Political Analysis
More harm again
DIARIO Aruba
12/08/2007

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Tourism is the most important lifeblood of our economy and it is incredible that neither our governors nor our private sector have reacted as they must. Our Public Ministry has become a total farce and a laughing stock nationally and internationally.

However, the latest actions of the Public Ministry has done immense harm to the economy of Aruba. All of the American press and a few from other countries are in Aruba again and nothing can be done to turn a negative development into a positive one. On the contrary, advertisements say that still Aruba is not feeling the negative effects of the latest blunder of the Public Ministry, supported by a Minister of Justice who still doesn’t know where his face is.

The truth is that by the extraordinary efforts from the hotels themselves, tourism stopped going down compared to the recent past. But now that the verdicts of the judge-commissioner saying that the Public Ministry did not have any footing for the recent detention of the three young men, the negative effects will hit Aruba’s economy hard again. It is more than clear that the government does not have any plan to try to minimize these negative effects.

Again, our governors are with their arms crossed from the recent events without having any idea of what to do about it. Apparently the private sector doesn’t seem to be prepared either to do the maximum so that the actions of the government (Public Ministry) of Aruba in this case do not cause great harm again. Once again, we have to emphasize that it is impossible to understand how the government is not using the situation when so many foreign reporters are in Aruba to invite them to give the positive side of Aruba instead of letting them on their own and decide what they will write and talk about Aruba.

Aruba’s name is under great pressure again because of the impotence of our presiding minister who is traveling to India with people not being able to understand what he could be doing there that is more important than the name of our island.

His travels would be understandable if he left behind a team of capable and well-prepared people to deal with the difficult situation we have here. But this is not the case. There is no team which is in charge to tend to the bad propaganda that we will have in these days. This illustrates the mentality if the MEP government in what regards the future of our country.

The interest of the ministers is only to only look after their own interests and those of their family and friends. In all senses, we are confronted with the phenomenon of a total lack of interest in the important issues for the development of our economy on behalf of the current government. It can’t be this way that under these circumstances the presiding minister is on a snoepreisje [?] and given what’s happening he doesn’t show any interest in what he has to do as presiding minister.

Our minister of tourism hasn’t come out with something to avoid harm to our country either. On various occasions we brought forth that the minister of tourism cannot help because of tourism, he knows nothing. What he must be in charge of is a lack of general management based on the expertise of professionals.

And while it is known that tourism is not his specialty and given how much expertise there must be to look after tourism in a professional manner, he has to look for people who know of this matter. He hasn’t done this. Now we are looking at the consequences of the lack of good management. The negative effects of the bad management will be felt by our people who have already had great difficulty living under the pressure of the unjust measures that our government has taken.

This is the mentality of the government that the ministers don’t look at the problem because when things are going badly and they don’t have enough money for the government, they have no problems in taking measures to make the people pay for the bad management.

In these past days we are observing how tourism is doing but also we are observing again all sectors in our community are living in silence in fear that the government will get angry at them. Bad government from the people who can only look after themselves and do not take the interests of our people to heart.

[translated by Getagrip]

According to Chief Prosecutor Mos
Regrettably the suspects kept their mouths shut for 2 weeks despite the fact that some of them had promised they would talk
DIARIO Aruba
12/08/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN): After the decision came down on Friday that one of the 3 suspects in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, Joran van der Sloot, went free, the press interviewed Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos and asked him about his thoughts now that all 3 suspects have regained their freedom.

Prosecutor Mos said that the Public Ministry expected this. He said that after the Hof took the decision to let the Kalpoe brothers go, he felt that J.S. would also be set free. The press asked mr. Mos if the O.M. will appeal and he said no.

He explained that the Hof was very clear in its last verdicts in regards to the detention of the Kalpoes and van der Sloot. Another appeal would not accomplish anything. The press asked the prosecutor if the renewed detention of the 3 suspects was a last attempt to be able to abide by the deadline at the end of December to be able to bring a case against them.

According to Mos, it was the Public Ministry which set itself the December 31 deadline, because the suspects also have to know where they stand.

The detentions came down again, because they noted that the suspects were free and there was much investigative material that they had not confronted with. If they would have been invited, perhaps they would not have come to give a statement [voluntarily].

The Public Ministry found that the evidence material was so important that they had to confront them with this. What was salient, according to Mos, was that the 3 suspects kept their mouths shut during 2 weeks, despite the fact that some of them had said that they would relate exactly what happened.

