Dave Holloway asks for the cooperation of the people of Aruba to help with tips and information
Solo di Pueblo
10/22/2005

STA. CRUZ – Mr. Dave Holloway, father of Natalee Holloway, is in Aruba doing what he has always come here to do, to look for his daughter who disappeared May 30, 2005 in Aruba. Mr. Holloway has always spoken well of Aruba, of the contact he has had with the Police, Prosecution and others. After some people in Alabama asked for a boycott against Aruba, Dave Holloway and his wife Holly [s/b Robin] went on American television to categorically counteract the boycott petition.

Mr. Holloway only has praise for the local authorities and is happy that Commissioner Dompig is actively involved with the investigation whose goal is to resolve the case as soon as possible. Mr. Holloway has constant contact with the Strategic Communications Task Force of Aruba to create a close communication and cooperation. Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) and Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA) wants to make an urgent appeal to anybody who has information that can help the Natalee Holloway case, to call the following phone number: 582-3777.

[translated by Getagrip]

According to Commissioner Dompig
This is not the perfect crime and he regrets that Beth Twitty isn’t coming for questioning
Solo di Pueblo
10/21/2005

STA. CRUZ – Police Commissioner Dompig and the Coast Guard chief made a big petition for the community to give police tips in regards to the case of Natalee Holloway. They asked for more people to call if they haven’t called before to give tips. According to Dompig, the investigation of the case hasn’t stopped but because the American media attention is no longer like a circus it seems like the investigation has ceased. Now that the team has made their investigation the focus is narrower. They have different leads and tips on which they are working. They have a pair of the pieces of the puzzle missing and Dompig is asking to forget the reward and think of their family, their kids and the name of Aruba, if anyone has any information to come forward to the police.

Commissioner Dompig doesn’t believe in the perfect crime, that if there is one or more persons who knows something, they can help police with this case. Dompig asked that they come forward and that the phone number of the Noord Police station is 587-0009 ext, 101. They can call another police station, but the number given is that of the team working on the Natalee Holloway case. Dompig assures that if someone wants to remain anonymous, this is also possible. There isn’t now the same amount of police working on the case as before. The tranquility was necessary, now more tips are needed to solve the puzzle,

They have a part of the information that was missing before and because some believe that the tips they have are not important, perhaps this is the piece that is missing. Dompig asks for Natalee’s mom to be available for more questioning, but just now, the mother decided that she will not come back to Aruba. Dompig hopes that the mother didn’t get scared because she heard that police wants her to give more declarations to the Aruban police and that for this reason she doesn’t want to come back. According to Dompig he says that the declarations of the mother are very important and that the family is a crucial part to investigate in any case. The FBI is cooperating with the Aruban authorities.

[translated by Getagrip]

Natalee Case
Underwater search with special camera
DIARIO Aruba
10/21/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): It is almost 5 months since the Alabama student, Natalee Holloway, went missing in Aruba.

However, the investigation has not stopped. Although the 3 principal suspects were set free, the investigation continues.

A special team from DIARIO that is also conducting a separate investigation, is still active and is using all available avenues to locate Natalee.

This [search] took a new turn, Thursday morning, when this group went out with an underwater camera, which was sent here especially by an American company.

This special camera is attached at the back of a boat. The camera is similar to a miniature submarine, which has special accessories to maintain a correct balance under the water.

On board the boat, a special monitor is connected to an image recorder, which records everything that the camera captures underwater. Apart from this, it also gives information as to the geographical location, using GPS navigation.

With the apparatus dragging behind a boat, they will look in the area around the Fisherman’s Huts. However the sea did not cooperate Thursday.

The DIARIO team saw that the waters were very rough, and despite the special equipment, it was difficult to keep the camera steady.

That is why today Friday, the DIARIO team will go to the sea again to check with this special camera. An American team is lending assistance to the operation, and to the logistics of the search.

Thursday it was noted that there was a bit more slack missing for the camera to go further down, but today, everything is set beforehand so that it goes better [than yesterday].

[translated by Getagrip]

Cruise Ship tourist protests in front of Courthouse
DIARIO Aruba
10/20/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): An American tourist who arrived Wednesday to our island on board the cruise ship “Volendam” of the Holland America Line, came determined to hold a protest in front of the courthouse.

