11.19.2005

Due to the Natalee matter
More Arubans encountering difficulties to conduct business abroad
DIARIO Aruba
11/18/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): As DIARIO presented last month, the ‘anti-Aruban’ sentiment continues to grow in the U.S. We showed how in Miami and Las Vegas, there was very ugly treatment against Arubans who are traveling for vacation or for business.

More and more Arubans are starting to identify themselves as “Bonerians” or “Curasoleños” when visiting an American city, because they don’t want to lose time discussing the matter.

DIARIO showed how some persons were not able to get assistance at a store because they said that they were from Aruba. It has also happened that citizens who pay with their credit cards, when showing a piece of ID or passport, and the cashiers, upon seeing that they are from Aruba, refuse to process the transaction.

The Prime Minister of Aruba has gotten details about this from Aruban students who are coming across problems.

There is confirmation of similar cases that are happening not only in America, but also with Aruban merchants traveling to Panama and also in Hong Kong.

One of those in the U.S. who are helping in the boycott, Joe Mammana, even said that he will find any way to force American shipping companies from sending merchandise to Aruba.

This week it became known that an American distributor decided to stop its years-long business relationship in Aruba, as a protest of the manner in which the government handled the matter of Natalee Holloway.

It seems as if the whole world is of the opinion that the government of Aruba, as well as the Justice system of Aruba is good for nothing. They want a change to take place, otherwise this ‘anti-Aruba movement’ will continue.

A repeat visitor to Aruba explained recently in an email, that he went to his travel agent to purchase his vacation ticket for next year, and encountered an anti-Aruban attitude at the agency. They didn’t want to sell the travel ticket either and he had to leave the place and look for another travel agency to purchase it.

This repeat visitor indicated that they have a timeshare, and they like Aruba very much and will continue to come to the island no matter what. However, they ask for the government of Aruba to do something about the investigation because what has been done does not seem right. He hopes that something happens soon in Aruba to show the whole world what the island is doing, otherwise it'll get worse.

[translated by Getagrip]
Merchants in Aruba are upset
Arubans considering taking Dr. Phil to court in the U.S.
Want to sue for damaging our island’s name
DIARIO Aruba
11/18/2005

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Thursday, on the Dr. Phil show, presented around the U.S. via syndication distributed by King World, the theme was “Sex Slaves”.

In the beginning, as well as at the end of the show, Dr. Phil repeated his message for everyone to stop traveling to Aruba.

Although the probability is great that the Alabama student is no longer of this world, a small percentage exists that they wanted to check out the probability that she is still alive.

DIARIO also had taken this into account from the beginning and on the basis of various ‘leads’ we have received, checked all corners for this story. In the background, DIARIO continues to investigate and check all details received. Only some of this investigation is made public, but no all.

It is true that a DIARIO reporter kept quiet that he went to check one of the tips that Natalee is alive, but because he did not find confirmation (‘hard facts’) of this probability, he opted to not go public with it.

However on Thursday, Natalee’s mother decided to divulge this to a big audience. Nevertheless, reporters continue to work on every detail and tip that is received.

NOW ABOUT CURACAO

The case of Amy Bradley also found a big spotlight on the Dr. Phil show, because it focused on young women that are abducted on other countries to be used as ‘sex slaves’.

Amy disappeared from a cruise ship when it first entered the port of Willemstad. Many believe that she fell of the ship and drowned in the Caribbean sea. However, from that time, her family thinks that she disembarked in Curacao without being noticed and that she is being held as a slave.

Dr. Phil even let a crew go to Curaçao and film the “Mirage” (formerly Campo Alegre) spy-video style, How did they do this, seeing that Mirage has their doors wide open to get coverage for their business? But Dr. Phil’s show portrayed it as if it were a very hidden and ‘secret’ place, even though it is a place that even has a website to promote itself.

