A LETTER TO HUCKABEE--WANT SOME VOTES?

I will admit that I've never voted Republican. But if Huckabee addresses this issue again, I would certainly consider voting for him as President. Swing voters are the most important to politicians!

By Richard, Aruban Boycott Contributor

I am not naive enough to think that every e-mail to the Mike Huckabee presidential campaign is read by Mr. Huckabee, but please route this to the appropriate person. Mr. Huckabee makes mention of being a "grassroots" candidate and being concerned with "grassroots" issues. I too am involved with a "grassroots" campaign, and wish to remind Mr. Huckabee that this tragedy continues to be a burning concern for all Americans except those elected to defend our interests.


I refer to the case of Natalee Ann Holloway, who vanished in Aruba in May 2005. The actions and inactions of Aruba since her disappearance leave no sane person in doubt that elements of Aruba's government and law enforcement authorities are and have been engaged in a cover-up of the circumstances behind the crime, apparently in order to prevent certain individuals from prosecution.


Recently the three main suspects were, once again, arrested, brought to jail, and freed. The judge who made the decision was the same one -- a reputed associate of one of the suspect's family -- that previously reversed his own determination that evidence justified the continued detention of those same suspects.


In no legal system worthy of the name would a judge with personal connections to a suspect's family be allowed to preside over such a case. Yet this did happen, and the attorney for the Holloway Twitty family has said that he now doubts that anyone will be charged in this case. While a corrupt 'establishment' in Aruba slanders the Holloway Twitty family and protects its own citizens, our own government declines even to take notice.


American tourism accounts for 80 percent of Aruba's economy. This gives our government enormous leverage in Aruba, if we choose to make use of it. The question, then, is why our own government refuses to take even minimal notice of this travesty of justice. Indeed, there is no shortage of reasons to think that the Dutch legal system, as it applies in the Netherlands Antilles, produces anything but justice.


I would urge you to review the case of Amy Bradley, who vanished from a cruise ship docking in Curacao in 1998, and the many reasons to believe that she remains alive in a situation of duress.


I would likewise cite the case of Joel Gove, who vanished on the island of Saba a year ago. Although his body was recently found, no thanks are due to the Saba government, which, according to media reports, declined to allow the man's family to post missing-person notices (apparently fearing an adverse impact on tourism) and forced the family to raise funds for their own private search.


(It is worth noting too that neither the Netherlands nor Aruba is contributing to the upcoming search in the waters off Aruba for Natalee Holloway's remains; this search is the work of American volunteers, American generosity, and American dedication. As has been the case since May 2005, the governments that should be responsible, morally and financially, for this search are the very parties that have done the most to impede it.)


I mentioned that our government has tremendous leverage on Aruba. It could: --Summon the Dutch ambassador to demand a review of Aruba's atrocious behavior. --Demand that the FBI be allowed to contribute to the investigation. --Inform Aruba that it faces a tourist advisory for its behavior in this case. We have many resources. Unfortunately, it seems that none of the presidential candidates, let alone the incumbent or our Congress, can be bothered to give attention to this tragedy.


Mr. Huckabee, in 2005 you were one of three governors who endorsed the notion of a voluntary tourist boycott of Aruba. In my own small way, I, a private citizen, have been urging concerned citizens to conduct picketing and hold similar protests at travel shows in this country to which the Aruba Tourism Authority has sent delegations.


Even the Dutch have admitted that such efforts by concerned citizens have had an impact on Aruba. The impact that a presidential candidate could make would, of course, have much more importance.


The only question left to ask is: Will you be the one candidate who thinks that the cover-up of crimes against Americans abroad deserves condemnation, and action? Or do you believe that individual American families seeking answers and justice for their loved ones should be left to wage their own campaigns against foreign governments?


I appreciate your attention and assistance on this matter.