Dressed in a t-shirt that says in the front: “Give Natalee Justice” and in the back “No Body ≠ No Crime”, the tourist expressed her opinion about Natalee’s case in silence.

Read in our edition from today what motivated Mrs. Maggie to take this type of action.

[translated by Getagrip]

Lawsuit Kalpoe against Skeeters too expensive
Amigoe.com
10/20/2005

ARUBA – “My client has limited means and cannot just institute a lawsuit in the United States”, said lawyer Rudi Oomen about the rumours that his client Deepak Kalpoe will take legal proceedings against Jamie Skeeters in the States. Skeeters is the man that recorded a conversation with Kalpoe and sold it to Dr. Phil’s TV-show.

Oomen indicated that if there are possibilities to bring charges against Skeeters without it costing too much money, they will definitely consider it. “I’m still looking for those possibilities.” Kalpoe would have said on the tape that all the three boys had sex with Holloway. Therefore, on the Internet-sites on the Holloway-case and in the American TV-shows, the tape is being considered as evident of guilt of Joran van der Sloot, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe. According to Oomen, Kalpoe had never said this. “Everybody can hear that tape was put together with cutting and pasting.”

The Public Prosecutor (OM) would like to get hold of the tape in order to investigate its authenticity. But in exchange for this, an OM agent has to appear in the TV-show of Dr. Phil. Oomen: “I have advised the OM to take the official course and submit a legal assistance request..” Oomen says that also his client wishes the tape to be investigated, because Kalpoe is positive that the tape was tempered with. Skeeters had posed as somebody that wants to help Kalpoe in the Internet-café where he works. There conversation was secretly taped and months later broadcasted in Dr. Phil’s TV-show.
Kalpoe wants some peace and quiet at this moment. Kalpoe could pick up his belongings, including his car today. He doesn’t understand why the OM had kept these for so long. It took Oomen to threat the OM with a lawsuit for them to finally release the car.

Holloway-case presented to Pechtold
Amigoe.com
10/18/2005

ARUBA – The committee Concerned Citizens of Aruba has called in the minister of Governmental Renewal and Kingdom Relations, Alexander Pechtold. The group would like the minister to do something with the negative publicity on the American TV, resulting from the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

The group is very concerned about the constant stream of negative news of the American media. “Every day, the American media is shamelessly questioning our Dutch judicial system, while they do not have relevant information on this.”

Especially with the call for boycotting Aruba as vacation destination by Dr. Phil and the Twitty family, they are trying to influence our court procedure. As much as 270 viewers watch Dr. Phil’s TV program. The Concerned Citizens say that Aruba and her citizens have done everything to find the missing girl. Aruba has spent a lot of money and effort, but no trace of the girl. All it led to is that Aruba is terrorized and is literally trampled.

The Concerned Citizens are of the opinion that Aruba is powerless to do anything about this overwhelming conspiracy. They make an urgent appeal to Pechtold to use the legal channels and stop the incorrect and negative publicity in the American media and the many talk shows and the call for boycott against Aruba.

Holland wants to see another Minister of Justice
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005


ORANJESTAD (AAN) - Information is circulating from the political core of Holland that shows that the Dutch government wants to see another face at the head of the Ministry of Justice of Aruba. This is also what the Dutch minister Pechtold, who was recently visiting Aruba, let be known to the government of Aruba.

During the last 4 years of government there were various cases of confrontation between Aruba’s justice minister with Dutch government mandataries. There were very strong letters sent from the justice minister of Aruba and his principal advisor to the Dutch government and there were also very strong expressions from the part of the justice minister against the Dutch government.

The results of the election put the same MEP government to sit and govern for the following period and in turn, the Dutch government has put pressure and shown the government of Aruba, via Prime Minister Nel Oduber, that the Dutch government wants to see another face as minister of justice. While formator Nilo Swaen has everybody busy with meetings with unions to hear from unions what the government knows full well for some time, that in reality the government knocked heads to please the same people from the party and also has taken into account that Holland wants to see certain changes in the governing of Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]

Related to the Natalee Holloway case
Tourism has practically not declined
however, Americans want information on the Holloway case, when coming across people from Aruba
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): During the AHATA press conference, DIARIO asked about the latest developments in regards to the issue of the Aruba boycott Beth Twitty asked for.

