June 27, 2007

WILL THIS BE A "THREE-PEAT" FOR THE ARUBAN PROTEST?



Thanks to 'Grass' for providing me with these great photos...(Here is his LINK). These are brochures that will be given out during the protest. I want to personally thank all of you that are involved, because you are going to kick butt! I am so proud that we have banded together from all different parts of the country to volunteer for ending this INJUSTICE!

This is the "third hit"...I wonder how much longer Aruba can handle us...the "squeaky wheels". This weekend during the protest I will post updates on what's happening.




By Richard--Aruban Boycott Contributor

This weekend the New Orleans protest starts. From June 27 to July 1, the Aruba Tourism Authority will be in New Orleans trying to sell a bunch of travel agents on the wonders and splendor of Aruba. "No justice for Natalee ... no tourists for Aruba."

As you might expect, they will be confronted by protesters just as they were at Boston and at Miami.

The ATA must see this as a very important event, because travel agents are in a position to steer people to Aruba. How many people, before Natalee vanished, ever thought of Aruba at all? And if their travel agents smiled and said "Oh, aren't you lucky! It's a wonderful little island!" how many people would have doubted their word?

No longer. Now tragedy has exposed to the world what Aruba is really like, and brought to light other horrors that were suppressed. The people showing up in New Orleans will not let the ATA ignore Natalee's case.

Any questions or comments, etc., can be addressed to VolunteersforNatalee@gmail.com and will be forwarded to the person in charge of things.

Beth has said outright that she continues to support the boycott. We will NEVER let Natalee's case be forgotten!

June 25, 2007

WEED, GUNS, MONEY...AN ARSENAL FIT FOR SNOOP DOGG






Suspects’ custody extended


"A lot of bags (isn't "a lot" an understatement?) were needed for carrying off the almost 1000 confiscated marihuana plants


ORANJESTAD – The Public Prosecutor has extended the custody of the five suspects that were arrested during a raid in Savaneta and San Nicolas last Wednesday, with another eight days.


Last Wednesday, the team of special projects of the police corps arrested the five men, L.R (could that be LORENZO?), J.V., R.V, D.W., and M.W. and confiscated 898 hemp plants, two live cartridges, five firearms, cars and money, during house searches in several homes. The Public Prosecutor indicated that the five suspects will be charged with possession of hemps, firearms, and live cartridges.



(Source)


June 22, 2007

HAUNTING EVIDENCE- YOU TUBE SEGMENTS


NEW UPDATE:


Someone (from Aruba perhaps? The ATA? Others with vested interest?) had the audacity to have these original You Tube segments removed from You Tube. This was a Court TV show...no profanity, no nudity, nothing offensive. I find it extremely pathetic that someone(s) would go out of their way to have the original links removed. Can you say LOOOSER?


Scared that much???



Thanks Carpe for the videos!


I personally believe in psychics and there are those who are gifted and are able to see or experience things that we can't. I am not a skeptic. I do believe that some of the things that were said last night were on the ball. Notice when the male psychic mentioned "they took off their shoes". Was that bit of evidence something known to the psychics? Maybe when Joran ran off and left Natalee he couldn't find his other shoe in the darkness and just took off?


The female psychic didn't sense that Natalee was at Joran's. Then why did Joran say she was there, and then later recant?


They spoke of a person who is "about to break" because he can't live with the knowledge of the crime anymore. Could that be Satish?


You be the judge. Tell me what YOU think.



THE ARUBAN BOYCOTT ANTHEM!



Written by Richard, Aruban Boycott Contributor



Since this was written around Memorial Day, the tune is a kind of a hybrid between "
John Brown's Body" (listen here) and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," (listen here) which might be ironic itself.


No definitive statement is intended on what happened.




Her precious life was taken by those filthy three;
The devil chuckled at the torments they will see.
The angels sobbed with grief -- but then joined hands in glee
To welcome Natalee!

(chorus)

Glory, glory Hallelujah,
Glory, glory Hallelujah,
Glory, glory Hallelujah,
HER truth is marching on!

Now our boycott makes Arubans all afraid --
Wretched curs, to cry to those whom you betrayed!
Let our message leave you trembling and dismayed:
We'll fight for Natalee!

(chorus)

Fellow Americans, it's up to me and you:
Sing this message loud to Oduber and crew --
To save your island, this we demand of you,
Justice for Natalee!

(chorus)

We'll stand side by side with Beth forevermore,
Urging people to avoid Aruba's shore.
Let them whine and moan -- on them we'll slam the door
For love of Natalee!


(chorus)





THE "RESPONSIBLE" DUTCH RESPOND



By Don, Aruban Boycott Contributor


A poster from The Netherlands has offered some careful observations of the current status and state of mind of one Joran van der Sloot. In his words:

More and more people are getting to know about Natalee's justice and her story. The whole world are stopping Joran but Holland. Joran is unwelcome at anywhere in the world but Aruba. He is virtually living in a Dutch prison by large.




Joran's mental conditions are deteriorating fast. He cannot lie as good as he used to be. His most recent lies about his academic records are making the Dutch professors really mad. He has flunked all his Math courses, and he cannot graduate and get a degree.




We at “Boycott Aruba” are pleased to hear from responsible members of the Dutch community and we will publish any commentary that is presented with the care of this contributor. We are reminded that Peter de Vries called Joran’s book “mendacious” and we remember several members of Dutch Law School faculty characterized the Aruban investigation as amateurish and absurd.


June 21, 2007

WHEN DID THE COVER UP BEGIN?

*New post from The Freebirds!



BUSY DAY IN ARUBA - MAY 30, 2005


Police statements given by Joran van der Sloot and Deepak Kalpoe purporting the Holiday Inn drop off lie was created in haste after receiving a phone call from Paulus van der Sloot in the early morning hours of May 31st, while on their way to the van der Sloot home. Yet movements of these suspects on May 30th, as well as communications records and statements from Aruban officials regarding these events that were taking place on May 30, 2005 imply that the cover-up had begun prior to Beth and Jug Twitty's setting foot on Aruban soil.


