ODUBER'S COOPERATION IN CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION? "OVER MY DEAD BODY!"

Aruba will approach UN if the Netherlands

enforce corruption investigation

ORANJESTAD — Aruba is contemplating an official compliant with the committee for decolonization of the United Nations, if the Netherlands enforce the investigation on corruption and misgovernment without the cooperation of the island.

“Over my dead body!”

Premier Nelson Oduber (MEP) responds to the news that the Netherlands if necessary will execute the investigation without cooperation.

He insists: Aruba will not cooperate.

The Premier emphasizes once again, that the Netherlands cannot carry out an investigation on the functioning of the democracy and the constitutional state, without the cooperation of Aruba. The Kingdom government can intervene if there is a question of a serious threat of these two points based on the Statute, but there is no question of that according to Oduber.

He also had a message for Guusje (the Dutch minister of Internal Affairs, PvdA): “read the Statue and explain to me how you are going to carry out this investigation, as the cooperation of the Public Prosecutor and the police is required, and these resort under Aruba”.

The enforcing of an investigation is considered by Aruba as tarnishing of the self-government and this is in defiance of the international treaties according to the Premier. Moreover, he seriously wonders whether Aruba should remain in the Kingdom.

“They call us villains, for everything; whilst not so long ago, we were quoted as an example in the Kingdom for the success of the separate status, by the same parliamentarians. If they continue to kick us around, there will come a time that we must confer with the population whether we should step out.”

Oduber stated that it would be wise if Minister of Justice Rudy Croes (MEP) would meanwhile take up the matter with the United Nations committee in London. In any case, he is not frightened. “I will calmly wait how they will go about this, as we will not cooperate. If the Netherlands subsequently takes measures against Aruba, then we will cross that bridge when we get there.”

State Council of Ministers

The Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba in the Netherlands, Frido Croes, will disclose Aruba’s official reaction today, in which amongst others, the matter of the salary increases of the members of the Communal Court of Justice (and the Public Prosecutor) is mentioned.

Aruba is of the opinion that in an investigation on corruption, the role of the State Council of Ministers must be considered, as they namely neglected giving their approval upon the assessment thereof. The assessment of the new salary structure/legal position was established against the legal rules, says Aruba. After all, the Antillean government should have first consulted with Aruba on this matter. Furthermore, the judges personally drew up the Land Resolutions without the official personnel procedure and then submitted these directly to the Antillean Minister of Justice, according to Aruba. The Antillean Minister of Justice then had the Governor ratify the resolutions.

Aruba states that they verbally raised this matter with the Dutch Minister of Justice, Ernst Hirsch Ballin. However, no action was even taken.

Plan of approach

This morning, Premier Oduber said that in spite of the current escalation, he stills considers the conversation with the Dutch State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (Kingdom Relations, CDA) of last Monday as positive. “We made good agreements. The problem is that in this case, her boss is answerable to the Upper Chamber, and that’s when they will drop us.”

Oduber is now strongly considering whether to broadcast this sort of consultations. “As each time we consult, it seems they hear different things and then something different appears in writing.” According to him, Bijleveld did promise on Monday, that the agreed upon ‘plan of approach’ to improve the functioning of the democracy and the constitutional state will be available only after the elections in September.

Villains

The comment of the Dutch PVV-parliamentarian Hero Brinkman –who called Nelson Oduber (MEP) one of the largest criminals on the island – elicited heated reactions on Aruba, especially from the party favored by the press.

The headline of the newspaper Solo di Pueblo on the front page read: “Brinkman’s mother is a villain!” Oduber stated that Brinkman himself should be investigated. “Ask him why he left the police corps. If we on Aruba are villains, then he is the villain of the police.”

Politicians of the opposition responded positively to the announced investigation by the Netherlands. “Nel is now being taken by his own horns”, says parliamentarian Otmar Oduber (AVP) referring to Oduber’s nickname: the Premier is called ‘old bull’. RED states to support the Dutch Minister Guusje ter Horst: “The Oduber cabinet defaced the international image of Aruba.”

Attorney General ‘biased’

According to Premier Nelson Oduber (MEP), the Netherlands does not want to include the Aruban Attorney General Rob Pietersz in the study group with which Aruba initially wanted to carry out the investigation on corruption with the Netherlands. Oduber stated this earlier in a letter to his Dutch colleague Jan Peter Balkenende.