According to the AHATA CEO, who also forms part of the Strategic Communications Task Force, there are rumours circulating that Beth Twitty will soon come back to Aruba, however it is his understanding that for the time being, she is not coming back.

According to Pesquera, the media attention is now sporadic. DIARIO asked Pesquera what are his thoughts about the possibility that she will come back to Aruba soon.

According to AHATA’s CEO, it will be good for the people of Aruba to do what they have always done, which is to treat all people with respect and remain a people of warmth, which we are known to be.

DIARIO asked Jeff Lesker how he feels with the effects until now, in regards to American tourists, especially those who have never come to Aruba.

According to Lesker, we cannot forget that the mother is still suffering due to her daughter being still missing.

He continued to say that although he respects Beth Twitty’s opinion, that is perhaps not correct, but has to be above all be respected. However, Lesker showed that when speaking of a boycott, when this normally takes place, is when a country for example produces nuclear arms or something along these lines.

According to Lester, it is important for the correct information about the aspects of the case to reach the mother, so that she doesn’t use incorrect information in the future, and in so doing shine a negative light on Aruba.

Lesker continues to say that either Beth Twitty likes to use incorrect information (which according to Lesker he doesn’t believe to be the case), or the mother has much incorrect information that she has found.

With regards to the opinion of potential tourists, Lesker says that now that they are promoting Aruba out of the country, the first thing that Americans are asking if they know you are from Aruba, is for information about the case, to get a more clear perspective of what has happened and not happened.

Especially seeing that there are many people who saw the Dr. Phil program, Lesker explains that if, that he feels that things are changing in a positive manner for us, in what relates to the Natalee Holloway case, because people are starting to get tired of the case where there are no new developments ahead.

The press asked Jorge Pesquera if people of the Task Force or others from Aruba succeeded in speaking to Dr. Phil, however Pesquera explains that they tried to get in touch with a Dr. Phil producer to find out if there’s going to be a 2nd part to the case of Natalee Holloway, to in this way also give their view on the program and if there is a possibility see the other side of the coin.

With regards to taking legal steps against the mother or Dr. Phil, Pesquera explains that experts indicated that this would not be a good idea. According to AHATA’s president, Jeff Lesker, a good idea to deal with the issue is to first to deal with tourism.

He explains that now that things are slow with tourism, a lot of people believe that at this time, it isn’t good to engage in marketing projects. According to Lesker it is just at this time that it will be good to have a good marketing plan in place.

Lesker explains that Aruba is now working hard to promote the island, in order to be in solid standing. He explains that perhaps tourism is a little down when compared to last year, however last year was a record one.

According to AHATA’s president, ATA, under the guidance of the government, is also focusing on this and is hard at work on ‘Marketing’, especially seeing that it has a tourism budget of 40 million, compared with the 3 million AHATA has for the same.

[translated by Getagrip]

Kalpoe brothers get their passports back
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): The Public Ministry [prosecution’s office] recently gave back the Kalpoe brothers their passports. All material previously confiscated during the Hooiberg search was given back.

One of the belongings in question was the passport of the youngsters Deepak, as well as Satish Kalpoe. Their lawyer confirmed this to DIARIO.

This means that the Kalpoe brothers have their legal documents back to travel. It is doubtful that they can do this, since the judge clearly indicated that they cannot leave Aruba.

In the meantime, Tuesday afternoon a person insisted that they saw Joran van der Sloot back in Aruba. Some people saw Joran with his mother in a fast food restaurant.

However, there was no additional confirmation about this, or if it’s true that the 18 year old has returned. It is a bit illogical, because why would he return to Aruba if he’s going to school? An analyst indicated that people perhaps mistook his younger brother for him.

