduber gave an explanation of what happened from the first days of the Holloway case. The government of Aruba from the start tried to make every effort so that the case would have an outcome.

Oduber clearly stated: “From the first day until now, the mother and step-father thought that because those of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Corps and that a person involved is Dutch in origin, that there was a ‘cover-up and conspiracy’.

In that time he explained that in Aruba no one is above the law and that the investigation must be in depth and no one can get involved. So there was no cover-up or conspiracy.

The Premier show that some time back he also explained to members of the Alabama Congress and also spoke with the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, explained the case and informed the American Government from the first week that he had nothing against the auspice of local institutions, that the FBI was also involved. Dutch assistance was also provided.

“Regrettably, sufficient proof could not be provided and the suspects were let free”, Oduber said. The investigation is not closed and it is ongoing!

On numerous occasions, Premier Oduber explained to the family that the Dutch judicial system is objective and the Dutch system is not that different from the American one. During that time, Aruba convinced the Governor of Alabama to hold back a declaration about an eventual boycott.

Aruba has a group in the US which calls itself the ‘Alexander Group’ which lobbies for Aruba, who convinced Governor Riley several times about the seriousness of the investigation on this island.

THE PROBLEM

According to Premier Oduber, the problem is simply that: Natalee’s family does not have confidence in the investigation and accuses the functionaries who are of Dutch origin of being involved in a cover-up and conspired to not bring forward a solution to the problem. Natalee’s family on different occasions gave a declaration, but local authorities did not pay attention. There’s also the fact that certain functionaries made statements in such a manner that were displeasing to the family.

Natalle’s family wants to find an answer to why 10 days passed before detaining the 3 youngsters, and so found the chance to speak, and of how it took 14 days to start investigating the case. The Government explained to the family that this is the Dutch system.

The Premier also made the promise that when the Holloway investigation ends, to bring an investigation into finding out what and how things went wrong.
Relating to the boycott call, Governor Riley apparently called Aruba two days ago and the Department of Foreign Affairs and sent two declarations, which he interpreted in his own way and suddenly, on Tuesday, Bob Riley found it proper to say that he asked for a boycott against all who want to visit Aruba.

The attacks against Aruba have been going on for many months. Aruba approached Holland to request help. The sent a few criminal experts and even F-16 planes which cost millions of dollars with the goal of coming to Aruba and look for the young woman. However Holland could not do anything with regards to the American press, and has no influence on what is put out or not.

But on Tuesday afternoon things changed. Now it is not the press, but a Republican on campaign who announced a boycott. This has now turned the matter into something political and part of the federal government of America.

The case has thus become very serious. Now the Alexander Group has been asked to call Governor Riley and ask how he didn’t have the courtesy to call the Prime Minister of Aruba first.

A boycott from a country of 340 million vs. an island of 100,000 people. Aruba is part of the Dutch Kingdom and now the ‘attack’ is no longer something about Aruba. It is important that our instate of justice guaranteed by Holland is attacked.

A female student came to Aruba and went missing. Now they will kill a whole nation because of this? Tuesday, CNN asked Governor Bob Riley about the 132 people missing in his state and what he has done? “We have police investigating” was his answer. Premier Oduber wants to say that Aruba has 1 missing person and we also have police investigating.

Permier Oduber described the action of Governor Bob Riley as irresponsible, preposterous and condemnable, especially for an island that has good relations with America, e.g. FOL base.

There are 38 islands in the Caribbean, and Premier Oduber has made every effort last week to appeal to Puerto Rico, to speak with the Caribbean leaders, so they know what is happening, to alert them that this could happen on any other island. He also wanted to know Puerto Rico’s opinion about the boycott. The government has understanding for the mother and the family. At this moment, the investigation is ongoing, but he cannot accept what has happened in America.

BECAUSE POLICE WANT TO INTERROGATE THOSE IN ALABAMA

What happened for this drastic change to take place? Premier Oduber calculates that when local authorities stated that they want to investigate in Alabama the trust and investigate in America more of the students and friends of Natalee…suddenly, something strong came in Aruba’s direction.

Same as the are investigating here, police have a right to investigate in America what happened exactly to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to hopefully know what happened, for the people of Aruba to show the world that it has not conspired nor created a cover-up.

The moment has come for Holland to tell the Americans loud and clear that the legal system is not corrupt. It’s time to stop all the accusations that have not been confronted! Aside from this, Premier Oduber declared that now, little by little he believes that Natalee’s mother has a goal different than searching for her daughter.

In the end, he made a dramatic plea to all Arubans. “Let’s solve this case for the happiness and well-being of us all. All people can give some assistance to solve this case and take the necessary precautions so that in the future there won’t be any other doubtful cases.”

Premier Oduber does not want to create and anti-American atmosphere due to Governor Bob Riley. Aside from this, the family has requested to replace the investigative team. How? Aruba has not approached Governor Riley to ask him to change his attorney General to newly investigate the 132 people missing in Alabama.

He believes that Aruba treated Natalee’s mother in a nice manner. But the mother has a “crisis of confidence” and he can’t take her out of this. Aruba hopes that the State Department disapproves of a boycott against the island. Today it shall be seen if it will be in a position to do so.

[translated by Getagrip]