An Aruban-Dutch study group consisting of amongst others members of the Advisory Council, the Council of State, and therefore also the Attorney General, would investigate what the true facts were on misgovernment and corruption – which State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (CDA) of Kingdom Relations reported to the Dutch parliament. However, Bijleveld told Oduber that the Attorney General could not be included in the study group, as he was ‘biased’.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_58633.php

DUTCH INVESTIGATION INTO ARUBAN GOVERNMENT, NAMELY PROSECUTION

By our correspondent Christel van Bebber

ORANJESTAD/ THE HAGUE — In her letter to the Lower Chamber today, the State secretary of the Kingdom Relations, Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (CDA) stated that there would be an investigation into the government of Aruba. 

In her letter, she gave a number of her own observations on the judicial process on the island and is of the opinion that a ‘combination of signals are so alarming that there is reason to investigate in order to get a complete picture of the status of the government

 of Aruba’. 

On the base of the results of that investigation, the State secretary will view if further measures must be taken and on which level this should take place.

During a debate in the Upper Chamber last week, Bijleveld said she worries about the status of the government on Aruba. In the letter she forwarded to the Lower Chamber today, she gives a few observations from which she concluded to open an investigation. 

For example, the Public Prosecutor cannot sufficiently focus on the prosecution of offences. This is the actual task of the Public Prosecutor, but this comes off badly due to amongst others, understaffing. The National Criminal Investigation Bureau appears so overloaded by corruption investigations, that other cases are shelved, says the State secretary.

The Public Prosecutor in Oranjestad should have six public prosecutors, and there are only four. “Not because there are insufficient qualified candidates, but on account of a salary discussion”, according to Bijleveld’s letter to the Chamber. 

Furthermore, the boss of the Public Prosecutor, the Attorney General, is losing so much time on troublesome files and solving discussing with the Netherlands, that he barely has time to prosecute. 

“This fact, in combination with the in comparison large amount of corruption reports in the politics and the bureaucracy, worries me”, Bijleveld writes. “”After all, the adequate functioning of the Public Prosecutor is one of the pillars of the constitutional state”.

Communal Court

Another pillar, which worries the State secretary, is the legal authority, which she meanwhile told the minister-president Oduber. Bijleveld reminds the Chamber, that Aruba barely cooperated with the realization of the Communal Court of Justice. Eventually Aruba agreed with the majority of the enactment, which resulted in the realization of the Communal Court.

There is also understaffing in the prison. Bijleveld points out that the situation in the police cells and the prison has improved after the visitation of the European Committee regarding the prevention of torturing, and inhuman and degrading treatments of punishments (CPT). 

The physical circumstances have been dealt with, but she also observed that there are still insufficient qualified personnel and that the treatment of prisons leaves much to be desired. Her main point of concern in this area however remains the aliens’ detention, where not one point of improvement has been implemented since the CPT-visit.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_57146.php

THE BREAK UP! NETHERLANDS TO CLEAN HOUSE

There aren't any scheduled "going away" parties for the following countries as the Netherlands bids adieu and washes their hands of these corrupt islands. Aruba didn't make the cut, as expected. It was last reported that certain unnamed Aruban Officials and a former PR consultant were at the new Senor Frogs and chatting old times with the bartenders.

It's quite a "Cheers" moment.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands finds itself on the eve of a historic event. After more than 60 years, the Netherlands Antilles will soon cease to exist. Two new autonomous nations will take its place: Curaçao and St Maarten. The smaller islands of Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius will become 'special Dutch municipalities'.


The necessary legislation has been drawn up, and all the political leaders of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles need do at the Round Table Conference in the Curaçao capital of Willemstad on 15 December is place their signatures.


Exactly when this will happen is not exactly clear, as earlier deadlines were not met. All eyes are now focused on 1 January 2010. However, Deputy Kingdom Relations Minister Ank Bijleveld has said that "quality is more important than speed". Last week's debate on the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles - hosted by the Caribbean desk at Radio Netherlands Worldwide - showed there were still several stumbling blocks which must be cleared. Most important among them are a common Court of Justice, the internal divisions among Curaçao politicians, and the inadequate standard of law enforcement in St Maarten.

Tulip fields

'The "other women"...

The Netherlands Antilles includes five islands, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, the so-called BES islands, will become part of the Netherlands. Their island councils will become local councils, the governor will become a mayor, and their residents will in future be entitled to vote in Dutch and European elections.

And yet, they will retain a 'special status', and with good reason. The islands are far from the Netherlands. Or, as Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende recently put it: "We are different, at home, we speak different languages. Whereas one person grew up among palm trees, the other among tulip fields". This means that the Dutch political system will not be integrally copied by the islands. The system of pensions and social security benefits will be adjusted to Antillean standards and it remains to be seen whether the euro will be introduced as legal currency.