MERCHANTS’ LAWSUIT

Some merchants are quite upset with the latest developments surrounding the case of Natalee Holloway, and expressed on Thursday that they are preparing a case against the complete production of Dr. Phil in the U.S.

This deals especially with the merchants whose business interests is that they do a lot of business with the U.S. The latest statements from this TV host is inflicting and continues to inflict damage to our island.

Thursday they were in contact with at least one very popular law firm in the U.S. in order to evaluate a possible lawsuit against Dr. Phil. It seems that the lawyers in the U.S. are convening to give the merchants from Aruba an answer about their questions if there is space for said lawsuit.

The lawsuit will be based on the fact that the name of Aruba is unfairly being dirtied, launching the whole economy of a country into trouble, without valid justification to do so.

Worse still, is when Dr. Phil on his own show insinuated that Natalee Holloway could possibly be in Cancun, Mexico. The question remains whether Natalee is not in Aruba, then how can he continue to promote a boycott against Aruba?

They also said that Mexico has slavery in the prostitution underworlds, and that would pay millions for Natalee Holloway, because she is a very popular young woman now…then how can Aruba be boycotted?

We are speaking here of a lawsuit which could run into the millions of American dollars if Aruba can prove that our economy and revenues of certain merchants go down because of the whole boycott which he is promoting against our island.

The intention is to look for more local merchants to lend a hand in the high cost of lawyers in the U.S. Many are thinking that if such a case would be worth it, then it has to be done to put some finality to the low manner in which the American press is treating our island, without giving us the chance to reply.

[translated by Getagrip]
They haven’t found Natalee
Dr. Phil explains today what he is doing
DIARIO Aruba
11/17/2005

MIAMI (AAN): Yesterday, the persistent rumour in Aruba was that they had found Natalee and that she was even with her mother. What probably gave rise to the rumour is that Dr. Phil announced that today he will present on his program certain ‘evidence’ that his people investigated and what resulted from it.

After consulting with a few investigators in the U.S., DIARIO can say that it is true that the people from Dr. Phil conducted investigations in different countries of South American and also on a few islands of the Caribbean, but with no positive result.

What Dr. Phil will probably announce today is the manner in which they followed every clue, every information, and every thing that they considered evidence, to see if it’s true that Natalee is alive and in that way rescue and deliver her to her family.

However, it is now the known that the indications that they followed had a negative result. They looked for, but did not locate, Natalee in a few latin American countries and did not find her either in the different islands where Dr. Phil’s investigators went personally to verify information that they considered as some type of evidence.

One of Dr. Phil’s principal investigators, Jamie Skeeters, went personally to these different countries and islands of the Caribbean, and could observe that Natalee is not where they supposed that she could be, if in case she were alive.

Soon he went to another country because a certain source informed them that a remote possibility exists that Natalee could be in a brothel, where she was sold by a sex trafficker gang.

None of this information has a solid basis, rather that certain indications were made for Dr. Phil to exhaust all resources to determine whether the young woman is alive or if she is in effect deceased.

Dr. Phil is working in all seriousness. His intention is to discard one of the two possibilities, to in this way, concentrate on only one. His investigators are trying to eliminate the possibility that she is alive, looking along all paths where she could be, to in this way determine once and for all in what condition she actually is: alive or dead. One by one, they are discarding the indications that they are following in different countries and islands to arrive at a final conclusion.

On DIARIO’s part, we have insisted from the very beginning that there is no concrete evidence to prove that Natalee is alive, and there isn’t any to prove she is dead either.

At DIARIO we have made the point that, according to admissions made by the three suspects to the police, Natalee isn’t alive. The interview with Jamie had with Deepak also proves that the three (and possibly more people) had sexual relations with the young woman when she was constantly losing consciousness.

Additionally, there are other admissions in which the suspects said that “something bad” happened to Natalee. What is “something bad”, only the three suspects can tell us, because they were in her company when this happened.