[translated by Getagrip]

During meeting with ATIA and CofC
President Chavez is also a preoccupation of Minister Pechtold of Holland
Solo di Pueblo
10/19/2005

STA. CRUZ – During a meeting with Minister Pechtold, representatives of ATIA [Aruba Trade & Industry Association] and the Chamber of Commerce succeeded in speaking about different topics, among others the financial situation of Aruba, which Minister Pechtold is well aware of and also preoccupied about. The case of Natalee Holloway was also a topic of discussion and he promised that he will help Aruba in some aspect.

But the issue of Venezuela was a preoccupation for ATIA, especially now that President Chavez is looking for nuclear technology from Argentina, knowing full well that the US is against this and ATIA’s preoccupation is that if American feels it has to act in a military fashion, surely Aruba will feel the effects. Another thing is that Chavez has mentioned that he considers Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao part of the Venezuelan territory, as far as he’s concerned.

They were very satisfied about the conversation with Minister Pechtold in regards to both instances.

[translated by Getagrip]

Quiet visit Pechtold
Amigoe
10/14/2005

ARUBA – The biggest part of the conversations of the Dutch Kingdom Relations-minister, Alexander Pechtold, was about the formation of the new government, but he didn’t want to interfere as regards content. He only wanted to exchange thoughts in a relaxed atmosphere.

He exchanged thought about the financial deficit of the government with Prime Minister Nelson Oduber. He is curious about how the next government is going to tackle these problems. As part of this, Pechtold also met with the chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce and ATIA, Edwin Roos and Serge Mansur respectively. According to both chairmen, the conversations were productive but didn’t comment on the contents. Also the new opposition members Rudy Lampe (RED) and Monica Arends-Kock (MPA) were on Pechtold’s list of appointments. He has already talked with Mike Eman (AVP) in the Netherlands. Lampe and Arends-Kock informed Pechtold about their political vision and what they are going to do as parliamentarians. Pechtold has returned to the Netherlands by now.

Government has its hand over Michael Posner’s head? Notorious Chicago figure active in Aruba casino
DIARIO Aruba
10/17/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Some time ago DIARIO found information regarding the manager of the Holiday Inn’s Excelsior Casino and people have been calling out to ask how a figure with a criminal past of such an extent can be active in the casino industry of Aruba.

His name? Michael Posner, owner (or one of the owners) of the Brickel Hotel situated in front of the big hotels in Malmok. In the past he was arrested in the state of Illinois for violation of the Ricco Act (racketeering) and because he was also involved in the world of prostitution.

He was condemned to 10 years in prison, but apparently he served 8 out of the 10 years. He appealed his case and lost the appeal! After he was released he was on parole for 5 years. His name is also mentioned as an associate of a notorious family.

DIARIO knows that the government is at the height of such people, and asks how he can be active in the casino industry of Aruba. How did he find a permit to work in this branch with the background that he has? How has the Minister of Justice still not taken action against him? Now that his criminal past is known, what is the government waiting for to take him out of Aruba?

During the [election] campaign which recently came to an end, many comments and rumours were circulating regarding contributions to certain politicians, including those in the [current] government. DIARIO hopes that the issue of campaign moneys remain a rumour, because if true, then there are more politicians for sale than is [already] apparent.

The presence of Michael Posner in the Aruba casino industry, with the criminal past that he has, does not speak well of the judicial control system, nor that of National Security, nor of those in charge to check the background of those who work in the tourism industry of Aruba.

This is the damage that one person with such a bad reputation, who was incarcerated during 8 years, who is associated with a notorious family in America, can cause to the tourism of Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]

Murder Victim’s family is angry with how investigation is going
Case reconstruction took place last Thursday night in Sabana Basora
DIARIO Aruba
10/14/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): In the month of June, a cruel case took place in Sabana Basora that shocked not only those who live in the neighborhood but also the whole community.

A man who showed no signs of life was discovered in the surroundings of Santana Central in Sabana Basora.

It deals with the body of a man with multiple cuts on his body. His throat was almost exposed.

At once, suspicion arose that this was a serious case, murder with criminal hands involved. Various suspicions arose, which dealt with a possible hit, reprisal, and a number of other versions circulated. At the moment when the authorities discovered the body, they checked the house where the victim lived, and there discovered a lot more blood.

In this end, it is illustrated why the case was that authorities concentrated here, because in their point of view this was the place where the crime took place.