1. FREDDY KNOWS


The following words of Freddy Zedan in his June 12, 2005 witness statement would imply that the Holiday Inn fabrication was collaborated on May 30, 2005 - many hours prior to Jug and Beth Twitty's arrival at the van der Sloot's residence on the morning of May 31, 2005.


(a) On Monday afternoon on the 30th, Joran came to my house. He told me that the previous day, Sunday, he had befriended a girl in the Holiday Inn casino and that she had invited him to come to Carlos and Charlies that evening.


...They drove to the Lighthouse, she wanted to see sharks. But Deepak only drove up to the Lighthouse because his car is very low to the ground and cannot drive up to the North side of Aruba. The girl had said to Joran that if Deepak and Satish would have lived in her town, they would be slaves. After that they drove to the hotel. When the girl had pushed open the door of the car, she fell to the ground. Joran wanted to help her but she shoved him away.


(b) The next day, Tuesday May 31st 2005 in the afternoon, I was with Joran at the raquet club.


2. THE EARLY MORNING PHONE CALL


Paulus Van der Sloot claims in his witness statement of June 18, 2005 that he went to bed after picking up his son at the McDonalds at 11:00 PM on the evening of May 29, 2005 and slept through the night. Paulus denies Beth Twitty's claim that he stated on the early morning of May 31, 2005 that he picked up Joran and Natalee at McDonalds at 4:30 AM on May 30, 2005. However, according to Greta Van Susteren, Paulus concedes to a Dutch TV correspondent that he may have used his phone throughout the night. Also, the Superior Court judgment in January, 2007 which denied compensation for wrongful detainment ruled that the Department of Justice acknowledges that Paulus own declaration states that he picked up Natalee and Joran. The court stated that this could be considered just cause for detainment in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.



3. THE MISSING PERSON'S REPORT


According to Jan van Straten, a missing person's report was filed with the Aruban Law Enforcement by the beach patrol on behalf of the chaperone, Paul Lily on the morning of May 30, 2005. It could be assumed that this report would have included a description of the people who Natalee Holloway was last seen with as well as a description of the vehicle. It could be concluded that those within the ALE who had a personal and/or working connection to Paulus van der Sloot would have clued in regarding the identities of those described in the report. Is it possible that the van der Sloots were forewarned in regards to what info Natalee's friends had reported - information that could implicate Joran in the happenings of that fateful morning of May 30, 2005


4. INTERNET CHATTER WITH A PURPOSE


Deepak Kalpoe conveys in his June 11, 2005 suspect statement that after dropping Joran and Natalee off at the beach on the morning of May 30, 2005 he and Satish returned home. He states that after Satish goes to bed he chatted on the internet with a friend named John Charles Croes. In his June 29, 2005 suspect statement Deepak convey that the purpose of his chatting "was to help the police and the Office of the DA with regard to the investigation so that they could see that I was indeed home in the night from Sunday to Monday." It can be assumed that Deepak Kalpoe’s attempt to create an alibi on the morning of May 30, 2005 prior to Natalee Holloway being reported missing would imply that Deepak knew that "something bad" had happened.


5. CHANGING STORIES


On June 30, 2005 Karin Jansen was being interviewed on the "Abrams Report" when she claimed that on May 30, 2005 Paulus van der Sloot assured Joran, Deepak and Satish that without a body there is no case. However, her words changed on subsequent days. Could Karin Janssen be part of the cover-up?


(a) “He confirmed to me that he told them that a few days after she disappeared." July 1, 2005 - FOX NEWS

(b) "He also spoke about the case with his son and the two other suspects some days after Holloway's disappearance." July 5, 2005 - CNN



6. QUESTIONINGS OF MAY 30, 2005


Prior to Jug and Beth Twitty's arrival on the Island, certain happenings of May 30, 2005 would imply that someone within the ALE was assisting Joran, Deepak and Satish in getting their stories straight regarding their encounter with Natalee Holloway.


Joran van der Sloot


On July 12, 2005 Anita Van der Sloot stated in a Joe Scarborough interview that Joran was picked up from school by police on Monday, May 30, 2005.


Deepak Kalpoe


Deepak Kalpoe claims in his official statement of June 10, 2005 that he vacuumed his vehicle prior to picking up Joran Van der Sloot on Sunday May 29, 2005. He remembers telling interrogators at Bubali that his vehicle was very clean because he had vacuumed his car the prior evening. This would imply Deepak was questioned by police at Bubali station on May 30, 2005.


Satish Kalpoe


On June 29, 2005 in a secretly recorded conversation in a police van, Satish Kalpoe tells Joran he told police about the choller in his first police statement. Satish's witness statement of May 31, 2005 has been revealed and there is no mention of the choller. It can be assumed that the first statement must have been taken on May 30, 2005.



7. THE RACQUET BALL CLUB?


Art Wood's investigation revealed that Joran Van der Sloot lied in his June 14, 2005 suspect statement in regards to his tennis lesson on May 30, 2005 at 7:00 PM. Art revealed, "when I investigated the Racquet Club I found that Joran had never played tennis there that night." Inquiring minds want to know what Joran was doing at the Racquet Ball Club following his father dropping him off at 5:00 PM on May 30, 2005. According to revealed court testimony - sixteen hours prior Carlos Ramos, the gardener, had observed Joran and Deepak sitting in Deepak's vehicle near the Racquet Ball Club. It is even more curious when it is considered that Joran's June 14, 2005 suspect statement reveals that he was again dropped off at 5:00 PM at the Club by his father on the evening of May 31, 2005 to play a game of tennis which he concedes he never played.


8. STILL LYING ON THE BEACH?


Joran van der Sloot declares the following in his suspect statement of June 14, 2005 that after his tennis lesson at 7:15 PM on the evening of May 30, 2005:


"I walked over the beach to the Wyndham Hotel. On the way there I saw a lot of people. I did not go to Fisherman's Hut to see if Natalee was still lying there,"


Why would Joran entertain the thought that Natalee would be at the exact same place he had left her seventeen hours earlier?



9. THE FABRICATION


While detained at the same time, Mickey John claimed that Deepak conveyed to him that Paulus van der Sloot was a participant in the fabrication of the Holiday Inn story. As this account was related to Natalee Holloway's mother and stepfather on the morning of May 31, 2005, the implication of Paulus' involvement is that the collaboration must have taken place on May 30, 2005.