Given all the factors involved, it is difficult not to express disappointment in the way the Dutch judge treated the case, setting the suspects free and permitting them to leave Aruba, despite the evidence of sexual assault contained in their admissions to police during interrogations and confirmed by Deepak in his interview with Jamie Skeeters, because in our laws, rape is punishable by prison! Apart from this, there is a declaration made by Joran that he believes that Deepak raped and killed Natalee on the beach. How could the judge not even interrogate him, and the other suspects, on this point of their admissions?

[translated by Getagrip]

11.17.2005

In the case of Natalee
Former government spokesperson creates even more anger against Aruba in the U.S.
DIARIO Aruba
11/16/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN) In the US, things are turning darker day after day for the country of Aruba, its image, and surely its tourism and financial future given the planned actions of the boycott.

It is more than logical that nobody wants to call themselves an Aruban or wants to beat their chest and say that they love this island and will defend it until the end, that they don’t want any manner of boycott against their island!

If everyone knows that in the US certain persons want to use the case of Natalee to create sensation, and while there isn’t a solution to the case, any declaration a little on the outrageous side on the part of Aruba, can end up adding fuel to the fire, then why are there in Aruba supposed heroes who believe that they can go confront them macho-style, who can do even more damage in the case of Natalee?

These are the questions that everyone who loves this island have to ask them because last Sunday again, unnecessary anger arose towards the American public who can see and hear via an American TV channel, how a former government spokesperson went to spin the case of Natalee by telling Americans that the war in Iraq was also something that Americans took care of in an incorrect way from the beginning.

What does the war in Iraq have to do with Aruba and how can this help us to solve the case of Natalee and surely avoid the boycott who will harm the whole island?

The former government spokesperson declared on FOX News Channel (when he was interviewed) that there were truly errors made in Aruba at the beginning of the investigation into Natalee’s case, but that the US also took care of the war in Iraq incorrectly from the beginning!

Well, this was fuel added to the fire of the American TV viewing public’s sentiments and the consequences of the preposterous declarations and statements of the former government spokesperson were to have more and more people in the US asking for a boycott of Aruba.

Appeals have been made to the public to put pressure on cruise ships to not come to Aruba. Until when will these macho acts continue from Aruba to result a total disaster for this island?

Is the former government spokesperson, who now works at the airport, aware that his preposterous statements can result in tomorrow not having any, or having few planes from the US landing in the same airport where he earns his very attractive salary?

Is the former government spokesperson who works at the airport aware that million-dollar investments that the sole owner of the actual work being done at the airport, is how he wins his bread, and is now jeopardized by his preposterous statements made towards the American public?

The time has come for the people of Aruba to pull themselves together and see how together they are going to get out of this problem which has been caused by a couple of people and now is affecting the future of the country of Aruba.

This is also a plea to the public for any person who knows anything, however small, about the case of Natalee, to please contact police and give the information that police are missing to solve this case.

For all those who believe that they can fight an elephant, while they are nothing more than an ant: you are doing more harm than you know and the majority of the people didn’t ask for you to do even more damage.

Instead of looking to confront the police corps, prosecutor, American press and a long list of more people and institutions who have to solve the case of Natalee, the best way to take care of this case when questions are asked, is not to get into confrontations with anyone, but to ask all persons or institutions, be they local or foreign, to help us solve the case because today Aruba stands alone in the battlefield, fighting alone against injustice with a people who have no art or part in this.

The fact is that if DIARIO will continue to work in Natalee’s case and also on other case of those who have lost loved ones (among others, the case of Amy Bradley, who disappeared from a cruise ship in 1998) until the truth comes to the light of day.

[translated by Getagrip]
Now, more than ever, we must show the real face of Aruba
A.M. Digital
11/17/2005

Now that Aruba is going through difficult times when in the US several personalities, organizations and individuals are calling for a boycott against Aruba because of the Natalee Holloway case, more than ever we must show our visitors, from wherever they are, that we indeed are a hospitable, friendly and always ready to help and assist.