Wilhelmina

'What your grandmother always thought...'

In 1942, then Queen Wilhelmina spoke the historic words: "Each relying on their own strength, but with the will to support each other" with which she intended to say that the then Dutch colonies would become more autonomous in future. In 1954, her daughter Juliana definitively ended the colonial era when she signed the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands which granted the islands autonomy.

National flag

'I'm coming by to take my stuff...'

As agreeable as things were back then, relations between the Netherlands and its former colonies became more pressurised as time went on. In the 1960s in particular, it became clear that the former colonies needed to become fully independent. Surinam led the way, and hoisted its own national flag in 1975.


Aruba also pressed for more autonomy, and was granted a separate status in 1986, with the express purpose of becoming fully independent in ten years.


The other five Antillean islands preferred to retain close ties with the Netherlands. The call for more autonomy was not heard again until the end of the past century. A 2005 referendum, in which the people of St Maarten and Curaçao voted for more autonomy, lent further weight to that call.

'Breaking Up is Hard to Do'

'What do You Mean, You've Been Planning This?'

It nevertheless took several years before concrete plans were drawn up. The negotiations with Curaçao were particularly difficult. Deadlines kept being pushed back and politicians accused each other of obstruction, abuse of power, corruption and colonial interference. The people of Curaçao organised demonstrations against Dutch rule. A low point was formed by the Island Council's rejection of the hard-fought 'Final Accord' in 2006. The Netherlands and the other Antillean islands were astonished.

Opinion poll

'Screw Grandma...What You're Friends Always Thought...'

The Dutch people were slowly becoming fed up with the situation as well. An opinion poll showed that more than half the population wants to get rid of the Antilles. The islands' multi-billion euro debt in particular is a thorn in the side of many.



http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081214-netherlands-antilles-mc

OPEN LETTER TO BETH FROM CARLOS TROMP

I would personally like to thank Mr. Tromp for putting this video together. It is a MUST SEE. The "gist" of the video goes something like this:

"...Duped by the white collar criminals of the Dutch Kingdom in Aruba...and I want to apologize to you through this letter to you for the injustice for the Ministry of Justice of Aruba..."

He names names, compares government officials to Nazis through various photos and is fearless in speaking his mind. A MUST SEE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDX0GSWDqwo

NELSON ODUBER A MAN OF HIS WORD? OR PART OF THE ARUBAN COVER UP?

**Another great piece by my favorite "Natalee's Freebirds"! Keep on rockin'!

"We've been working 50 years, day and night, to build up tourism,"

Oduber said last week.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160064,00.html

When questioned about a cover up taking place, Jorge Pesquera, then President of Aruba's AHATA replied,

"Yes...yes there was."
(p. 194 Beth Holloway book Loving Natalee).

Now that the criminal case against the 3 main suspects in Natalee Holloway's disappearance has been closed by Aruban officials, perhaps it is time for Prime Minister Nelson Oduber to make good on his intentions.

On November 9 of 2005, Nelson Oduber stated that he would like an "investigation into the investigation" conducted. He reiterated this intent in late January of 2006.


We agree it is high time for such an investigation.


With the numerous questionable and downright unethical activities of law enforcement, judiciary members, and government officials - Miss Holloway's fellow U.S. citizens request the documented facts that show who played key roles in "making mistakes" in this investigation.


From the detectives involved, to the initial prosecutor handling differing suspects and witnesses in different manners, to the judges ruling inconsistently and in a biased manner - we agree with Aruba's Prime Minister, in that there is definite cause for an in-depth look into these actions.

Greta Van Susteren - April 13
Professor from the Netherlands


“The investigation doesn't strike me as an example of professionalism. The investigation from the onset was somewhat bungled.”

http://refugeesunleashed.net/post-33291.html&highlight=greta#33291


DIARIO Aruba
4/6/2006

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Dutch criminal law experts recently expressed big criticism about the Aruban police investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. They call the investigation methods strange and unprofessional.

