HERO--WILL HIS NAME SPEAK FOR ITSELF?

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: Hero Brinkman, a member of the Dutch parliament, who told us the Island of Aruba is corrupt as hell. He's now in Aruba. He is demanding answers in the Natalee Holloway investigation. Mr. Brinkman joins us by phone.

Mr. Brinkman, thank you for joining us. And what happened today?

HERO BRINKMAN, MEMBER OF DUTCH PARLIAMENT: Well, it happened yesterday, about the trip (ph), and we started the conference today with the delegations of the Antilles parliament and a delegation of the Aruban parliament to open a conference about our kingdom and the way we are dealing with the three different countries within the kingdom.

VAN SUSTEREN: I heard that you had been threatened.

BRINKMAN: Yes, well, that was yesterday. I had a meeting — our delegation had a meeting with the prime minister. I had a big discussion with the prime minister, and after that , we went away, and I walked away, and someone came up to me, and he threatened to push my — to hit me on the head or something like that. And that actually was the manager of protocol, the right hand from the prime minister who did that.

VAN SUSTEREN: What prompted that? Is it anyway related to Natalee Holloway?

BRINKMAN: Well, they are all very mad about, not only because of my statements that Aruba is corrupt as hell, and — and that, yes, I think, I'm sure it is. And I think in a democratic society, you are allowed, as a member of parliament to state that, and to prove it. So, the Aruban people are not very democratic at all. And they have to get used to these kind of talks I think.

VAN SUSTEREN: Now, do you back off your statement that Aruba is corrupt as hell? That is the first part of my question. And the second part is, was the investigation of Natalee Holloway corrupt as hell?

BRINKMAN: I must say that I'm 100 percent sure that both answers can be — answered with yes. The politicians here are very, very corrupt. Most of them they just joined politics to fill their own pockets. And actually, as it is already stated by the minister Crews, that he knows — he knew that the first 10 days of the investigation, they tried to slow down the investigation so that probably other things could go away, like they body of Natalee Holloway.

VAN SUSTEREN: Mr. Brinkman, can you make a promise to us, you won't give up in searching for answers and making sure there is a full investigation?

BRINKMAN: Well, I already stated a few weeks ago, with you. I am like a lion. If I had my grip on you, I will never let loose. I — I want the truth to come out. And I will do everything within the parliament and outside the parliament to obtain a good investigation of what happened. And I want to know happened three — almost four years ago with Natalee.

VAN SUSTEREN: Can you get a full and complete investigation and get someone other than the Aruban officials to do it? Get the Dutch officials in there, and basically clean house?

BRINKMAN: Yes. Actually, that is my political goal. I want a Dutch investigation of the first 10 days of the disappearance of Natalee. Why did the police — why didn't they do something, and why did they not do anything on the other kind of criminal parts. I want those answers. And I think there are a few people out there who know what has happened. Joran must have called someone, a few people what has happened. And I want those people. And I'm pretty sure about who I am referring to. I want those people to come out and just tell us what had happened.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, Mr. Brinkman, your reputation is that you do not give up. So, you know, the Holloway's family is, I know, very grateful for what you have done. Thank you for joining us, Sir.

BRINKMAN: I'm at your service. Thank you.

VAN SUSTEREN: Thank you, Sir.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,477454,00.html

ACTRESS AMY GUMENICK CHOSEN TO PORTRAY NATALEE HOLLOWAY IN LIFETIME MOVIE

Amy Gumenick

Amy's Info From IMDB.com

ARUBA: "BRINKMAN IS FOR US A RACIST"

Looks like Brinkman has few true allies in his "anti corruption movement". Could it be that some of these people may have personal, political and/or monetary interests? Is he the only politician left with a conscience no matter how "unpopular" or messy it could get?

Starting this movement could make him into a renowned world leader in anti-corruption. Who wouldn't want to get on that bus unless one has something to hide?

If I could, I'd be there right behind him.

"The Hero" Brinkman

ORANJESTAD/WILLEMSTAD – Many politicians are doubtful that suddenly Lower House member Hero Brinkman (PVV) has good intentions with the Antillean and Aruban people, after he launched his plan for an ‘anti-corruption movement’ among the population in the Caribbean kingdom parts to put an end to corruption.

MAN

The Curacao Island Council-member Hensley Koeiman (MAN) says that he is ‘totally against corruption’. In an e-mail with wishes for a happy 2009 he maintains the motto ‘Ban hasi kos na drechi’ (Let’s do the things right). “This doesn’t only include good governance and good service, but also not commit corruption.