It is very normal that many, if not all, of us are feeling rage when we hear a number of people that do not know us; that have never been here; that do not know our legal system; or that are simply guided by speculative information; are trying to prevent tourists to continue visiting our island.

On the other hand Aruba is and will continue to be an excellent destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors from the USA, Europe and Latin America. These are the people that must continue to feel our warmth, and continue to feel that we are humble, simple, honest and friendly, and that we appreciate our visitors.

Aruba has been known for those qualities for many years, and not only as just another “beach destination”. Our people have built Aruba as a tourism destination; it is because of our people that Aruba has the highest repeat visitor percentage in the Caribbean [and perhaps in the world]; it is because of the language skills of our people that Aruba can transmit its uniquely positive qualities all over the globe. Let’s keep it like that. Our visitors will continue to come because they know Aruba and its people. Now it is up to us to show that we have not changed, and continue to show our face: our only face!

Those that continue to arrive are those that do not believe in boycott, they deserve to be treated as we have always treated our visitors. Let’s try to prevent to show the rage that others have caused in us and keep treating our loyal visitors in the way we have always treated them. Let’s show that Aruba was, is, and will continue to be the greatest and let’s share that greatness with those that continue to believe in us. That is how we can show those that do not see, or do nor wish to see, the real Aruba, that we are still the same, and that the disappearance of a young American girl is an exception and not the rule.

Aruba continues to be a safe country, not only for its citizens but also for our visitors with whom we are proud to share our island.

[English language original text]

11.16.2005

Twitty does not give up
Amigoe
11/15/2055

ARUBA -The judge's decision about Paul van der Sloot no longer being a suspect does not surprise me. After all, they have set free three rapists in Aruba, says Beth Twitty, who continues to demand attention for the disappearance of her daughter, Natalee Holloway. And the thing is that she gets support from several talk shows and a handful of friendly politicians.

Greta van Susteren, Nancy Grace and Dr. Phil didn't loose their preference for the Holloway-case. Twitty is a guest in their show evening after evening, during which they insinuate, without proof, that Aruba is an unsafe place for tourists and that the legal system of Aruba is no good. Although Twitty does not directly appeal for a boycott of Aruba, she does indicate that she is very happy with the support she gets from the governor of Alabama. She makes it clear that it is about a group of friendly senators that have supported her from the beginning. The talk shows do not mention though that husband Jug Twitty is financially supporting their election campaigns [ed. false claim]. Apparently, Twitty had done some investigations on her own, but she doesn't want to give any details on these [ed. false claim]. There are strong indications that her daughter was abducted and taken to Venezuela to work as sex-slave [ed. Dr. Phil's opinion]. The only thing she wanted to say was that her detectives will act on all tips.

The American media does manage to get Aruban citizens in their program. Apparently, there are still people that do not realize that whatever they say, will be twisted just to support Twitty's case. Lawyer Arlene Elis-Schipper, the official spokeswoman of the Strategic Communications Task Force was exposed as a liar in one of the shows, after she tried to explain that the Public Prosecutor (OM) had not refused to talk to Beth Twitty. That the OM didn't talk to Twitty last week when she was in Aruba is because chief prosecutor Karin Janssen was in court in the morning, and Twitty had to catch a plane afterwards. "Twitty herself cancelled a meeting earlier and then she expects that everybody has to be available when it suites her", said Ellis-Schipper.

According to her, the boycott is based on the supposed refusal of the authorities to talk to the family of Natalee Holloway. She says that this is not true. She is of the opinion that the reports on the Internet willfully omit the issues that made her score in the show in question. She indicated in the show that the allegations of the family Holloway are based on rumours, are not supported by the government of the United States, and that the boycott can also hurt the State of Alabama.

[English language original text]

11.15.2005

SPA: Team will not be changed – it will be expanded
A.M. Digital
11/15/2005

After having taken note of several rumors, the Police Union (SPA) decided to meet with the [Natalee Holloway] Investigating Team to learn of the latest developments. SPA wished to know if is true that the Public Prosecutor sent a letter to Police Commissioner Bernadina to change the investigating team.