“It is incomprehensible that police, after an important tip about the location of Natalee Holloway’s body, to not go search immediately.” ~ criminal law scholar of the University of Amsterdam, Menno Dolman

“This is very strange. Normally the area is closed off immediately, to dig and search for clues, but not in Aruba”. ~ legal psychologist, Peter van Koppen

“Total madness. “This is a total error” ~ criminal law expert of the University of Leiden, Hans Nijboer

“The media is the last option for investigators, you do not give out information that only the guilty could know.” ~ criminal law scholar of the University of Amsterdam, Menno Dolman

http://getagripmonkey.blogspot.com/2006_04_02_archive.html

Aruba’s prime minister believes that authorities made mistakes at the start of the investigation of the Natalee Holloway case. ~ Ruben Trapenberg, Aruban Government Spokesperson

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-22-aruba_x.htm


DIARIO Aruba
11/09/2005

The Premier also made the promise that when the Holloway investigation ends, to bring an investigation into finding out what and how things went wrong.

posted by Getagrip @ 11/10/2005 12:45:00 AM


Amigoe
Jan 23, 2006

Oduber wants the discrepancies in the Holloway-case be investigated

ARUBA -- After the Holloway-case is closed, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP) wants a thorough investigation be conducted on the course of everything that had to do with the investigation on the disappeared American teenager, especially the begin phase. He thinks that mistakes were made especially in this phase.

*Will Prime Minister stand true to his own words?


*Will he finally authorize an unbiased agency to conduct an investigation into the persons and activities associated with this case?


*Will Aruba open their dossier to a competent investigative team for all the world to see what “mistakes” were made and by whom?

Prime Minister Nelson Oduber has made numerous differing statements about his true feelings about Natalee Holloway, her family, and his country’s investigation into her disappearance.

*Will the world finally be able to see if Aruba's Prime Minister is a man of his word?

*Does he finally realize that coming clean with the truth about this investigation will be the first step in repairing Aruba’s damaged tourism numbers?

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


Natalee’s Freebirds


http://nataleesfreebirds.blogspot.com/

DUTCH DELEGATION PARTIES IN ARUBA LIKE IT'S 1999

Dutch delegation in Aruba

The fraction-leaders (can someone define what a "fraction leader"
is and their PURPOSE?) pose for the picture at the Cabinet of the Governor
shortly after their delayed arrival (MUST have been Jet Blue...) in Aruba this morning.

October 26, 2007--

ORANJESTAD – The delegation arrived in Aruba around 10:00 this morning. Chairman of Parliament Mervin Ras (MEP) and the Representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Rens Knegt welcomed the delegation at the airport. They then paid the governor a visit.

Some matters that need a solution will also be discussed in Aruba, like the complete cooperation between the Netherlands and Aruba.

They will possibly talk about the moneys that Aruba is supposedly in credit from the proceeds of the Marriott-buildings, also called the Plant NV-matter.

It seems that the sun (that one lost me in translation...) has propitiated the Dutch politicians up till now. Considering the program for Aruba, they seem being supplied with sufficient information.


They will visit KIA; they will speak with education-representatives, with the government, and with representatives of the hotel- and tourism industry. (GEE? I wonder WHY?? Wait a minute...ough...cough...haaackkk! Ewww...I just coughed up something. Oh, I think it was my reaction to Aruba's inevitable ass-kissing of their Dutch "daddies".)

The Netherlands also tries to get an idea of Aruba's position on the new polity of the Neth. Antilles, in particular the experience that Aruba has gained since the status aparte in 1986. They will also talk about the importance of the Kingdom games. (Oh yeah...TOP of the agenda, right?)

The rest is "Fiesta" time...lay around fat and lazy and NO NOTHING.
Typical of politicians anywhere...including THE Dutch Delegation..

The Dutch delegation spends the night in the Renaissance Hotel. The program for Friday is as follows: a tour of Parke National Arikok; director Roy Croes hopes that there is enough time to take the fraction-leaders by bus from San Fuego to Boca Prins and Dos Playa. "That will be nice for pictures." They will visit KIA and will fly back to Curacao after lunch. The fraction-leaders will visit the Windward Islands next week.

First "business" THEN PLAY...if you know what I mean...

Visit the choller houses and don't forget to stop by "Boeti's "beach booth"!

Party on!!!

SOMETHING WE ALREADY KNOW... ARUBA IS UNACCEPTABLE!

The Netherlands: 'Governmental
power of Aruba unsatisfactory'

ORANJESTAD – The Netherlands wants a dialogue with Aruba about the differences in opinion on the desired autonomy and the governmental power of the island.


The Netherlands has noticed that 'regularly there are indications of governmental incidents' and the governmental power qualifies as unsatisfactory. Same arrangements on good governance must therefore be made with Aruba as with the Antillean islands on their way to a new political structure. This is stated in Chapter IV Kingdom Relations of the Dutch 2008 budget presented to the Dutch Parliament today. Aruban ministers have often declared themselves openly in favour of independence.