I will support Brinkman if he wants to set up this anti-corruption movement in the entire Kingdom. I support each Brinkman and Brinkwoman that is against corruption. But why does Brinkman want this for just the Antilles and Aruba? I am therefore doubtful whether his intentions are noble.” (Huh? He's totally for it, then questions an alleged motive?)

PNP

Koeiman’s colleague Gisette Seferina (PNP) agrees with him on this subject. “Each civilized person is against corruption. But why doesn’t Brinkman start in the Netherlands? If he thinks that the Antilles and Aruba has the patent on corruption in the Kingdom, he is then profoundly mistaken. It appears from the context he puts this idea that he is completely disturbed this time.” (And WHY would he NOT be disturbed? I don't understand the way these people think and the garbage that comes out of their mouths.)

DP

DP-leader Norbert George

DP-leader Norbert George says that “this anti-corruption movement is already in existence for a long time. We ourselves are tired of all corruptions. I therefore do not understand what Brinkman means with the set up of an anti-corruption movement. But I wish him a lot of success!” (Duh...what an idiot. Keystone Politician...)

FOL

Renfred Rojer

“Very good idea!” is Renfred Rojer’s reaction. “But he needs to include the Netherlands. We learn corruption from them since the time of the pirates. Look how they have dealt with the construction fraud and other practices. Very different than how they want to deal with us in these terms. We are well on our way with the drawing up of rules to promote and enhance good governance for the benefit of our people.

Any good will person that wants to cooperate in combating corruption is welcome to join the club, including Brinkman.”

PAR

Commissioner, Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé

Commissioner Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé (Education, Sports, and Culture, PAR) says that ‘everything that is done with good intentions, is acceptable’, but she doesn’t know what Brinkman’s intentions on the real agenda are.

“There is corruption everywhere, all over the world, which is unfortunate. But I condemn the stigmatization of certain society or politicians by means of insinuating messages that at first seem well-meant.” (She sounds like she needs to hang out with the lefties over in Hollywood like Susan Sarandon...what an annoying knat.)

SAVING THE BEST B.S. FOR LAST

Aruba

“I repeat what I have clearly declared earlier. Mr. Brinkman is for us a racist and a fundamentalist that is not interested in the well-being of the people of the Antilles and/or Aruba”, says Arthur Dowers of the Aruban opposition Party AVP that takes part in the POK.

“This person’s statements are purely meant to obtain the sympathy of those that advocate racism. (What does racism have to do with corruption? I guess people throw the race card in other countries, too.)

Arthur Dowers, Aruban opposition Party AVP


Someone's hiding something!t

Look how he internationally attacked Aruba recently about the matter of a young lady that disappeared here in Aruba. If you advocate the well-being of Aruba, you wouldn’t tackle this problem in such way that you harm the island financially and economically”, says Dowers. We don’t need Brinkman for combating corruption, says Dowers. Supervising the government and combating fraud in general is necessary and important to him. “Citizens all over the world are more and more raising checks and balances. The Antilles and Aruba are also experiencing that.


We furthermore have sufficient institutions that take actions against that. The population has pre-eminently the power to vote out politicians that they do not approve through democratic elections, and vote in those that they do approve. There is no need to misuse the media – You wonder what politics this person is going to perpetrate when everybody realize that just like everywhere in the world, we have individual politicians that do wrong and that our institutions really act against that.


‘Tragicomic’

The difference in tone and contents in the reactions of the chairman of the Dutch POK-delegation, Willibrord van Beek (VVD) and that of the chairman of the Antillean POK-delegation, Pedro Atacho (PAR), on Brinkman’s idea for a common anti-corruption movement is very striking.

Pedro Atacho (PAR)

Atacho: “We are very clear about this. Same as in The Hague in June of last year, we request Mr. Brinkman to go to the Public Prosecutor (OM) if he is aware of any penal offences. We noticed that he didn’t do this and prefers to continue drawing the attention with a sensation eager, tragicomic show.”

Chairman of the Dutch POK-delegation,
Willibrord van Beek (VVD)

Van Beek: “As chairman of the Dutch delegation, I won’t give any political comments.” (What a way to puss out...)

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_51169.php

THE TRUE MEANING OF "GOING DUTCH"

What is this? A divorce? Do you want half? Is that how you resort to problems? Telling people to "pay up"...but this time you can't bully us, Aruba.

This was never a "Dutch Date".

Suck it up. Pay it yourself. We pay for everyone else in the world. Take care of your own mess that YOU created for yourselves.

You cut your nose off to spite your face when it all could have been avoided. You try to play this out by putting on your best poker face, push the bet and see if we'd call your bluff.