SPA has all the information and has taken the position not to permit any changes in the investigating team. If the Public Prosecutor and the Police Commissioner order the change just like, there will be no other alternative than to disobey such order. What assurance will the next group of detectives have that after a while Beth Twitty will not demand their removal when she sees fit?

After meeting with the investigating team it turned out that two of the members of the team are not feeling well and can not continue with the team because of their health condition. This was confirmed and as such SPA does not have any objections to, as proposed by Commissioner Bernadina, add more detectives to the team to help with the investigation. Two new members will certainly join the team and probably it will be expanded with another two to three detectives in order to speed up the investigation in the Natalee Holloway disappearance case.

[English language original text]

Will there be changes?
PP requests High Commissioner to effect changes immediately

A.M. Digital
11/15/2005




While the President of the Police Union (SPA) emphatically declared that his organization stands for the integrity and credibility of the Public Prosecutor and of the investigating team in the Natalee Holloway case, we understand that possibly there will be changes in the team.

Information has reached us that the Public Prosecutor (PP), mrs. Teresa Croes Fernandes Pedra, requested High Police Commissioner Bernadina in writing to apply some changes in the investigating team. In hierarchy of the local legal system the PP has the right to request changes from the Police Commissioner.

If indeed changes are made, this means that Commissioner Dompig will probably have to move although he replaced ex-Commissioner van der Straten who retired. In their letter to the PP the Twitty and Holloway families also request removal of detective Dennis Jacobs from the team. We do not know if the official who has been assisting Jacobs in this case will also be moved.

Commissioner Bernadina is finding himself in a very tedious situation and we think that only serious and intensive discussions within the Police Top will determine if, and how the changes will be made.


[English language original text]

11.14.2005

Investigative team will get new faces
Very dirty handling of the Holloway case in the prosecution’s office
DIARIO Aruba
11/14/2005

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Information DIARIO investigated the whole weekend is what happened with the letter which was sent directly to the attorney general at the Public Ministry by the Holloway and Twitty families to remove those mentioned by name, those in the investigative team orchestrated by the very same Public Ministry.

Dave Holloway, in a secret meeting with prosecutor Flanegin: on the basis of information we have continued to find and search for, about the people in our own Public Ministry, we have been able to uncover that Dave Holloway had a secret meeting with prosecutor Flanegin who apparently got the green light from the attorney general to speak with Dave Holloway in secret.

It is well known that the relationship between the chief prosecutor Karen Jansen and the attorney general Teresa Croes Fernandez-Pedra is not one of the best and because of this, communication between the two is not very good.

Still, it can be recalled how they had a disagreement with each other when the prosecutor notified the attorney general via a letter that it would be best if her daughter didn’t act as spokesperson for the Public Ministry in the case of the disappearance of Natalee, given that she looked like a kid.

This and more, was the reason that the relationship between the two of them turned bad. The day that Dave Holloway was in Aruba he conversed with prosecutor Flanegin and on the basis of this conversation some days later came the scathing letter demanding the removal of three people on the investigative team.

Still, one can recall the letter that appeared in DIARIO where it was asked to pull prosecutor Karen Jansen, Commissioner Dompig and investigator Dennis Cabez [Jacobs?]

This meeting took place at the invitation of Dave Holloway who called prosecutor Flanegin, who in turn asked for the attorney general’s permission who also gave her the green light. In this meeting were present Dave Holloway, prosecutor Flanegin and another American whose name was not released.

The meeting took place in a local restaurant and Dave Holloway asked many questions to prosecutor Flanegin who on a few occasions was in contact via telephone with the attorney general so that she could provide complete answers to Dave Holloway.

The truth came out that no one knew directly of the secret conversation between prosecutor Flanegin and Dave Holloway, but although it was hidden, one day reality came out and the hidden truth came to be known.