Given that they didn’t talk, the judge got to the point where he had doubts that their detention was still relevant. Mos is 'fastioso' [annoyed?] on behalf of Natalee’s parents because they want to know what happened to their daughter and is also 'fastioso' [annoyed?] on behalf of the Public Ministry who wants to solve the case.

But the suspects made use of their right to remain silent. Mos continued to say that the Hof’s decisions are important for this case, because now they will evaluate what they will do, whether it be to prosecute the suspects or stop the case against them.

The press indicated that there is a big chance that the case will be stopped and Mos said that this is true, because they cannot prosecute people if there is not enough basis to do so. He said, however, that he will evaluate if there are other accusations upon which the suspects can be brought forth in a case.

[translated by Getagrip]

Joran goes free at noontime yesterday
DIARIO Aruba
12/08/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN)--- The Aruban press was again discriminated against at KIA yesterday when they went to cover the exit of Joran v.d. Sloot from KIA.

They were present at KIA from 1 o’clock but Tele Aruba was inside already and they also permitted American journalists to go inside KIA, while they prohibited the Aruban journalists from entering and doing their jobs.

It could also be observed that at Joran’s exit that he lowered the car window every time there was an American journalist, but when passing by Aruban journalists, the window was closed to prevent us from taking his picture.

The photos here were taken from far showing the American journalists at the entrance of the KIA building and at the moment when Joran came out, taken with a long lens from more or less 100 meters away.

[translated by Getagrip]

Decision about prolongation of Joran va der Sloot’s detention may come down today
DIARIO Aruba
12/07/07

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Thursday, there were many false rumours going around that Joran van der Sloot, suspect in the case of the disappearance and death of Natalee Holloway, had been set free.

This, however, wasn’t true. Thursday, the prolongation of his detention was heard, and his lawyer and the judge responsible for this presented themselves at KIA.

All of the Public Ministry’s points against Joran were brought forth once again and if everything goes well, today the decision will come down as to whether Joran will remain in KIA or if he can go back home.

Prosecutor Kruimel also tells DIARIO that she was surprised that the false news came out that Joran had already been set free. DIARIO will continue to follow this case closely as always and bring forth any new development.

[translated by Getagrip]

After judge’s sentence, Public Ministry admits
Authorities cannot prove violent death of Holloway
Investigation of the case will continue
DIARIO Aruba
12/06/2007

ORANJESTAD (AAN) — After the judge dictated his sentence in the Holloway case yesterday, we received a press release from the Public Ministry. The release said the following: “Today, the Common Court of Justice rejected the Public Ministry’s appeal in the case against the suspects S.K. and D.K. Monday, December 3, 2007 the Public Ministry appealed the judge-commissioner’s decision of November 30, 2007 to reject the request to prolong their detention (bewaring).

The hearing of the appeal case took place yesterday, Tuesday, December 4, behind closed doors. During the hearing, the suspects D.K. and S.K. were personally present. The hearing of the appeal - minus a short pause – lasted more or less two hours, during which the interim Prosecutor-General was able to explain his reasoning as to why the Public Ministry was not in agreement with the judge-commissioner. Later, the suspects’ lawyers were able to react upon to the Public Ministry’s arguments.

In brief, the Common Court gave the following explanation: Although there has been a long and deep investigation of this case, the file against the Kalpoe brothers doesn’t have direct indications that Natalee Holloway died from an act of violence. If the current phase of the investigation - 2 ½ [years] after her disappearance – is taken into consideration, the Common Court is of the opinion that neither are there sufficient indications or objections to suspect that the brothers were involved in the crimes for which the Public Ministry requests their preventive detention.

It is not possible to appeal the decision of the Common Court. This decision as to the preventive detention doesn’t mean that the investigation cannot continue and/or that it is not possible to prosecute the suspects.

The investigation of this case will continue. In the case against J.v.d.S., Thursday, December 6, 2007, the judge-commissioner will hear the Public Ministry’s request to prolong his detention and also his lawyer’s request to terminate his preventive detention.”

This is how the Public Ministry’s press release read.

[translated by Getagrip]

Kalpoe brothers maintain their freedom
DIARIO Aruba
12/06/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Wednesday afternoon, the decision came down from the court, in what relates to the Public Ministry’s appeal against Deepak and Satish Kalpoe. As it is known, these brothers, who are suspected of having something to do with the death and disappearance of Natalee Holloway, were recently detained one more time, after quite a long time of having been set free.