And ouch. You bet the entire farm--and LOST badly.

Now you have all this mess all over a few (un) "important" low-lives who think they are above the law? I'd be feeling a bit foolish right now if I were in your position. Aruba, you are the epitome of clueless tools.

Aruba's chief public prosecutor has defended the police investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. He claims it was one of the most expensive homicide investigations of all time. Meanwhile, allegations of Aruban corruption rumble on.

The investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway was one of the most expensive investigations of its kind ever carried out in the world, according to Aruba's chief public prosecutor Hans Mos.

Speaking at a press conference on the island, he said he estimated that the investigation had cost more than 7.5 million euros. "I would challenge the United States to produce a homicide investigation that cost as much as this. This cost a fortune. The Netherlands sent detectives who had to be given accommodation, and F16 aircraft as well."

Intense media coverage

The controversial Holloway case has attracted intense media coverage around the world, particularly in the US and the Netherlands, and the investigation has attracted heavy criticism.

Natalee Holloway, then aged 18, disappeared during a school trip to the Dutch island of Aruba in 2005. She vanished after a drunken nighttime trip to a beach with Dutch student Joran van der Sloot, then aged 17, and two older friends. He was one of ten people arrested during the investigation, but was never charged. He was to become the focus of massive media attention and outrage, amidst allegations of police failure to bring him to justice.

In February last year, Dutch crime reporter Peter R de Vries screened a controversial documentary which he claimed solved the case. Hidden camera footage showed Joran van der Sloot confessing that Natalee Holloway had become unwell and died on the beach. He said he had arranged for a friend to dispose of the body at sea. However, a Dutch judge ruled that the footage didn't provide sufficient evidence for him to be rearrested.

Investigation continues

The public prosecutor's office says the investigation will be continuing for some months. Chief public prosecutor Hans Mos declined to name a specific date on which the police would close the case. Neither would he say if the office had come any closer to bringing charges against Joran van der Sloot. There appear to be few leads left to follow up in the case.

Many tip-offs have proved fruitless. A fisherman claimed that on the night of the disappearance a large knife was stolen from him, and in the same month a large lobsterpot went missing. The lobsterpot turned out to have been at his home all along.

Fabric retrieved from the sea by the costly research vessel Persistence proved after all not to match Holloway's clothing.

A recording of an incriminating telephone conversation allegedly between Joran and his father is currently being analysed for authenticity by the Dutch Forensic Institute.

"Second rate police team"

Recently Aruba's justice minister Rudy Croes said that Dutch police commissioner Jan van der Straten had delayed the start of investigations in order to protect his friend, Joran's father Paulus van der Sloot, who was working for the Justice Ministry on Aruba at the time.

Shortly after Natalee's disappearance in 2005, the Dutch police commissioner was reportedly overheard saying "I cannot do this to my friend Paul". Mr Croes also accused Mr Van der Straten of putting a "second rate police team" on the case.

On Wednesday in an interview with US news channel Fox News, Dutch right-wing Freedom Party MP Hero Brinkman repeated Mr Croes' allegations, and described Aruba as being "corrupt as hell".

The interview came at the start of a biannual conference between politicians from the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean islands, the Antilles and Aruba. The meeting was cancelled last year following Aruban outrage at similar remarks made by Mr Brinkman. And this year too, angry Aruban politicians nearly scuppered the conference again in response to Mr Brinkman's comments on Fox News.

Aruba's damaged reputation in the wake of the Holloway case continues to hamper the island's economy, which is heavily dependent on US tourism. Mr Mos denied the allegations of corruption and deliberate failure to follow up the relevant leads. He said he had even spent two and a half months consulting a psychic on the case, "who turned out to have dreamed everything".

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/090107-natalee-holloway

PULL THE STRING ON HANS MOS' BACK AND HEAR ON REPEAT--"WE'RE NEARING THE END"

How many times are we going to hear this rhetoric from Aruba? That is about as many times as Joran has lied. Instead of feeling hopeful, Beth Holloway must roll her eyes every time she hears this crap now.

END THE B.S.

There is no such "end" of a potential murder case. This case will always remain open. The statements made by individual Aruba spokespeople and/or officials are using this tactic to make Natalee's case "go away" so they can "move on". They are using words to sidetrack, dupe and lessen the impact Natalee's case has had on this island.

HANS MOS--PUPPET, LIAR OR CONSPIRATOR?

Has Mos is either (a) an outright liar; (b) a hypocrite; (c) a puppet; or (d) a complete bullshitter.