Karen Jansen confronted her colleague Flanegin with this fact and there was no other alternative than to confirm the truth and say or come out with everything and that behind her back, the attorney general gave the ok to speak with Dave Holloway in secret.

On this basis also, on Friday Karen Jansen brought an extensive letter to show her displeasure in and her distrust with her colleague.

In this way also it came out that the whole letter which came from the Twitty Holloway family was orchestrated by the very same people at the head of the Public Ministry and the attorney general who want to remove Karen Jansen and Commissioner Gerold Dompig, along with Dennis Jacobs.

The attorney general called the High Commissioner: related to this same letter, the attorney general continues to try to achieve her goal and apparently got in contact with the high commissioner and demanded that those mentioned in the letter be removed.

Perhaps the attorney general herself will take case of the Public Ministry and the high commissioner has to take care of the agents and commissioner at the head of the case of Natalee’s disappearance.

Perhaps the time has come for Karen Jansen to start coming out with things she knows because it is very clear that someone is trying to stab her in the back.

But the Public Ministry has a double edged sword. New faces starting today: starting today the investigative team will have new faces in the case of the investigation of Natalee Holloway.

This does not mean that those mentioned in the letter will no longer be there, but it does mean that people will enter the team which the attorney general will officially announce on Tuesday.

The wish to remove those in the police corps in the case of the disappearance of Natalee will surely not be honoured by the police command given that this would become a very serious situation where the message would end up being that no other people would work on the case anymore.

Or it will stay the same and they will put new extra people on the team, but nothing about removing those who are there and putting new people. This situation shows that many people have doubts about the investigation of the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

We have not heard anything: for some time we have not heard anything about the case of Natalee via official channels. It is sad if the Public Ministry is sending information to the American press but nothing to the local one.

When calling with questions for the prosecutor or the attorney general, they could not be located. The case of Natalee Holloway has resulted in many people at first talking, then deciding to stay quiet.

We at the local press cannot help the whole situation when there’s a public ministry or [cos robez?] who speaks to the American press which turns against the public ministry.

We hope that the public ministry also breaks the silence they have held so that everyone knows the truth or better still how this case is going and in this way everything ends because the real problem is being caused as much as for Aruba as for the public ministry itself where the attorney general is barbarically failing with her working system.

[translated by Getagrip]
According to FOX
Authorities in Aruba to interrogate Deepak, Satish and Joran again
DIARIO Aruba
11/14/2005

ORANJESTAD(AAN): There was a news report Sunday on FOX, where the channel said that investigators in Aruba are going to interrogate the three suspects in the case of Natalee Holloway, Joran van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe, and Satish Kalpoe, once again.

The anchor from FOX asked an ex-FBI agent what he thinks about this prospect, that after so many times the suspects were interrogated, that now this will happen once more.

The ex-FBI agent explained that maybe the investigators feel that there are still certain questions that remain unanswered after all the interrogations, or that maybe they have important new information that has come forward recently and that it would be good to speak with these youngsters once again.

Another FOX reporter indicated that he conversed with Commissioner Dompig recently, where he asked him his opinion about the fact that on the tape, Deepak Kalpoe said that they all three had sex with Natalee Holloway, when the young American wasn’t fully conscious.

The reporter said that Dompig confirmed that perhaps they will prosecute the suspects on rape charges.

The reporter also asked the ex-FBI agent what he thinks about the fact that Dompig wants to speak with Natalee Holloway’s classmates in the US.

The ex-FBI agent explained that he believes that these kids after all this time could have forgotten certain important details, which wouldn’t have been lost if this had happened at the beginning of the case.

However, he said that the he believes the FBI will interview the kids adequately if needed.

[translated by Getagrip]
Lampe asks for international investigation on the Holloway-case
Amigoe
11/12/2005

ARUBA – RED has requested an independent and international investigation on the entire development in the matter of the disappeared Natalee Holloway. The request was made during the emergency Parliament meeting on the appeal to boycott Aruba.