Recently, the judge decided that there wasn’t enough new proof to prolong the detention of the Kalpoes.

Because of this, it was decided that they be set free and last Saturday, they left the police station to go back home.

The Public Ministry wasn’t in agreement with the judge’s decision and decided to appeal.. After the case took place on Tuesday, the Hof judge sent his decision Tuesday, which stated that the Kalpoes should remain free.

Now, it must be seen if the Public Ministry has enough basis to bring a criminal case by the end of December, which is the date that they set to either bring a criminal case, or to decide that the brothers are not suspects in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

[translated by Getagrip]

During the appeal of the case against the Kalpoes, the removal of their privileges was also dealt with
DIARIO Aruba
12/05/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN): The appeal of the case that the Public Ministry undertook against the Curacao judge’s decision to set Deepak and Satish Kalpoe free took place Wednesday morning.

Friday of last week, the judge found that there wasn’t enough new evidence to prolong the detention of the brothers, who are suspected of being involved in the death and disappearance of the young American, Natalee Holloway.

On Saturday afternoon they were set free, but now the Public Ministry indicates that they would appeal the judge’s decision.

Tuesday morning, the case, which was closed to the press, started at around 10:30 in the morning and after a short noontime pause, the case continued for one hour.

During the case, the prosecutor tried to show the judge that they have sufficient reason to put the Kalpoe brothers back in detention. During the treatment of the case, they also dealt with the issue of removal of the suspects’ privileges during their detention, such as the prohibition to read newspapers, watch television or receive visits from family and friends.

Given that the brothers are no longer locked up, this could be considered irrelevant, however the lawyers asked that this be dealt with and the judge agreed, in case the decision of the Hof is to put the suspects back in detention.

In the course of today [Wednesday], the judge will send his decision to the two parties of this case, to the lawyers.

As to Joran van der Sloot, there are big indications that today the judge will also take a decision whether his detention will be prolonged for 60 days or not. This, given that the period of his preventive detention ends Thursday.

[translated by Getagrip]

According to attorney Figaroa
Deepak is happy and more relaxed now that he’s out of detention
DIARIO Aruba
12/04/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Monday, DIARIO interviewed attorney Jose Figaroa, who currently represents Deepak Kalpoe, about his client’s freedom, which he regained Friday, after which he was let go from KIA on Saturday.

According to Figaroa, after he got the good news that his client was going to be set free, he informed him about it.

Saturday at around 4:30 he went along with attorney Zeppenveld to get Satish at San Nicolas, after which they went to his house.

After this, they went to get Deepak at Shaba and brought him home. Deepak is happy and more relaxed now that he is home.

DIARIO asked Figaroa what is the status of his client’s interrogation. He said that from what he understands, they spoke with him a couple of times.

Not every day, but they did speak with him. The attorney explained that the Public Ministry appealed the decision to let Deepak and Satish go, but he still doesn’t know what day this will take place.

Figaroa explained that he maintains that they don’t have anything new to be able to lay blame on what his client is accused of. DIARIO asked if he is also monitoring the situations of the other suspect, namely Joran van der Sloot.

According to the attorney, Joran van der Sloot’s attorney asked for his client to also be set free immediately, after the decision came down as to the Kalpoe brothers.

[translated by Getagrip]

Parents Holloway in conversation with OM Aruba for hours
Amigoe.com
12/04/2007

ORANJESTAD – The parents of the disappeared American Natalee Holloway, Beth Reynolds (Twitty) and Dave Holloway have talked for hours with justice as well as with the police. They won’t comment yet on the contents of the conversations. The brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe were sent home on that same day.

The two fellow-suspects of Joran van der Sloot – all three are still being suspected of voluntary manslaughter on Natalee Holloway – were released one at a time from custody; Satish at 15:30 from the police station in Shaba and Deepak at 16:30 from the one in Noord.

The Public Prosecutor has meanwhile indicated that they will appeal the decision of the examining magistrate, who expressed his objection on extending the brothers’ custody. All three the boys, inclusive Van der Sloot, are still being considered suspects, but the objections are not enough to maintain the custody of the two brothers Kalpoe. Ariean de Bie, Van der Sloot’s lawyer thinks that his client will also be released soon. He doesn’t think that there is more material than the 12.5 pages of evidence that the lawyers received last week. “The incredible self-assurance of the investigators in Aruba about the evidence they have in the Holloway-case, surprises me”, said De Bie after the Kalpoe’s were sent home. It won’t be difficult for the lawyer to defend the case when it comes before the judge. “It will be a great effort though, because the dossier is big.”