10. ONE HOUR GAP


In his June 11, 2005 suspect statement Deepak Kalpoe declares that after leaving his place of employment on the evening of May 30, 2005, he joined Joran at the Radisson casino at 12 o'clock midnight. He states in his declaration that two hours later Joran and him left the Radisson and were in the process of parking at the Wyndham when Paulus called to inform Joran that Natalee's mother and stepfather were at the home. Deepak then declares in his June 13, 2005 suspect statement that following Paulus call, he and Joran went directly to the van der Sloot's residence - arriving there at 2:40 AM.


Inquiring minds want to know how Deepak's time line is possible when it is taken into consideration that Beth and Jug did not arrive at the van der Sloot's residence until approximately 3:30 AM on the morning of May 31, 2005. According to Jug Twitty, he and Beth were still at the Holiday Inn at 3:00 AM viewing video footage. It was at that time that one of the employee's from Universal Air who were assisting them came rushing into the Holiday Inn to inform them that Deepak's vehicle had been observed within the gate at the van der Sloot's compound. The Twittys were driven to the police station and after waiting in the parking lot for a period of time, they were driven to the van der Sloot's residence.


These facts clearly show that the four main suspects not only had involvement in the crimes committed against Natalee Holloway, but also their intentions to cover up their crimes. That none of these criminals have yet been prosecuted is appalling and disturbing.


Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!


Natalee’s Freebirds


http://nataleesfreebirds.blogspot.com/

LORENZO'S DRUG BUST!

"Oh, you mean THAT weed? It's for my personal use!"




It was first said that this was not the same Lorenzo. In fact, Jossy Mansur says, "Yes it is. The reporter made a mistake. It is Van Rijn, the purported half-brother of Joran. He lives in a secluded area and was busy raising marihuana plants to sell. They found more than 100 plants in his home, as well as dried leaves, and a cache of weapons."

http://www.diario-aruba.com/2007/6/21/local/news3.php

June 20, 2007

MESSAGE FROM BETH TWITTY


A member of the Aruban Boycott just spoke to Beth.


NOTHING HAS CHANGED!


She has no idea what Dave and Robin are up to and could care less. This person asked her if she would issue a public statement to that effect and she said yes.



READ THE MISSION--IT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT

Purpose:

"Spreading the word of a VOLUNTARY boycott to the island of Aruba and all that is Dutch. This grassroots movement urges everyone to abandon any plans to travel to Aruba or the Netherland Antilles until this case is resolved."


It is clear to me that many do not understand what a grassroots movement is. Click on the
link above and you'll get a clear understanding. Then make your own decision. Do what is right. Will you sleep at night?

June 19, 2007

THE BOYCOTT--WE'VE LOST SOME BALLS








I don't wish to elaborate on this subject. If you don't know what I am talking about, go to BFN or the SM Forum. They've got plenty to say there.


June 18, 2007

A HISTORY OF DECEPTION

**Another great post by Natalee's Freebirds!


ARUBA'S ROGUE GALLERY:


THE CORRUPT ARUBA GOVERNMENT AND DUTCH JUDICIARY- A HISTORY OF DECEPTION IN THE CASE OF MISSING TEEN NATALEE HOLLOWAY



Within days of Natalee Holloway’s disappearance the Aruban government was fast at work on phase one of covering up her crime by inserting government spokespeople onto media and internet outlets. These front men for the government immediately began a campaign of deception about the case and rumors against Natalee Holloway and her family.


One most notable spokesperson is Arlene Ellis-Schippers, a relative of a suspect in this case. The Aruban government and business leaders embarked on a disinformation campaign in the media and on the internet within days of Natalee Holloway going missing. This started by suggesting she was a runaway but soon elevated into a full blown effort to blame Natalee for her own death and cast suspicion on her family and fellow Mountain Brook students in both the media and on the internet.



Unfortunately for Aruba their misinformation campaign backfired repeatedly, the more intense it became. Americans only became more suspicious that a cover-up was taking place for the obvious three suspects, in particular the judge's son, and were more outraged. This has resulted in the whole island of Aruba being blamed for the actions of a few.



The second phase of government corruption began when it became obvious Joran van der Sloot, the son of a judge-in-training, would be unable to avoid arrest. Both Aruban government officials and Dutch judges stepped in to block the investigation and deter evidence from being collected. Aruba public ministry official Ben Vocking and Dutch judge Bob Wit blocked a search of the van der Sloot main residence twice—once when Joran was arrested and a second time when his father was arrested. The van der Sloot residence was never fully searched for nearly TWO YEARS.



The third phase of corruption belongs to the Dutch judges from Curacao who ruled on the case. These judges, who worked with Paulus van der Sloot, used the judicial system to make sure Joran van der Sloot and the other two suspects, brothers Deepak and Satish the Kalpoe were freed from further testimony in the case. The last person to be seen with Natalee Holloway, Joran van der Sloot was freed from detention on September 3, 2005 and released unconditionally by the Dutch judge Rick Smid. Upon his release he immediately fled to Holland.



Listed below are Aruba’s key yes-men, and their role in obstructing justice in the Natalee Holloway case:



ARLENE ELLIS-SCHIPPER


Arlene Ellis-Schipper- media spokesperson for the tourism group AHATA and cousin of another suspect, Guido Wever


Arlene was one of the early spokespeople to appear on U.S. mainstream media. Her most famous comment, which she repeated on several occasions, was "There is no evidence!" She also made the comment "This case is thin, thin, thin..." on Fox News.


It was later discovered that Arlene Ellis-Schipper had a set of very disturbing conflicts of interest in the case: First, she is a cousin to one of the suspects arrested in the case, Guido Wever, a close personal acquaintance of Joran van der Sloot who was arrested for "heavy battery" against Natalee Holloway.


Secondly, Ms. Schippers was forced to reveal in a television interview that she was being paid by the AHATA, a tourism group that has been documented with spreading misinformation about Natalee Holloway and her family throughout the case.