According to Rudy Lampe, this is the only way to get the Americans to have confidence in the integrity of the OM and the police corps again. You won’t achieve this by saying how beautiful Aruba is. That the Americans have doubt is due to the fact that the main suspects in this case were walking around free for 10 days; the public conflict between the Attorney General and the Chief Public Prosecutor; the fact that the Attorney General has prohibited the Chief Public Prosecutor to give statements; the statements of the investigation teams towards the Holloway family. “If you can prove that the level of integrity is high, you don’t have to be afraid when a foreign instance investigates this. It can only help you”, said Lampe.

[English language original text]
Paul van der Sloot no longer a suspect
Amigoe
11/12/2005

ARUBA – The Common Court of the Neth.Antilles and Aruba decided that Paul van der Sloot is longer a suspect in the Holloway case.

The court decided this in a lawsuit where Paul van der Sloot asks the National Government for compensation due to damages caused by his persecution in the Holloway-case.

Paul van der Sloot was detained from June 23rd up till the 26th in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The examining-magistrate decided then that there was not sufficient evidence against Van der Sloot and released him.

His lawyer thought that he was no longer a suspect and instituted a lawsuit for compensation. During the hearing of this lawsuit it appeared that the Public Prosecutor (OM) was still considering him as suspect. Lawyer Swaen was very surprised to hear this, because in an earlier letter he was told that his client was no longer a suspect. Swaen asked for a copy of the report, which he was denied because his client was not a suspect. The judge ruled yesterday that Van der Sloot is indeed no longer a suspect and that his compensation case can continue. He has to submit a foundation of the claim not later than December 1st and the OM has two weeks to react. The Court will decide on the claim early next year. The OM can also appeal yesterday’s decision of the Court.

[English language original text]

11.13.2005

They are interested in the version related to the investigation
U.S. requests declaration from head of Natalee’s investigation
DIARIO Aruba
11/12/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): As was previously published in Friday's edition, from sources generally in good standing, and it is DIARIO’s understanding that ‘Foreign Affairs’ has recently received a request from the US.

Apparently, the letter mentions that Washington is very interested in the matter of the disappearance of Natalee. It seems that government officials want a communiqué about how the investigation is going at this current time.

According to the source, there hasn’t yet been an answer nor has it been decided who will handle the request from American Congress members. It is not excluded that, according to our information, the justice department can give a communiqué exclusively according to the system and laws, they can give the FBI a version of the case.

It is not known in this case if there will be a delegation sent to America, headed by Attorney General Mrs. Teresa Croes Fernandez-Pedra related to the request, which at the moment is awaiting the competent authorities. In the course of Monday, there could be clarification about the letter sent from the US which is being handled by the department of Foreign Affairs.

[translated by Getagrip]
Eric Zaandam, president of SPA [police union]
People must rest assured that our judicial system is working correctly!
DIARIO Aruba
11/12/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN) – The president of the police corps union, Mr. Eric Zaandam, did an interview with DIARIO related to the direction in which the whole situation of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is now going.

Without a doubt, this seems like an endless matter, given that the Alabama Governor has started planning a boycott against Aruba in America, and here in Aruba, the Parliament came to a decision that an investigation into the investigative process and our involved authorities will take place, even with the intention to remove certain functionaries.

One could feel in Eric Zaandam’s voice a tone of sadness and disappointment about these latest developments, at a moment where he has given his strong opinion.

First of all, the words expressed by Mr. Zaandam are for the all the people of Aruba, who have given their unconditional support to the judicial system of our country.

According to Mr. Zaandam, he has been able to observe that there are people who want to create problems for the credibility of our justice system, they want to question the credibility of justice and for many of them, their motives are clearly personal, what has happened on various occasions and many others, for one reason or another, don’t like certain members of KPA or the prosecution.