The victim was living in this house with a woman, and she is one of the first ones to have noticed. In the first instance, the suspicion didn’t point towards the woman. Due to her acting in such a way that the suspicion was not aimed in her direction.

However, slowly, on the basis of the investigation and also compiled reports, the finger was pointed in her direction.

Investigators in charge of the case found sufficient indication that the woman was involved in the murder, for which it decided with the support of the Public Ministry [prosecutor’s office] to detain her.

In this way, the interrogation started and the woman came head down that she committed the cruel act. She showed that she used a machete with which she held the man in such a way that he could not resist and by consequence he died from the multiple serious wounds he received.

Apparently, the woman committed the act as a reprisal. What the reprisal consisted of is not clear. It’s the Court of Justice that will tend to this cruel case.
One point that still no one can believe and cannot comprehend is that the woman alone committed the act. Possibly there is one or more persons involved.

The question has arisen, if it’s true that the woman has such strength to launch this attack, hoist the man in a pickup and transport him from the house to the Santana area, where the lifeless body of Rene van Heinegin was discovered. The woman, Yesenia Castillo, is in KIA at this moment.

On the evening hours of Thursday, authorities conducted a reconstruction of the case where the female suspect was transported to the location to give details of what happened.

DIARIO found, that the investigator prepared this event along with TOD and the prosecutor for the reconstruction to take place.

Victim’s family is none too happy

“While they can’t even resolve the case of Natalee Holloway…what is of a poor dark skinned San Nicolas born Arubian?” This is the reaction of the family of the deceased, Rene van Heinegin, which they indicated to DIARIO in a telephone interview from St. Maarten.

They explain that the majority of the siblings live in St. Maarten and Holland. Only the parents are still in Aruba, but the great anger comes from the family not getting any sort of ‘feedback’ from the criminal investigation that’s under way.

The case of their brother isn’t finding attention like that of Natalee’s? Because their brother is a dark skinned Arubian? “If the investigator can’t resolve Natalee’s case, how can they solve the crime of their own people?” said the sister to DIARIO.

The look at the case this way: A dark skinned Arubian from San Nicolas is cruelly killed in a new district. But everything is going quite slow and no sort of information is reaching them.

To top it all off, a sibling was told that police in Aruba was going to conduct the reconstruction of events this coming Sunday. Now he calls, they tell him that suddenly the reconstruction took place last Thursday evening. And the parents in Aruba are without a vehicle and could not find a way to get to the place. In the end, they couldn’t get there.

Simply said, the families are none too happy with the investigations that are currently taking place in Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]

Investigation In N. Holloway Case Still Ongoing
Aruba.com
10/11/2005

The investigation into the disappearance of the American tourist N. Holloway is still ongoing. The investigation continues and the team is searching for new leads that may help solve this case. At the same time, the investigation that has been done until now is being revised and evaluated.

The Public Prosecutor's Office is of the opinion that it's important to bring the following forward with regards to how criminal investigations are conducted on the island of Aruba. The Public Prosecutor's Office is an institute that has been established by law and the office forms part of the administration of justice and the judicial power on Aruba. The Public Prosecutor's Office has specific tasks that are lain down in the laws of the island. One of the most important tasks, which is carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office as a part of the judicial power on Aruba, is the persecution of criminal acts. The Public Prosecutor's Office carries out this task by leading the criminal investigation that is done by the police. After the investigation is finished, the Public Prosecutor's Office decides if a case will be brought before a judge through a citation.

In the persecution of criminal acts, the Public Prosecutor's Office operates completely independent from the Minister of Justice and the Government of Aruba. The Public Prosecutor's Office does not have to justify its actions with regards to the persecution of criminal acts to the Minister of Justice or the Government of Aruba. All the accounting that the Public Prosecutor's Office has to do, will be done before the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Only the Common Court of Justice judges if the Public Prosecutor's Office has done its work, the persecution of criminal acts, correctly. If that's not the case, the Common Court of Justice can give the Public Prosecutor's Office the necessary instructions. The Minister of Justice and the Government of Aruba do not have a say in this process. They cannot give instructions to the Public Prosecutor's Office to persecute somebody or to start a criminal investigation.