Ms. Ellis-Schippers was later caught in a blatant lie, insisting Beth Twitty had met with Karin Janssen on a trip to Aruba, a fact that was later debunked by Twitty herself. Arlene Ellis-Schippers should have been prevented from ever talking to the U.S. media as a legal analyst for Dutch law as her cousin, Guido, was brought in for questioning within the first few days of the case. Yet she was allowed to remain as a spokesperson for well over a year.


Guido Wever fled the island of Aruba to Holland just seven days after Natalee Holloway disappeared.


JAN VAN DER STRATEN


Jan van der Straten- lead investigator for the Aruba Police Department and close friend of Paulus van der Sloot


Jan van der Straten's role as lead investigator in the first two months of the Natalee Holloway case demonstrates the obvious conflicts of interest found in the Aruba investigation. Van der Straten was, by Paulus van der Sloot's own public admission, a "close friend" of Van der Sloot.


Van der Straten would have been very instrumental in the decision not to arrest the three main suspects in Natalee's disappearance until 10 days after she vanished, even though he knew almost immediately that they lied about dropping the Alabama teen off at the Holiday Inn.


Van der Straten would have also been involved in the decision to arrest two black security guards on June 5, 2005 which in effect prolonged the time given to the three suspects to cover their tracks and eliminate any evidence that should have been collected immediately upon the discovery of the Holiday Inn lie.


Van der Straten stated to Dutch media on June 12, 2005 that he believed Natalee was no longer alive and when asked by the reporter why he would make such a comment he responded, "Because I know the evidence and you don't." Interestingly, two years later the lead investigator has never explained what that evidence is.


He also made comment months after he retired and moved to the neighboring island of Bonaire that the case should have been solved early on but that there were "people who didn't want to cooperate." Since suspects rarely cooperate, Van der Straten had to have been talking about a corrupt Aruban government and Dutch judiciary.


Any high-ranking official with such a close relationship to a suspect's parent should have recused himself or alternately been forced off the case, but this is Aruba, a country in the grip of Mafia control who never saw a conflict of interest they didn't like.


BEN VOCKING/BEN KING


Ben Vocking- Aruban public ministry official and close friend of Paulus van der Sloot who blocked the search of the Van der Sloot property


Ben Vocking, also known as Ben King, is an Aruba public ministry official who worked with the prosecutor's office and was the former head of KIA prison on the island. Ben Vocking curiously took a leave of absence from his government job the day after Natalee Holloway disappeared to help his friend Paulus Van der Sloot as he dealt with his son's apparent participation in her disappearance. Joran Van der Sloot was arrested on suspicion of murder on June 9, 2005.


Vocking laid low for two weeks purportedly staying at the Van der Sloot residence. He surfaced on June 15, 2005 at the door of the Van der Sloot home with Dutch Judge Bob Wit to block the search of the Van der Sloot property when the police and prosecution authorities arrived with a full search warrant.


Vocking and Wit successfully limited the search of the Van der Sloot main residence and property to Joran's small apartment only. They would do so again two weeks later when the father, Paulus van der Sloot, was arrested on suspicion of murder.


Why would a government official and friend of two murder suspects be allowed to intermingle and co-conspire with a judge to block a search of their residence? This is just one more piece of evidence that strongly suggests widespread corruption in the case.



JUDGE BOB WIT


Judge Bob Wit- Judicial associate of Paulus van der Sloot who disallowed the search of the Van der Sloot residence


When a full search warrant was presented at the Van Der Sloot home on June 15, 2005, Dutch Judge Bob Wit of Curacao (along with public ministry official Ben Vocking) met law enforcement and prosecution authorities at the door to inform them their search would not include the main Van Der Sloot residence or the surrounding property.


Wit had personally changed the order to include only Joran’s small apartment behind the home. Judge Bob Wit intervened again eight days later when Joran’s father Paulus Van Der Sloot was arrested for reasonable suspicion in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, once again blocking a search of the Van Der Sloot home.


Without question Bob Wit knew Paulus van der Sloot - they worked on cases together and appear to be very good friends judging from such an outrageous ruling. Since when do arrested murder suspects get immunity from having their houses searched?


Judge Bob Wit needs to answer this question in the open forum of the Caribbean Court of Justice, rather than hide behind the opaque wall of Dutch law.



JUDGE RICK SMID


Judge Rick Smid- Judicial associate of Paulus van der Sloot who granted Joran van der Sloot his freedom Dutch


Judge Rick Smid, also ruling from the bench in Curacao, is responsible for Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers being free today. It was Judge Rick Smid who released the three suspects and gave them an unconditional release granting them immunity from further questioning in the case. Police statements and secret recordings of the three suspects suggest intimate knowledge of "something bad" happening to Holloway. He was also aware that Joran van der Sloot had lied repeatedly in his police statements. Judge Rick Smid chose to ignore this and grant immunity instead. Upon his release, Joran van der Sloot fled the island of Aruba to Holland where he currently resides.


Why would a judge exempt a suspect from further questioning knowing he had lied numerous times in his statements and had given conflicting testimony regarding other suspects? Judge Rick Smid also worked with Paulus van der Sloot in the Dutch judiciary system and therein the answer may lie.



GEROLD DOMPIG


Police Chief Gerold Dompig- The man who took over the investigation and was fired for his actions


Police Chief Gerold Dompig took over the Natalee Holloway investigation after Jan van der Straten retired in July of 2005. Before getting his pink slip in March of 2006, Dompig was responsible for numerous blunders and outright conflicts of interest that no doubt sealed his fate.


It was Chief Gerold Dompig who announced in Vanity Fair magazine and in a CBS television interview that he had a witness who had seen Natalee Holloway with drugs during her trip to the island. It was later revealed that his witness was his cousin, Boeti Naar, a well-known local drug dealer who lives in a plywood box on the beach in Aruba. What was Dompig's motivation for using such a dubious witness to tag Ms. Holloway as a drug user?


It was also revealed that Dompig was a spokesman for the tourism group AHATA, a clear conflict of interest that undoubtedly skewed his perspective of the investigation. AHATA is comprised of business and government officials who formed a now defunct committee called the Strategic Communications Task Force. Their sole purpose, it is apparent, was to combat anything the Holloway and Twitty families tried to do to force an honest investigation into their daughter’s disappearance.