He claims in the article below, "If you have relevant information — no matter how small or uninteresting it may seem — please notify my office or the police."

What about the information Greta had for him that he refused to look at? What about the witnesses who HAVE come forward, yet were quickly dismissed? What about the tips that have come in that have never been investigated or ignored? Don't forget, Hans Mos office usually does not return calls and is never in his office. He must take really long lunches.

IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS

Bottom line: Aruba is spinning their BS and will only make it worse if they keep using the phrase, "closing the case" or the word "end". It will only make people angrier and their tourism will forever be marred.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Aruban prosecutors said Tuesday their investigation into the 2005 disappearance of U.S. teenager Natalee Holloway is nearing the end and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said his office still needs "at least another few months" to investigate statements made by the only remaining suspect, Joran van der Sloot, during a hidden-camera interview which was broadcast on Dutch television last year.

But he then said prosecutors "are approaching the end of this lengthy investigation."

"If you have relevant information — no matter how small or uninteresting it may seem — please notify my office or the police," Mos said in a statement Tuesday.

Holloway, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was last seen in May 2005 leaving a bar in the Aruban capital Oranjestad with Van der Sloot on the final night of a high school graduation trip to the island. She was 18 at the time.

No trace of Holloway has ever been found despite extensive searches involving hundreds of volunteers, Aruban soldiers, FBI agents and even Dutch F-16 jets with special equipment.

Aruban investigators reopened the case last year based on the hidden-camera recordings made by Dutch television crime reporter Peter R. de Vries.

But judges rejected an attempt to re-arrest Van der Sloot for statements he made on the Dutch TV show. The hidden-camera recordings showed Van der Sloot saying he was with Holloway when she died on the Dutch Caribbean island and that he had a friend dump her body at sea.

Mos, without disclosing specifics, said the TV program caused a "new stream of information" regardless of the appeals court decision blocking authorities from arresting Van der Sloot for a third time based on the statements.

"My office does not want to disclose these results to the suspect and thus make him wiser even before he has been confronted with these results," Mos said, referring to Van der Sloot, who was last known to be living in Thailand.

In November, Ann Angela, a spokeswoman for the Aruba Prosecutors' Office, said authorities hoped to decide by the end of 2008 whether to prosecute Van der Sloot or close the case for good.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_aruba_missing_teen

WOULD I BE A TARGET? YOU BET'CHA YA...

I am not unlike Natalee Holloway. However, I am older, yet age means nothing. I'd like to think I am smarter because of my age and experience in life. But I'm not. I'm just like everyone else.

I am trusting.

I am naive.

I am a 5'10" blonde American woman.

I could have been Natalee.

My secret is that I am a rape survivor; and even throughout my wisdom and my past history, I probably wouldn't have seen through Joran's lies...his agenda...his plan.

I would have ended up just like her.

I like to think that I am such a tough ass bitch. That I can "hold my own." That I have control of every situation I am in.

But I don't have control.

I'm just as vulnerable as Natalee was.

See me. Feel me. Rape me. Kill me.

I am Michelle Renee; yet I am Natalee Ann Holloway.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING A "CONCERN" IN THE CARIBBEAN--ARUBA INCLUDED

Only a "CONCERN"? I'd say it is a full blown EPIDEMIC!

WILLEMSTAD/THE HAGUE – “The Caribbean is definitely a worrisome area”, said Justice-minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin (CDA) about the human trafficking during a Justice-deliberation of the Lower House-committee. He reacted on questions of PvdA-Member of parliament Khadija Arib about the cooperation with the Neth.Antilles and Aruba. That’s the reason for the cooperation in the aliens’ supervision that we are currently giving shape.”


One of the issues that Arib raised was ‘the human trafficking via islands like Bonaire and the Windward Islands’. “I do understand that per January 1, these islands are comparable with a Dutch municipality. According to a report from Brazil, women from that country are rather often dealt in via Surinam for example to these islands. How is human trafficking going to be suppressed in these new municipalities?”


“We are more in general busy with the reinforcing of the immigration chain in Aruba and in the Neth.Antilles, which also affects countries of origin in the Caribbean and South-America”, was Hirsch Ballin’s answer. The cooperation that the Netherlands has offered is accepted. “This also counts for the Windward Islands and Bonaire that later are going to be part of the Dutch government, if the plans that are currently in preparation for this, are accepted.


The first move in the cooperation was a mini-conference that I participated in; at that time well-coordinated with the deliberation in Aruba on other maintenance of law and order subjects. The discussion was mainly aimed at making assistance and expertise available.”


http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_50865.php