If a concerned party in a criminal case, for example somebody who has filed a complaint with the police, is of the opinion that the investigation is not being done or not being done in a reasonable amount of time, this person can file a complaint with the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

Aruba Truth Spins Again: "John Pauly Speaks Out About Aruba Media Coverage"
10/08/2005

A former newspaper reporter who ruffled his share of feathers at Channel 7 and Channel 2, Pauly might seem to be an odd choice for his Aruban role. "I know both sides of the story," said Pauly. "I'm an aggressive journalist, but I'm also a very honest and ethical journalist."

Continue reading: Aruba Truth

John Pauly, pictured with the van der Sloots, at their residence, on the day of the principal suspect's release:

Editorial: Natalee: Details are coming out!
Jossy Mansur - DIARIO Aruba
10/05/2005

During the last two airings of Nancy Grace on Headline News, Beth and Jug Twitty revealed some details that I was not aware of, in relation to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba. Additionally, I was also able to watch an interview with Joran in Holland, in which he throws all the blame of what happened on Natalee.

As the great liar that he is, he wanted to escape blame by accusing the missing girl of all sorts of weaknesses and flaws and paints himself as a gallant movie star. Joran, according from what I could conclude from the interview, did not break (…), and did not do anything, he tried rejecting Natalee’s advances, left her on the beach, and went home. Abandoning her on the beach was, for Joran, very normal!

From a habitual liar, I didn’t expect anything else. Together with his last statement and every other statement he made, which severely contradict each other, I don’t know.

What I do know is that he hasn’t spoken one word of truth during his interview with A Current Affair. All of a sudden, he forgets his own declaration that he left Natalee at the Holiday Inn, where she tripped and then was helped by two security guards; in his other declaration where he goes with Natalee on the beach North of the Marriott, and went to sleep with her on the sand.

Now, Natalee fell asleep, he left and thought that Deepak returned near where Natalee was, raped and killed her. All the statements he made earlier, he forgot in his voluntary amnesia. Now that he is in Holland, he became a saint!
In the shows of Nancy Grace yesterday and the day before, Beth and Jug made revelations which demonstrate uncategorically that the three suspects committed sexual assault against Natalee. This is also confirmed by their own admissions during the interrogations which took place in June. How then can Joran describe Natalee’s underwear in detail, and also her most intimate parts?

With his statement in Holland, Joran has reopened the wound. People can understand if he spoke the truth, but he preferred to continue with his many lies.

At DIARIO, we always thought that Joran, Deepak and Satish never went with Natalee from Carlos and Charlies to the beach North of the Marriott, but that they went to Joran’s apartment, where the above-mentioned took place. That they went to the beach to get rid of her after is possible and even probable.

One fact that hasn’t been completely explored in the first group of fishermen, in the same early morning hours that Natalee disappeared, one or more people broken the doors 1, 2, and 3 of the fishermens’ huts and kept what was in them.
The watchman of the first crew of fishermen observed that the only things missing was a large knife and a large basket. For what do you need a large knife and a basket? They could have used the knife to open the basket to put Natalee’s body, along with some rocks, then go throw it in the sea, far off the coast with a collaborator?

This is a theory which gained more strength when a detector made by an American in Aruba detected human bones, teeth and and iron in the sea! Coincidence? Maybe, but it’s worth investigating the matter more in depth.

Natalee’s case will not disappear. Now that Joran opened his mouth in Holland, he made it again a current event. The irony of all this is that Arubians don’t have anything to do with the case.

The principal suspects is Dutch, the lead investigator was Dutch, the prosecutor is Dutch and the five judges involved are Dutch. If you think about it, an attempted boycott against Aruba is unjust, because it is misdirected and won’t achieve the desired results.

In a democracy, the executive branch cannot intervene in the judicial one. No matter how much pressure is put upon the government, it cannot give any sort of order to the prosecutor nor the judges. On the contrary, ‘trias politica’ can’t work
I have full understanding of the suffering of Natalee’s mom and the uncertainty of the rest of the family. All the want is the truth, to find their child, no matter what condition she may be in, to then put the matter behind and return to their home to resume their lives.