Dompig’s fate was ultimately sealed with his decision to conduct a highly visible search of the dunes near the California lighthouse on the north end of Aruba. The search, spurred by a worthless hearsay tip from a local bartender, was announced months in advance and even garnered a Dutch search team with special equipment flown in from Holland. Nothing was found and Dompig endured heavy criticism for his mishandling of the investigation by law enforcement experts and pundits in Holland. He was fired shortly thereafter.


The FBI offered to bring in boats that were capable of searching for Holloway’s remains in deep water. Aruba's fleet is not equipped to search in deep waters, yet Dompig refused. Why would a police chief refuse help from the FBI? The answer may lie with the corrupt Aruban officials and business leaders he represented during his stint as police chief.


JULIA RENFRO



Julia Renfro, Editor of Aruba Today- Responsible for spreading misinformation about the victim and her family through the media and internet


Julia Renfro has contributed the lion’s share of misinformation that has come out of Aruba since Natalee Holloway disappeared. Her personal attacks against Natalee and her family have appeared on both national media and internet blogs.


It is clear she has a relationship with the Van der Sloots, in part through her association with the IFA, and has publicly stated she believes they are innocent. Her most notorious lie is that Natalee was attracted to a blue-eyed Dutch boy during the days leading up to her disappearance, a story that has been debunked many times through statements from both Natalee’s family and her friends from Mountain Brook who accompanied her on the trip.


Although the Aruban police, prosecutor general, and most recently the Dutch authorities from Holland, have publicly stated that Joran van der Sloot is still the primary suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, it seems Ms. Renfro hasn’t gotten the memo. Renfro’s behavior has raised questions of whether her mission is a personal vendetta against the victim and her family or, even more troubling, that she is part of a larger plot to cover up the crime against Natalee Holloway.


ARUBA'S SMEAR CAMPAIGN


Aruba's Internet Smear Campaign- The Aruban government enlisted government employees and outsiders to help cover up the case




Aruba's highest ranking officials, including Prime Minister Nelson Oduber, and government Tourism ministers Edward Breizen and Jorge Pesquera, mounted an internet campaign in the first week after Natalee Holloway disappeared to confuse the details and eventually denigrate the victim and her family.


Government workers, tourism board members, and employees of local business owners have all been documented as using the internet for these purposes. Some of these are still very active today.




Prime Minister Nelson Oduber grabbed our interest with this announcement about his “anti incorrect news committee” on June 30, 2005:


At the weekly Government press conference Prime Minister Oduber officially presented a committee that was just appointed and with the task to minimize the effect of all the negative and incorrect information that is being disseminated on Aruba in connection with the disappearance of the American student Natalee Holloway.


“The committee has been working for some time behind the screens without too much publicity, and function on behalf of the people of Aruba in order to minimize the impact of the negative news that is being sent out.”



Jorge Pesquera is president and CEO of the tourism group AHATA and was instrumental in setting up the Strategic Communications Task Force, a group that would specialize in slandering Natalee's character and that of her family while creating smokescreens in the investigation. The SCTF worked mainly via the internet.


Tamara Waldron, an employee of the Ministry of Tourism and Transportation (headed by Eddie Breizen), made the following internet post at Scared Monkeys, falling in line with the government’s wishes:

"...looking at the picture does not mean blaming the island or its people….we should keep looking at the big picture which does involve at looking at other possibilities, other than a crime, for the dissapearance of the 18 year old..."

...So far there has not been any indication of a murder, a kidnapping etc and we should all stick together and help in searching for his girl instead of assuming things and smearing Aruba on the news. I do believe she will be found as there have been numerous sightings of Natalee, which indicate more that this is a runaway case than any other….of course we don’t know for sure, but we must leave the windows of numerous possibilities open."

Comment by Tamara Waldron | June 5, 2005, 7:13 pm



Congressman Spencer Bachus said they knew immediately that Natalee's disappearance was not the case of a runaway teen, but the Arubans didn't listen and continued to float rumors rather than arrest the main suspects.


Prime Minister Nelson Oduber went on (Aruban) national radio Friday night (June 10, 2005) to say if something happened to Holloway, it would hurt the island of 97,000, which depends on tourism and has a reputation as one of the safest spots in the Caribbean."


Many examples such as those above beg the question: Was the thought of having a murdered American tourist on Aruba such a threat to their tourism economy that the government would become involved in covering up the crime and assist in disposing of the victim?


Apparently so.


Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!

June 04, 2007

DOES THIS WOMAN HAVE TIES WITH ARUBA?

I find it very odd that this article was written in such a biased manner towards Aruba in such a blatant kiss-ass way. I also find it odd that just last week "Natalee's Freebirds" wrote an article about Julia Renfro and her involvement in the case.


Now all of a sudden there is an article about Natalee with the bulk of it interviewing Julia to make her look good? Is this writer paid by the ATA? Is she "in" with others who have financial interests in Aruba? Why else write such a slanted and error-ridden article? It seems like everyone is in bed with everyone. Could it be that this writer knows Steve Cohen? Hmmm...so many possibilities.





This woman lives in and writes for the L.A. times...Julia is also a former L.A. resident. Coincidence? (Correct me if I'm wrong.) It's a small world...you never know.


I am only including portions of this story because it is VERY long. Isn't that a big no-no in the media biz? It drones on and on and she writes it like some dramatic soap opera. So if you want to read the article in it's entirety click on the link at the end.



In Holloway case, Aruba also suffers (And the readers suffer...)


Two years after the U.S. woman disappeared, islanders say the accusatory free-for-all was an end of innocence for them.


By Carol J. Williams
June 4, 2007


ORANJESTAD, ARUBA — A siren blares and whistle-blowing waiters race in to the hectic beat of the "Mexican Hat Dance." It's time for the hourly tequila attack at Carlos 'n Charlie's. The target is an already inebriated blond with seven gal pals, a sunset-colored rum drink and a sunburned nose. The waiters crown her with a giant sombrero, toss a serape over her bare shoulders and pour a stream of golden liquid into a mouth turned up like a baby bird's.