Justice-minister Rudy Croes (MEP) said that he is ashamed of his Dutch passport and that he prefers an Aruban one. Also Prime Minister Nelson Oduber had the word independence in his mouth recently, when the Plant NV deal failed. He even forbid his civil servants to take part in the negotiations regarding the new political structure of the Antilles.


In the meantime, the Aruban government seems to be seeking rapprochement again. The governor said last week during the opening of the new parliamentary session that the government strives for strengthening the ties with the partners within the Kingdom.


The Netherlands now wants a dialogue with Aruba to improve the island's government and tie this into conversations on political adjustment and conversations on the cooperation program that comes to an end in 2009.


However, Aruba would like the Netherlands to continue participating in the Fondo Desaroyo Aruba (FDA). But up till now, the Netherlands has been varying her expressions on this. There is a political deliberation on the continuation of the development relation in the fall of 2007.

The maintenance of law and order program is
part of this and will be included in the discussion.

Important point of interest is the immigration policy, according to the Netherlands. The support from the Netherlands for the public finances will continue. The dept-quote is anticipated to increase with one percent this year to 47.5 percent of the gross domestic product (BBP). The real growth in relation to the BBP is estimated on 1.5 to 2 percent. The Netherlands bases herself on the figures of the Central Bank of Aruba.


"As part of promoting the autonomy of the Kingdom partners, it is of great importance that the countries are not too dependent of third parties financially. This is expressed in a reduction of the debt-quote of both countries." The Netherlands is also of the opinion that thanks to a favourable economic development (Hello? Someone is in serious denial about that...unless they are talking about the money laundering, drug and sex trafficking...), the Aruban government can have the budget deficit under control with some specific measures.


As part of the political renewals, the Solidarity fund between the islands of the Neth.Antilles and Aruba will be canceled out. This is a financial benefit of 4 million euro for Aruba that can be put in the FDA.

THE U.S. GOV'T DID NOT INTERFERE WITH INVESTIGATION

**Here is another brilliant piece given to me by Natalee's Freebirds! You guys rock!

Aruba says the United States Government
interfered with their investigation...

What is the Truth?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

It was quickly discovered by the family of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway that Aruban officials had arrested two innocent men in the early days of their investigation.


That fact was just as quickly broadcast over American airwaves, and the American public was baffled at the news. That was simply the first questionable action undertaken by Aruba that was brought to the public’s attention, but it certainly wasn’t the last.


Since then, we have learned about evidence that was mishandled, thrown away, or that has simply disappeared once in the hands of Aruban investigators.


We’ve also learned how Aruba soft-balled the interrogations of the actual suspects in this case, and of highly questionable rulings by the judiciary involved. These instances, combined with several others, eventually brought many to believe there were some less than honest people handling this case on Aruba.

Recently, two Aruban spokespeople, Julia Renfro and Gerold Dompig, gave interviews to a local Aruban newspaper, openly, and we believe falsely, accusing the United States Government of causing the problems in the Aruban investigation – up to and including US Vice President Dick Cheney.


We have also learned that an Aruban delegation in Miami who met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the first week of June attempted to convince her they were making good progress in this case, right after they falsely arrested the two innocent men on June 5, 2005.


Was it not enough that Aruban spokespeople have denigrated Natalee and her family for the past two years? Was it not enough that Aruban officials failed to conduct a proper investigation into this matter?


Apparently not.


Now for some unfathomable reason, they are casting the blame and attacking the integrity of the United States Government.


Is protecting their tourism really this important? Or is there something bigger at stake for Aruba that they are desperately trying to keep hidden?

1. Aruba accuses Condoleezza Rice of interfering in their investigation

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with an Aruban delegation the night of June 5, 2005.


That date is a notorious one within the case of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway. June 5, 2005 was the date Aruban officials arrested two innocent, framed, black security guards for the disappearance of Ms Holloway.


June 9, 2005 - Associated Press

Authorities in the Dutch Caribbean island can hold 30-year-old Nick John and 28-year-old Abraham Jones without filing formal charges for up to 116 days. The pair were arrested Sunday on suspicion of first- and second-degree murder and capital kidnapping, the latter of which is invoked when kidnapping victim is killed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8079019/


Four days prior to that arrest, Aruban law enforcement and the prosecutor's office knew those two innocent men were nowhere near the Holiday Inn the night/morning of May 29/30th...as they also knew neither was Natalee Holloway. Video surveillance footage viewed by them on June 1, 2005 proved that tale to be false.


Yet by June 3, 2005 Aruban officials were setting up the security guards for a fraudulent arrest.