De Bie is of the opinion that the OM has still not succeeded in the investigation. Especially the American side is according to him, totally underexposed. “Natalee Holloway has a very active mother and an arms merchant as stepfather that apparently has contacts in the White House. The FBI did some interrogations in the US, but not thoroughly enough. There are many questions to be asked on this.”

Beth Twitty question for several hours on Saturday
Kalpoe brothers set free Saturday afternoon
Public Ministry still has time to appeal
DIARIO Aruba
12/03/2007

ORANJESTAD (AAN): DIARIO was present at the San Nicolas and Shaba police stations when the two Kalpoe brothers were set free on Saturday afternoon. A decision that the judge-commissioner stationed in Curacao took after he didn’t see much new in the evidence the Public Ministry used to catch the three suspects again.

This is what the lawyers for the suspects also expressed during the interview they gave to us after they nabbed the three suspects. It seemed rather that the investigative team along with Dutch experts shook up what they already had and in so doing nabbed the three suspects with the approval of the Public Ministry.

Attorney Jose Figaroa went to the Shaba police station to pick up his client while at first it was attorney Elgin Zeppenfeld of the law firm Kock and Wix who went to pick up Deepak [Satish?] Kalpoe at San Nicolas.

At the Kalpoe family home there was a big quantity of media present awaiting their return. Now the attorney for Joran van der Sloot is also waiting on the decision the judge-commissioner will take on the prolongation of his client’s detention.

Meanwhile, Beth Twitty, the mother of Natalee Holloway, arrived in Aruba Saturday and police went to get her at a high rise hotel in Oranjestad and went with her to the police station. There she was questioned for six long hours.

This week will determine what will happen with the detention of Joran van der Sloot and if the Public Ministry will still appeal today the decision of the judge-commissioner that set the first two suspects free.

[translated by Getagrip]

Brothers Kalpoe are outside again
Chief public prosecutor Hans Mos indicated that the OM will appeal the decision of the examining magistrate to release the brothers Kalpoe from custody.
Amigoe.com
12/03/2007


ORANJESTAD – The two fellow suspects of Joran van der Sloot (20), the brothers Deepak (24) and Satish (21) are again released from custody today. The Public Prosecutor (OM) has requested an extension of the custody today, but the examining magistrate ruled against it. The OM has meanwhile announced that she will appeal this decision.

The examining magistrate says that it’s true that the current dossier of the two suspects contains serious ‘objections’ against them, but not enough to keep them longer in custody. Custody based on the current evidence is not allowed. This evidence was the wiping out of traces of a crime scene and the spiriting away of a body, said a spokesperson of the OM. The two brothers remain suspects of voluntary manslaughter or in any case, serious bodily harm that resulted in the death of Natalee Holloway.

Van der Sloot’s mother is according to reports, very happy that the two brothers are outside again, but she doesn’t know what it would mean for her son. Ten persons were arrested since the disappearance of Holloway, but nobody is officially charged yet.

Chief public prosecutor, Hans Mos finds it striking that the custody of the Kalpoe’s is not extended, while it is based on ‘almost’ the same dossier as that of Van der Sloot. “Were his objections serious enough to extend his custody? It looks like he has a different role in the case.”

Joran van der Sloot’s custody was extended with eight days early this week. An extension with 60 days will be considered late next week. The objection that his lawyer Ariean de Bie has lodged against the restrictions imposed on Van der Sloot, is meanwhile dismissed by the Common Court of the Neth.Antilles and Aruba. The restrictions were eased a little though since his arrest. He received a bible and reading matters. The request to receive visitors, like his mother, brother, a ‘different lawyer’ and friends, was dismissed. He cannot have contact with other prisoners, he cannot watch TV, he cannot make telephone calls and write letters, and cannot read current reading material, like newspapers and magazines. He is now allowed to sport under supervision.

BETH

In the meantime, the mother of Natalee Holloway, Beth Reynolds (Twitty) has arrived in Aruba. She and her former husband, Dave Holloway have a meeting with the OM today. Dave Holloway is also waiting for the arrival of a special investigation-boat to scan the seabed around Aruba again for possible traces of his daughter. The boat is expected to arrive at the end of next week and allows him to search to a three-kilometer depth. The former search action only reached a depth of 100 meters.