Liquor-plying mission accomplished, a DJ swaps the peppy Mexican melody for a blaring rendition of dance group T-Spoon's "Sex on the Beach." Alcoholic excess and abandon are back in vogue at the cantina, where a pretty blond teenager from Alabama named Natalee Holloway was last seen by her high school classmates — drunk and supine on the bar as a boy slurped Jello shots from her navel.



See what I mean about the DRAMA? This isn't a creative writing project, lady.



...The sad trajectory of the case mirrors that of the increasingly bitter relations between Holloway's parents and the people of Aruba, arcing downward from the moment two years ago when islanders took the tragedy to heart and joined in the hunt by the thousands to today, when locals mutter about American media distortions and "missing white woman syndrome."


Holloway's parents — and the cable TV crime analysts who followed their plight for months — have cast affluent Aruba as a dangerous den of iniquity, its police force as inept bunglers and its government and people as co-conspirators in covering up what happened to the hearty-partying teen.



I've been under the assumption that the boycotters have been the ones relentlessly slandering Aruba. Dave and Beth haven't said JACK about Aruba in a very LONG time.



Although they have recovered from the initial economic fallout (They have? Where's the proof?), Arubans say the accusatory free-for-all was a blast-force end of innocence — danger could indeed lurk under wind-sculpted divi-divi trees or on sugar-white beaches. Yes, it was a blow to their livelihoods, as U.S. visits fell 7% last year.



I Can't 'Feel Your Pain'...


More painful, though, it was a wound to the heart for all who had joined the prayer vigils and searches, Arubans such as restaurant manager Edwin Trimon say."Last year was a tragedy for us. Many people's businesses were ruined. But what hurt the most was what they were saying about us on TV," said Trimon, a fixture in the Aruban tourism industry.



Who is to blame here? Aruba or the ALE or Joran or Deepak or Paulus or Satish or Dompig or Van Der Stratten or Dennis Jacobs? Those just SOME of those involved...I didn't know that Beth or Dave were there at the time Natalee was being victimized or helping cover up the truth?




The Tribute to Julia


Julia Renfro, a Los Angeles native who is editor in chief of Aruba Today, initially took the side of Holloway's parents when they sought publicity on the disappearance and lambasted Aruban police for following Dutch investigative procedures rather than those in the United States.



Warning: This part gets VERY cheesy and desperate.



Galvanized by compassion for a desperate mother, Renfro stopped the presses of her daily newspaper for the first time in its history to include a picture of Holloway to aid Arubans in the island-wide search. A mother of four, Renfro spent weeks shuttling the family from the scene of one rumored development to another but eventually became disenchanted with what she saw as Twitty's pandering to tabloid TV and "flat-out lies" she told on the air.


"I feel guilty saying any negative thing about a mother who has lost her daughter," Renfro said. "But her behavior was odd from the get-go."Renfro has concluded that the body would have turned up by now if Holloway died on the island.


...Holloway could have staggered into the sea and drowned after the local men left her, Renfro speculates. ...Renfro says she was perplexed when Twitty immediately concluded that her daughter had been kidnapped and made no effort to check hospitals or police about accident victims.


...Renfro parted ways with Twitty and ceased front-page coverage of the disappearance after what she considered a malicious act of distortion.



Read the further droning here...you may fall asleep.


RICHARD RESPONDS--FREE SPEECH OR HATCHET JOB?


*You GO Richard!--Michelle



Sent to LA Times writer, Carol J. Williams
By Richard, Aruban Boycott Member


I have followed the Natalee Holloway case closely since it began. While free speech is to be encouraged, the tone of your article, which appeared online this morning, is so one-sided that I am forced to believe that your intention was to denigrate Natalee's family.



You say the Holloway Twittys have cast Aruba's "police force as inept bunglers." Well, let's see ... within 48 hours of Natalee's disappearance, Beth Twitty had arrived on the island, reviewed the videotapes at the Holiday Inn where Natalee had stayed, proved conclusively that the lies of the three suspects about returning her to the hotel were just that -- lies -- and had shown those same tapes to Aruban police.



Who had Aruba seen fit to arrest? The three people last seen with Natalee? No, two security guards who had never been seen in Natalee's company and who were singled out by the suspects themselves.



What was Aruba's reaction to Beth Twitty's proof? To do nothing for another week. Sterling proof of the quality of law enforcement on Aruba, wouldn't you say?



(Incidentally, your comment that "investigators no longer seem to be focusing on the three named suspects" has neither attribution nor logic: a court for the Netherlands Antilles recently ruled that the three remain suspects. The court also struck down damages that Paulus van der Sloot had claimed, saying that witnesses had placed him in Natalee's company on two occasions on the night that she disappeared.)



You speak about "the ill fate presumed to have befallen Natalee Holloway" and sneer at the "vigilante justice seekers." Obviously it's ridiculous to think that, simply because an honors high-school student with a full scholarship to medical school has been missing for two years, foul play could be responsible. Equally ridiculous is the idea that anyone seeking justice -- which the family has interpreted as simply wanting answers to their daughter's fate -- could be motivated by such things as belief that an American missing abroad is a matter of some importance. Why see a potential threat to other tourists? Why not do what Dennis Jacobs said to Dave Holloway (after asking how much money he had ... a normal response from a dedicated law enforcement officer, I'm certain): go to the bar and have a beer?



You seem to accept as fact Aruba's assertion that the damage from the economic boycott has ended. Were you interested, I could direct you to article showing that the decline is both more severe than Aruba has acknowledged (assuming that you trust Aruba's figures to begin with) and is continuing.


My understanding is that the Aruban government gave civil servants an afternoon, not a day, to join the search. And according to an AP article, participation was far less than Aruba put it.


The attorney for the Kalpoes, one of whom said on the Dr. Phil show that Natalee was a "slut" and dressed "like a slut," laments that his clients have had "this sword over their heads for two years now." The Holloway Twitty family has had a different sword over their heads for two years ... the agony of wondering what befell their daughter. I know which plight is more deserving of sympathy, in my eyes.


Perhaps you would care to detail the scores of lies that we have gotten from the three suspects. Given that Joran van der Sloot has given at least four explanations of how he got home from the beach where he said he took Natalee (though he also said he took her to his house), some people might think his actions merit suspicion. And given his father's now-famous phrase, "No body, no crime," those suspicions might be extended.