NANCY GRACE INTERVIEW JUNE 3, 2005


SANCHEZ: "I was monitoring a conversation not long ago with a lieutenant who is in charge of one of the investigations there in Aruba. And he said, and I’m going to quote him now, that he expected there could be arrests soon. And then he said that they expected to have some more news tomorrow."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/03/ng.01.html



Two days later, those arrests took place, and that same night Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber proceeded to lead his delegation in Florida with this tall tale to our own United States Secretary of State – Condoleezza Rice.


June 6th - In spite of these fraudulent arrests with no evidence, Judy Hassell had a massive search re-directed to a part of the island these guards resided in, and Aruban government employees were let off for the day to help.


June 6, 2005

The initial search idea called for an island wide effort, but later changed to focus on the southeastern area of Seroe Colorado and part of San Nicolas, police commander Judy Hassell said. San Nicolas is where the two charged men were arrested.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/06/national/main699807.shtml


Aruban spokesperson Julia Renfro stated on July 3, 2007 that Ms Rice interfered with the Aruban investigation to local Aruban newspaper Amigoe.


[b]Did a US official interfere into Aruba’s “investigation”? Or was she deliberately deceived by the Aruban delegation in an effort to have her withdraw her support and concern from this case?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Interview With Juan Carlos Lopez of CNN Espanol


Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
June 6, 2005


QUESTION: Have you received any update on the case of Natalee Holloway in Aruba?


SECRETARY RICE: We are in constant contact. And I was able to thank the Aruban delegation here last night for the very good efforts that they are making. It's obviously a case about which we're very concerned and we're all watching and working and also praying that this will come out all right.

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/47289.htm



What does this say about the knowledge of Aruban officals knowing the basis for these arrests was false? And yet they proceeded to expound this frame job? All the while lying to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – after having arrested these innocent men, they proceeded to tell her they were making progress.

2. Aruba accuses the United States FBI of interfering in the Aruban investigation

Aruban Prosecutor

Authorities on the Dutch Caribbean island requested a special FBI diving team to search waters with rough currents, Aruba Attorney General Caren Janssen said.

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,158666,00.html


FBI Spokesperson

Seven FBI agents from Miami are in Aruba, including two divers and evidence collection and analysis experts, and one agent has come from Barbados, the spokesman said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas...7/missing.teen/



Senator Spencer Bachus


U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved. He declined to give details.



"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde...4200.xml&coll=2


The first week of June 2005 brought an FBI diving team from the USA to Aruba, as per what appeared to be a "welcome" given by Aruban authorities to allow the FBI to participate in the "search" that Aruban officials felt was key in their investigation.


FBI spokesperson Judy Orihuela lets us know that the invitations and welcome Aruban officials extended to our FBI dive and search teams were merely a charade, as once they arrived on the island they were sidelined by local officials to merely roles of observers and advisors.


FBI Spokesperson

Aruban authorities also appealed for the FBI to send expert divers. The U.S. agency sent two search-and-rescue divers, but they never got in the water.


"They never had any information like: she could be in this place or that area," FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said. "That target would have come from the investigation of Aruban authorities because we can't investigate in a foreign country."


The decision not to dive was "bizarre," said Joe Huston, a rescue diver with Dickinson-based Texas EquuSearch. The volunteer group began a new search in Aruba on Saturday that included divers and sonar equipment.


"If her body was put in the ocean, there's a good chance now she'll never be found," Huston said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160701,00.html



June 9, 2005

FBI dive team has left the island

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/09/missing.teen/index.html


Were our FBI personnel being strung along by Aruban officials as they were merely puppets in Aruba’s charade of cooperation and transparency for public consumption? It seems our FBI grew wise to the farce early on in this case.


Former Aruban Chief Gerold Dompig tells Aruban newspaper Amigoe on July 3, 2007 that not only were the FBI interfering in Aruba's investigation, but that they also issued threats to law enforcement and Aruba's prosecuting office.


"The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has systematically hindered the work of the police and the judiciary on Aruba in the investigation of the missing student Natalee Holloway.


“Myself and also the field officer of the justice department on Aruba (at that time the European-Dutch Karin Janssen ) not only had to deal with the enormous pressure from the FBI, who arrived on the island in no time, but we were also obstructed and even threatened.”

http://www.nu.nl/news/1139105/22/%27FBI_dwarsboomde_
politie_Aruba_in_Holloway-zaak%27.html


Did our government officials interfere in the Aruban investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway?