Try putting yourself in her place, that you have a child who has disappeared in the hands of three suspicious individuals, the principal one set free because he wants to continue his studies.

Because of that America is questioning so severely the handing down of justice in Aruba, because things have happened which make no sense, have no justification and can’t be explained legally nor rationally.

[translated by Getagrip]

Order of Lawyers is of the opinion
Dutch Superior Court and Supreme Court should protect Aruba from criticism of the Natalee Holloway case
Bon Dia Aruba
10/03/2005

ORANJESTAD – Lawyer Mr. M. Schwengle, representing the Order of Lawyers took the podium during the judges’ swearing in ceremony. He observed that the Order of Lawyers is extremely worried with the Natalee Holloway situation, especially the criticisms that are affecting our island.

CRITICISM

The Order of Lawyers wanted to observe that the Public Ministry [prosecution’s office] has received many criticisms in the way it gave information and even about the manner in which investigation was conducted, from various persons who do not dispose of documents of the case.

Mr. Schwengle observes that we should realize that we live in a world that is dominated by open communications. This requires getting close to the media but in a way that preserves the interests of the investigation. Also, one cannot lose sight of the international perception of our judicial system which has a direct influence on the economy of Aruba.

No matter how severe or trying the circumstances, one has to observe all the rules of the process, especially in a penal case.

SUPREME COURT

The Order of Lawyers understands the frustration of the family, but completely condemns the disproportionate criticism which has been made on certain media in regards to our judicial system. The Order of Lawyers wants for the Aruban community to have the protection, and stay protected by the Superior Court and the Supreme Court.

[translated by Getagrip]

As of today Government opens applications for new government spokesperson
Bon Dia Aruba
10/03/2005

ORANJESTAD – As of today, the government has taken the steps to search for a new spokesperson. Although the government still has its ‘perschef’ officially on paper, Sr. Manolo Giel, during the four years of the Oduber Cabinet’s government, Mr. Ruben Trappenberg operated as government spokesperson or often called ‘perschef’. The latter is moving on to a new endeavor, one that he himself chose and applied to, and after an analysis he applied to the airport, Mr. Ruben Trappenberg succeeded in being accepted as the airport’s spokesperson, which at this company has another title.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Trappenberg assumed his post at the airport today, which means that automatically the government has no official spokesperson to speak to us anymore. During the course of the last four years, Trappenberg led the direction of the promotion and projects of the government.

He did this by working in the press department, independent of the Bureau Voorlicthing, which is BUVO. In his functions he worked on new and creative programs which gave the government a totally different image. Today, Mr. Trappenberg assumed his post at the airport to step aside and open up the post of government spokesperson to another person.

There is still no candidate to fill that post and it is not known what will happen to it, perhaps the function will be filled in the coming days.

The fact is that they have a person who is officially government spokesperson, but during the last four years he never really assumed the post, since Trappenberg did the job.

This issue awaits Prime Minister’s Oduber return to Aruba, since the spokesperson falls directly under his command, in this way he will find the next government spokesperson who will assume the charge for the next four years of MEP rule, or perhaps for another party.

[translated by Getagrip]

AHATA and ‘Task Force’ request an urgent meeting with Prime Minister, in regards to the Aruba boycott
DIARIO Aruba
10/03/2005


ORANJESTAD(AAN): Recently, AHATA consulted with a lawyer’s office for advice and representation, in relation to the mother of the young American woman Natalee Holloway’s mother, Beth Twitty who has asked Americans to boycott Aruba.

Due to this AHATA, seeing this after the Aruban people have supported Beth Twitty in different ways to help to find her daughter, she has gone on different well known American programs to ask for a boycott of Aruba.

She practically told American to start a campaign to boycott Aruba, on among many shows, the famous Dr. Phil.

After looking at this, the Strategic Communications Task Force of Aruba met, to look at what is going to happen, seeing that, after assessing the matter, the boycott will have negative consequences for our tourism and economy.

According to AHATA, the negative American press attention becomes worse if Aruba doesn’t make a move.

For this reason, AHATA and the Task Force sent a letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, to get an urgent meeting to discuss this matter.