Your nearly page-long coverage of the "compassion for a desperate mother" that Julia Renfro is alleged to have felt omits a few facts. Such as Joran van der Sloot's statement that he had sex with Natalee while she was drifting in and out of consciousness. Some people might define that as rape.



And Renfro's speculations about what Natalee might have done conveniently try to take the focus off the three suspects ... whom former Chief of Police Gerald Dompig has said are "guilty as hell." A drunken Natalee, left on the beach, is going to swin to one of the nearby boats? No writer for a sixth-grade newspaper would let such an absurd claim go unquestioned.



I am not going to discuss my ideas of what happened to Natalee Holloway. But I might suggest that you balance your pro-Aruban account with a little background.



Such as: the FBI agents sent to Aruba were outraged that they were being slighted, not allowed to do anything useful, and were kept out of the picture.


Such as: far from being sympathetic, the Aruban government lied about the support it was giving the family (Dave Holloway is on record as denying the free rooms and other benefits).

Such as: a water search was on the verge of being launched, and all that Aruba had to do was contact the FBI. It refused to do so.

Such as: the Aruban government's sympathy did not extend to Beth Twitty, whom it told would have to apologize for her statements or it would stop its investigation.

Such as: Arubans demonstrated in the street against Beth Twitty. (Did your self-commiserating Arubans, sad at the impact of this tragedy on their businesses, see fit to mention this?)

Such as: an unqualified, specific promise from Steve Cohen, one of the many functionaries who tried to represent the Aruban government, that the three suspects would be re-questioned. It never happened.


I could cite dozens more issues. But why bother?
I do not speak for the Holloway Twitty family. But your totally one-sided article leaves me doubting that they would speak to you.


I appreciate your attention and assistance on this matter.



June 03, 2007

WHAT TO DO NOW?



Texas Equasearch Going Back to Aruba


Tim Miller and the Texas Equasearch team are going back to Aruba for more intense water searches in late June. Let's hope the Caribbean weather forecast for this upcoming hurricane season is wrong or Tim Miller might have a very hard time accomplishing anything.


Aruba claims that they haven't been affected by a hurricane in over 100 years...but there is a little-known fact about Aruba: In 2004, Hurricane Ivan came close enough to Aruba to cause wind damage and high tides. "Ivan began to rapidly intensify again and became a Category 5 hurricane just north of the Windward Netherlands Antilles and Aruba on September 9 with winds reaching 160 mph (260 km/h)." (Source)



Another Legal Recourse?


We know now that the California judge dismissed the wrongful death suit against the Kalpoes...Beth and Dave's alternative recourse? The Holloway's can file a wrongful death suit in Aruba...but here's the Catch 22: They wouldn't be allowed to use ANY of the police documents or statements that the three boys made. And of course, you know the Arubans won't cooperate.



SO WHAT'S THE POINT?


Watch Kimberly Guilfoyle discuss these points and more
with Linda Allison, Natalee's aunt and Jossy Mansur:





(thanks Carpe!)


June 02, 2007

DISSED AND DISMISSED


When it comes down to it, the law is the law. It has nothing to do with circumstances, events that occurred, what was said, what was done, and by whom...it comes down to the wonderful world of the United States civil procedure. In this case, we are dealing with jurisdictional issues.


AGAIN.


I'm sick of the ignorance and misconceptions that Beth and Dave were suing for money. I mean, c'mon! Does anyone believe "Mr. Internet Cafe" has stashed millions? The purpose of the lawsuit is what comes down to what is called a DEPOSITION. They likely would have lied under oath anyway...as would most sociopaths.


This legal defeat DOES NOT mean that the Kalpoe brothers are INNOCENT OF ANYTHING. I don't care what anyone says, Deepak DID SAY to Jamie Skeeters on that tape recording that HE HAD SEX with Natalee.


SKEETERS: "I'm sure she had sex with all of you!"

DEEPAK: "She did."

SKEETERS: "Good!"

DEEPAK: "Yeah she did."

SKEETERS: "Ok, Well I mean good. If she did fine..."

DEEPAK: "You'd be surprised how simple it was."

SKEETERS: "Really?"




Watch it for yourself HERE:




It is CLEARLY AUDIBLE. I don't understand why there was even an issue to begin with. All those who are skeptics of that tape are delusional and clearly obtuse. Clean out that white trash wax out of your ears.



Bottom Line:


Jurisdiction will have nothing to do with the fate of the Kalpoe brothers. The "justice" of the legal system will have nothing to do with what happens to the Kalpoes. Definitely karma. Maybe some vigilante? I can only imagine some crazed psycho who has been following this case from day one will pull a "Jack Ruby"? They will be targets for a long time. As will Joran.


This was NOT a defeat for team Holloway. This was a temporary setback with "what goes around comes around" fate for them all. Their lives have been destroyed beyond repair. They will forever be known as those responsible for Natalee's fate. Will we ever know what went down? Maybe, maybe not.


But what DID go down will go down with them as well.



June 01, 2007

CURACAO AGAINST CROOKED COPS? NO SUCH THING...



Here's something to boast about: According to the CIA, The Netherland Antilles is a transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe and one heck of a place for money laundering!




"Yes, members of the press, this is just a front to show that we really care about the safety of our tourists and citizens and we need to start at home. But we are going to fool you into making you think we are "cleaning house" when we will actually be giving an awards ceremony! The winning prize for the most crooked cop? A FREE ounce of pure cocaine!"




Justice-minister David Dick, acting chief of police Carlos Casseres, and Lt. Governor Lisa Richards-Dindial.


WILLEMSTAD – Justice-minister David Dick (PAR) announced yesterday that he will establish a so-called (I love it..."so called"? Brings everything into question right there...) quality team to monitor the integrity within the Police Corps Neth.Antilles. “The increase of crooked officers within the corps must be set right.” (So they are admitting there is an increase of evil pigs? How will this help their tourism? Something like that takes time to be implemented and there are always cracks and ways around red tape. No one will be safe!)