Or is the United States government once again being used as pawns in what will no doubt become another failed attempt to detract from the facts of this case?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

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


Natalee’s Freebirds


http://nataleesfreebirds.blogspot.com/

CONTROLLING THE MESSAGE--CORRUPTION IN PARADISE

**Thank you to Natalee's Freebirds! Keep up the great job...you guys make us all proud of your hard work!

Nelson Oduber takes a cue from his friend Hugo Chavez Was it not enough that Prime Minister Nelson Oduber controls cable television, land line telephones, cellular telephones, and the internet provider on the island?

Was it not enough that Oduber promoted his own agenda to protect Aruba’s reputation where tourism was concerned? Was it not enough that Oduber had his own secret “task force” working behind the scenes to malign Natalee Holloway and her family? Apparently not.

This Aruban newspaper and its’ editor choose to stand up for their fellow Aruban citizens, along with American tourists who come to their island and get victimized – again and again. By pointing out their government's wide-spread corruption, the citizens of Aruba are finally being given an avenue to change their own fate. El Diario is now being thrown to the wolves by Prime Minister Nelson Oduber. El Diario tossed down the gauntlet of truth at the current government’s feet (MEP) and their response? Boycott El Diario – control the message.

ORANJESTAD – In an open letter, staff and management of the morning paper Diario have asked the Queen’s attention for the commercial boycott called by the MEP and her leader, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber. MEP demanded the owner and also director and chief editor Jossy Mansur to publicly apologize to MEP and premier Oduber for all the articles he has published with the intention to damage the reputation of the government and MEP. Mansur has till last Monday to do this, otherwise, the MEP will announce a boycott against Diario. Since Mansur ignored MEP’s ultimatum, the party decided on a total boycott of the newspaper. No information must be given to Diario. MEP-member had to cancel their subscription as per immediate.. They are also not allowed to buy the paper separately. They cannot place ads in the Diario.

* Nelson Oduber is in charge of SETAR

Amigoe October 12, 2006

Also the Board of Directors of Setar was dismissed last week. The Board and Setar director Roland Croes had problems for quiet some time already. We do not know yet what Prime Minister Oduber, who is in charge of the national company is going to do next.

* What is SETAR?

SETAR N.V., is the privatised full telecommunications service provider for the island of Aruba. The services provided by SETAR includes telephone, internet and GSM-related wireless services.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setar

1. SETAR provides the fixed line, mobile, internet and data services to Aruba. "SETAR N.V. Aruba's national telecommunication provider is the principal telecommunication company on the island. SETAR N.V. provides solutions for Fixed line, Mobile, Internet and Data. The company's cellular communications infrastructure offers both GSM and TDMA services. SETAR has more than 70, 000 registered cellular subscribers giving the company a better than 70% penetration rate. Setar also offers trunking and paging."

http://www.setar.aw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=199&Itemid=150

2. SETAR takes over television on Aruba.

SETAR N.V. purchases Cable TV Aruba

A.M. Digital Feb 18, 2005 00:27

UTC ORANJESTAD - At a press conference held on Tuesday, February 15, 1005, SETAR (Aruba Telephone Company) Management announced that the negotiations were completed and that Cable TV is now in the hands of the national telephone company. On the other hand the Prime Minister also announced that in connection with the purchase of Cable TV Aruba by SETAR – owned for 100% by the Aruba Government – no permits for Cable TV will be issued by this Government. He is aware that some court cases may arise from this decision but they (Government) are prepared for that.

http://news.caribseek.com/set-up/exec/view.cgi?archive=58&num=10318

3. SETAR controls Internet Access Setar, the government-owned telephone company, is the only ISP in Aruba. Setar now allows limited dial-up Internet access to nonresidents and visitors. Contact your resort for details and pricing.

http://www.arubarentals.com/vacationtips.htm

With all the communication providers in his pocket, Nelson Oduber made this announcement the night Joran Van der Sloot made a confession in the Natalee Holloway case. Immediately after this hint from Oduber, the confession was being touted as a misinformation campaign by the MEP's Minister of Justice, Rudy Croes.

Prime Minister Nelson Oduber went on (Aruban) national radio Friday night 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.

http://kutv.com/topstories/topstories_story_161111313.html

Friday, June 10, 2005

Prime Minister Oduber set out to control the message very early on in the case of Natalee Holloway. In our earliest of publications, we pointed out to you the persons from this committee involved with internet postings misdirecting the focus of this victim and her family's search for her.

Prime Minister Nelson Oduber
presents “anti incorrect news” committee

by A.M. Digital Posted: Jun 30, 2005 17:21

UTC ORANJESTAD -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” The basic mission of the committee is to bring correct information and counteract all publications that are not based on the truth and to explain the function of our judicial institutions and how they operate.