“We must be very aware and this is a plea for the people of Aruba, to always have confidence in the police corps, in the prosecution’s office and in our judges.

Because the system that we have doesn’t favour anyone in any case. All cases are independent, all cases have to be presented not to say that it for family reasons that they will be favoured.

In what concerns the prosecution’s office, it is an institution which is completely independent, as well as our Organization of Judges who are appointed by the Kingdom, independently.

It is my belief that the people have to rest assured that justice is proceeding as it should”, Mr. Zaandam said emphatically.

[translated by Getagrip]
During a meeting in Holland
Minister Bot finds the matter of the boycott against Aruba a delicate one
DIARIO Aruba
11/12/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Information out of The Hague shows that in the meeting of the Council of ministers of the Kingdom, Friday November 11 2005, the topic of the Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s boycott against travel to Aruba was broached.

Although this point was not on the agenda of the Council of ministers of the Kingdom, substitute Plenipotentiary Minister, Mrs. Ella Tromp-Yarzagaray brought this forward given the urgent character of this issue.

After giving a summary of the latest developments and a description of the eventual consequences of an American boycott of Aruba, the mandatory made a petition to the Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ben Bot, to get in contact with his American counterpart, Ms. Condoleezza Rice.

Aruba is of the opinion that American authorities have to come out with a stronger declaration in the American press in regards to the action taken by the Alabama Governor, saying that the American Government does not support a boycott.

Minister Bot said that he will do this, but added that one must act with much precaution, because this case is very delicate. The Council of ministers of the Kingdom in its totality showed their solidarity to Aruba and emphasized the urgency of this issue.

Another point dealt with at the meeting of the council of ministers of the Kingdom is the installation of the Round Table Commission which counts with the participation of the Minister President of Holland, Minister President of the Antilles and Minister President of Aruba, as well as the installation of the Preparatory Round Table Commission which will do the preparatory work for the future nation restructuring of the Antilles.

It was decided that for most likely the date of November 26, 2005 there will be a Round Table Conference in Curaçao with the representatives of the 3 countries of the Kingdom and representatives of the insular territories.

Aruba brought forth that it supports the change to the Statute for the future restructuring of the Antilles of 5, but that this cannot turn around the autonomy of the country of Aruba.

Minister for Kingdom Issues Alexander Pechtold was in Aruba on the 15 of October and already had a conversation with Prime Minister Oduber about this matter.

[translated by Getagrip]
Judge rules in his favour
Paul van der Sloot’s case for damages and prejudice
DIARIO Aruba
11/12/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Attorney Arie Swaen told our publication last night that there was a case yesterday in court where a judgment was handed down for the case brought by his client Paul van der Sloot for damages and prejudice.

He also indicated that there was a difference of opinion between the Justice Officer and the lawyer Paul van der Sloot, in which the former said that the case against van der Sloot had not ended, and the latter said that it had ended. Here is were he launched a case for damages and prejudice that he had to file within 3 months of his case ending.

On this point, the judge said that he considers the case against van der Sloot over, for which, he said, they have to continue with the case and go see what is the sum for the damages and prejudice and deliver a document on December 1 at the latest after the Officer has had the opportunity to react and give her point of view.

Attorney Swaen let it be known that after December 15 the judge will take 3 weeks to arrive at his decision.

He explained that in this case damages and prejudice is related to immaterial damages and material damages that his client assumed in what he had to go through and the expenses that he incurred during his incarceration.

At this moment, the status of Mr. Paul van der Sloot is still active at the government’s service until the end of the year, Mr. Swaen indicated. He added that he has been working on a contract basis for the last 15 years in Aruba, but due to what has happened with his son he cannot be present at his work.

Still, it has not been decided in a precise manner what sum Paul van der Sloot will ask for, for damages and prejudice, everything depends of what is the information and his possibilities in the future, if he will find work [with the government] or not, and how much he will earn, among other things, Swaen underlined.

[translated by Getagrip]