Direct reason for this quality team is the arrest of a 35-year old police officer that is suspected of being involved in an attack on toko La Fama in Marie Pampoen. He used a police car for this attack. (What kind of attack? Rape? Battery? Robbery? Coercion? Be specific!).
The arrested police officer has been working for almost 10 years with the police corps. He was part of the Zero Tolerance Team in the past few years. The investigation is still in full swing and more arrests can be expected. (More arrests? Can't wait for part II.)


A few journalists that called the incident (lets hear about this "incident"!) a gross scandal were very frustrated, because the corps leaders didn’t apologize to the public for the use of a police car for the attack. The leaders did use words like ‘nasty’ and ‘lamentable’, but they chose to emphasize that they are working on improvements within the corps. “The corps has more than 600 officers and not everybody is rotten. Mistakes are made within every organization. Amongst the people of the media you also have persons that beat up their wife or husband”, said Casseres. “If heads have to roll in order to cleanup the corps, so be it.” (Let's not hold our breaths...)



Dick and Dindial were present to give the management team moral support. Because this last incident has damaged the already damaged corps even more and the morality within the police corps has dropped even more.



What has motivated this police officer to do such thing is the question that goes around in the streets. The only way to win back the people’s trust is by delivering good work, said Dick. That’s the reason for a quality team, an internal supervision team. Rules have to be followed; the discipline within the corps has to return. Even though police officers cannot be prohibited to go out, it is still not allowed to go to a bar while carrying he official weapon, or to certain places like obscure bars or brothels. (Darn...they can't get their regular "whore fix" anymore...) There are some police officers that were put on non-active at this moment, but Casseres didn’t know exactly how many. (More than he can count on his fingers?)



http://www.amigoe.com/english/


ARUBA & CURACAO--NO DISCIPLINE...NO ACTION...NO JUSTICE



The Best Quote of the Week:

"If these questions aren't answered, it would appear both cases (Natalee Hollway and Amy Bradley) will end in a whitewash and the Dutch justice system will receive a well-deserved black mark on its record. One can only guess about the repercussions to the tourist industry in these islands."



Another whitewash, or is it? And why ignore Curacao?

Natalee Holloway. It's a name that hangs like a cloud over the island of Aruba. Her disappearance two years ago has given both the island and its Ministry of Justice a black mark. Finally, after being on the sidelines for most of the past year-and-a-half, authorities from the Netherlands have acted.


This, of course, raises the question of just why it took them so long to discharge their judicial obligations with respect to an island that is listed as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Considering the glare of publicity given to the initial investigation by the island's police, as well as their lack of results and possible questionable procedures, the homeland authorities had to know what was happening. Especially since units of the Dutch Air Force were sent there in what became a show of noise without results.


A skeptic might ask if the current effort is only a political move or a serious initiative for solving this crime. One possible positive aspect might be the involvement of the Aruban police charged with combating drugs on the island. But that still means a section of a department that didn't distinguish itself in the first place is again being involved.


Another question is just why the prosecutor is evidently being promoted and sent back to the Netherlands. This is the same person whose efforts at arresting then quickly releasing suspects was named a "catch-and-release program," by TV host Nancy Grace.



Now that these investigators are already on Aruba, why stop there?



On the island of Curacao there is another case that demands their attention. Like the Holloway case, this one involved the disappearance of another American woman. But, in the case of Amy Lynn Bradley, it's known that she survived.


Ms. Bradley was kidnapped in March 1998 as the cruise liner she and her family were vacationing on docked at the island. Some passengers reported last seeing her with two men holding on to her as they walked along a deck. Minutes later, both men were seen again without Ms. Bradley.


Apparently, there are situations where unruly passengers, and maybe misbehaving crewmembers are removed from ships. Still it's a wonder that a woman, dressed only in a pair of shorts and a top, could have been taken off a ship without either being challenged or really noticed. Especially since a liner doesn't arrive at a dock without a crew there to receive it. I'll let the readers arrive at their own conclusions about this situation.


Things get even more curious in the months that followed. Shortly afterward the kidnapping, Mr. Bradley and his son headed a search party that returned to the island. Upon his arrival the Chief of the Harbour Police gave Mr Bradley a tour of the island. Bradley allowed that the tour didn't inspire confidence in this effort. Later he was told that the Chief made an interesting remark to members of the search party. In effect he told them the family should go ahead and search for her and get it out of their system, as they would never find their daughter.


At first glance, this might be a comment by a man that knew the island and what the family was up against. Over the next 11 months, other events transpired to give some doubt about just what this comment implied.
  • That fall, two Canadians encountered Ms. Bradley as she was being walked along a beach. After hearing reports about her, and remembering the tattoos she had, they reported this to the family.
  • Almost a year later, a US Navy petty officer, visiting a brothel located close to the harbor and off-limits to servicemen, met Ms Bradley. She identified herself to him and asked for his help. Unfortunately he chose not to report the incident for another two years.
  • When the family contacted authorities on the island, Mr. Bradley said they were told, "...we have no illegal prostitutes here." By that time the brothel didn't exist, as it had been demolished after being damaged by a fire.

This means that, for at least most of a year, Ms. Bradley was moved around the island in broad daylight as well as enslaved in a brothel right under the nose of the harbour police. Yet during all this time both the harbour and island police failed to find her, even they both knew about her kidnapping.


Another interesting fact is that apparently no one has found or identified the brothel owner. In the Bradley case, questions need to be asked, as three offences might be involved. This writer is certain that a civilized country like the Netherlands has sanctions against kidnapping. While there is a law in the Netherlands Antilles against forcing someone into prostitution, a Caribbean women's rights site explained it's never enforced on the islands.


Finally, since it is the 200th anniversary of the ending of the trans-Atlantic slave trace, there is a chance these laws are still on the books in the Netherlands. And this offence, if still enforceable, just might be a capital crime.


Both the Bradley and Holloway cases raise many questions. Another, for Aruba, is if any police or judicial officials will ever be disciplined if it's found they mishandled this case. On Curacao, will officials, and another individual, ever face justice or discipline over the Bradley case?

Both cases demand answers from the authorities based in the Netherlands, who have the judicial obligation in the islands. If these questions aren't answered, it would appear both cases will end in a whitewash and the Dutch justice system will receive a well-deserved black mark on its record. One can only guess about the repercussions to the tourist industry in these islands.