December 29, 2005
His Excellency Mr. Boudewijn van Eenennaam
The Ambassador of the Netherlands
The Embassy of the Netherlands
4200 Linnean Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Excellency:
Your statement of November 9, pledging that Aruba would take all possible steps to solve the Natalee Holloway case, seems to have been overshadowed by the December 13 news that the Aruban investigation has officially been stopped “for the time being.” It has been obvious for some time that Aruba had no serious intention of investigating the crime or punishing the “suspects.” One might think, though, that a colonial government would hesitate to contravene so quickly the pledge of an envoy from the mother country.
In any event, it is clear that we Americans need not expect much from Aruba other than the lies, evasions and distortions that have characterized its conduct since the case began. Whatever the reasons behind that government’s determination to protect certain of its citizens at the expense of its own interests, they must be potent indeed. More distressing, however, is the apparent willingness of the Netherlands to tolerate the policy of cover-up.
The passage of time in no way diminishes the determination of the American people to learn the truth and punish the culprits. Nor shall we pardon those who aid and abet the government of Aruba in its campaign – which has some disturbing parallels to the 1998 disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley in Curacao, another Dutch colony in the Caribbean.
In “The Wonder of Birds,” Dutch writer Marjolein Bastin observed: “How peculiar that the Dutch chickadee and the American chickadee look the same but have a distinctly different language.” A similar contrast can perhaps be noted in the concept of justice.
Very truly yours,
R. Rogers Vermont, USA
2 comments:
Grateful Dance, it's "un-American," as you call it, to stand by and see a fellow citizen abused by a foreign government, her family lied to, and then wipe our hands and pretend it didn't happen. Americans are leaders in protesting injustice at home and the world abroad.
Dissidents from China, the former Soviet Union, and many other countries seek the media spotlight. And somehow, when the world thinks of freedom of speech and the notion of "justice for all," it's usually America to which they turn.
The Aruban people elected their own government ... the prime minister of which called the Natalee Holloway case "insignificant" ... and are responsible for its actions and inaction. We the American people, FOR ONCE, will not turn our eyes.
We want justice for Natalee. And I, for one, will not stop seeking it. Aruba can seek to protect its own drug barons, murderers and other offal: BUT IT WILL PAY THE PRICE.
It is un-human to stand back and let this happen to someone and let others get away with it. To put money before life is a crime against humanity. It is obvious in the way Aruba has handled this case they do not care what happens to life, but care what happens to tourist money. They have treated this case shamefully in their quest to keep their reputation clean and disgrace a life the way they have.
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