[translated by Getagrip]

DIARIO Editorial: Where has Jorge Pesquera been?
Jossy Mansur - DIARIO Aruba
10/01/2005

ORANJESTAD(AAN) – First off, and with all due respect Mr. Pesquera, where were you the in the days that the American TV channels were in Aruba? Currently, you are in no position to demand equal time on American TV to counter the ‘attacks’ against Aruba. In particular now that Dr. Phils has called out for Americans to stop visiting Aruba. I don’t believe that the strategic group can do something, especially not with the spokesperson you have appointed, I am doubtful that this will help in any way.

The only way to prevent the supposed boycott was to speak before you have spoken, that is to say during the time that the American TV channels (Cable News Networks) were in Aruba. They were disposed to concede as much space as you would have wanted, but apparently, you weren’t interested.

To you and government representatives. And please spare me your opinion of Ruben Trappenberg, because he is one of the ones who made things worse due to his not answering questions, by instead fighting with interviewers, making ridiculous accusations and diverting attention away from the incompetence and indifference of his government (employer).

Now (...) that you see that it is serious that they want to start a boycott against Aruba, you enter in a panic and want to reach out to the unproductive media to try to diminish the effects of a possible boycott.

You want to counteract a forming boycott? First begin by looking at reality in the face. Start by analyzing the accusations and see if whether they have basis or not.

Do you by any chance question Joran’s release and the reasoning behind it that Joran has expressed his wishes to continue his studies as being correct? What kind of justice is this? And do you know, or are you up to date on all of what Joran has admitted to the Polis in his first declaration?

Then why do you say “baseless accusations”? The accusations have a solid basis, believe me, it’s the boycott that has no basis, because the Aruban people have given all their cooperation to find the young woman, treated the family well and with courtesy, and showed genuine interest to have the case solved.

Did the judge who came from Curaçao probably plan take the decisions he took, spoiled the case? With all due respect for the position you have taken, have you [actually] seen what happened?

The case was resolved in phases the same judge planned: first release Paul v.d. Sloot (I don’t have anything against him, and don’t accuse him of anything either); then he came back to release the Kalpoe brothers (second phase); and the third phase he executed now when came to set Joran free because Joran expressed his wish to continue his studies.

I have similarly not made any accusations of any sort against the Kalpoe brothers; what I have repeated is what can be found in the Polis reports where they started pointing the fingers one against the other!


It is in the three phases here that Americans see the corruption of our justice system, the same that Van der Straaten pointed out with courage and it is on this basis that they are proposing a boycott to see if in this way the truth can come out.

You have a way to prevent the boycott, but not by your own criteria. I, Tito, Arlene and others who went on television and showed our faces, because we formed the contacts with the American TV channels to achieve this.

In my case, although you don’t have to acknowledge it, I have gained the trust of the American people, because I spoke the truth to them. You should read the thousands of emails that I have received and continue to receive!

It is the friendship I have formed with Natalee’s family, and not only the family’s influence, but also the channels via the family, who descended on Aruba, to have the freedom and the right to call our government and our justice system a corrupt one, confirmed for us in the same way by Jan v.d. Straaten, supported by Eric Zaandam and SPA [police union]!

It is us who have the courage to confront the truth and to speak without fear, to make a difference. Neither you nor any other group or spokesperson will arrive to where you can prevent a boycott, if you do not confront it speedily, that can do great harm to our economy.


In the end, I ask myself: where were you when the American TV channels were in Aruba? Where was the government? What have you done to prevent what is coming towards us? I consider you to be an honest person, for this reason I believe that the moment has come for you to demonstraste this by admitting that you and the government failed barbarically in the moment where you could have done something.

It is now too late for your plan; now I will enter into action to see what influence I can have on Beth and, via her, on the channels that form part of the boycott. And it is I, again, who will have to beat at the doors of many friends that I have made who are producers of the most important Cable News Networks programs.

And I tell you here, not to commend myself and even less by arrogance, but to heed the call of the people, to help resolve the problem because they have faith in me that I can accomplish this.

(I do not know) whether I can or cannot achieve this in the comming weeks, because I don’t know how deep their rage against our justice system is, which they call corrupt, nor how firm they are in their decision to launch a boycott against Aruba!

[translated by Getagrip]