Crimes not Punished – It’s not just the tourists at risk

Diario editorial 4/16/07

The truth can hurt when it’s exposed without circumlocution! What could have led the mediocrity of the MEP party to lose their heads in such an ugly manner? Could it be the bribery of 1 million guilders? The day I said that Nel Oduber’s government is anti American too, I came with the proofs to demonstrate it, but I left out a couple very painful for Nel, but since he again lost control over his tongue, here are more proofs: Natalee Holloway (American) and the American girl that his son mistreated and then wanted to rape in his own home!

What did Nel’s government do in the case of Natalee?

* Hide their heads in a hole like ostriches so as not to see the truth of what was happening,

* try to fire Jan and Karin because they did not belong to the group of political yes-men of his government;

* put the interest for American tourism money above the value of a human life;

* try to throw the blame on the family of the girl that disappeared, instead of going all-out against the three suspects who are responsible for the bad name Aruba got in other countries, and rightly so because those in power did not lift one finger to defend the victim, but went all out behind the curtain to make the family responsible for the negative image Aruba got, and not against the three suspects in whose company the girl disappeared. She too is an American!

Then his unbelievably stupid anti-American statements; the case of his own son who tried to rape an American girl in his own home! Now there is another American arrested because he pulled a gun against a person that attacked his wife, then committed destruction against her property. A government that has characterized itself as an Anti-American one with unquestionable concrete proofs.

The MEP party is a party of delinquents and promotes delinquency

* a Minister (Ramon Lee) who raped a woman, was accused by her to the Police, and was never even questioned!

* Another Minister (Rudy Croes) who brought in young girls from Santo Domingo and wanted to force them into prostitution with him and his friends;

* another Minister (Nilo Swaen) who was accused by his own department head of manipulating figures to make the government look good;

* another Minister (Rudy Croes again) whose departments sold permits to foreigners, and under whom driver's licenses were also being sold;

* another Minister (the Prime Minister Nelson Oduber) who is a habitual liar and will stop at nothing to carry out his Chavez-inclined plans for Aruba;

* members of Parliament of the MEP party who were caught by the police in drunken driving (Junior Arends) and hit and run (Robert Maduro);

And so much more delinquency and violations of our laws it would take an encyclopedia to hold them! They are a group of the most corrupt public figures ever to participate in Aruban politics. Just go over the Holloway case, and now the Michael Saladin case, and you immediately know the anti-American sentiments of those now in power in Aruba.

Ask the FBI to interrogate Richard Lacle, who will soon be serving a prison sentence in Florida, to find out who is behind this group that offered a big bribe to Nelson Odbuer's party and was never denounced to the police or the prosecutors in Aruba. My attention was brought to this case by the revelation of a letter containing a bribery of 1 million guilders to Nelson Oduber and his party.

Perhaps Oduber should be reminded of his own words to Fox news from June 10, 2005: "We work together, we care for people ... Nobody stands above the law."

When the message a corrupt government is controlling gets dashed by the truth, provided by an honest voice striving for an Aruban government of integrity and honor, what is your next move?

To silence that voice. To silence that one method of communication that the corrupted government has no control over.

There is only so much dictatorial behavior an honorable society will tolerate - hopefully the door opened by El Diario will be utilized by the Aruban citizens in demanding transparency, honesty, and objectivity within their government.

Truth and Justice are not just the American way - they are the ways of true humanity. The truth may hide at times, it may get distorted, but it will never be silenced.

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

Natalee's Freebirds http://nataleesfreebirds.blogspot.com/

CONNECTING THE DOTS...THE EVIL EMPIRE OF THE MEP

I stumbled upon this blog and wanted to share this great commentary about the MEP party! Great work! Check out Mike Placid's blog, Connect the Dots!



By Mike Placid


(Source)--The MEP party is a party of delinquents and promotes delinquency (a Minister (Ramon Lee) who raped a woman, was accused by her to the Police, and was never even questioned! Another Minister (Rudy Croes) who brought in young girls from Santo Domingo and wanted to force them into prostitution with him and his friends; another Minister (Nilo Swaen) who was accused by his own department head of manipulating figures to make the government look good; another Minister (Rudy Croes again) whose departments sold permits to foreigners, and under whom driver's licenses were also being sold; another Minister (the Prime Minister Nelson Oduber) who is a habitual liar and will stop at nothing to carry out his Chavez-inclined plans for Aruba; members of Parliament of the MEP party who were caught by the police in drunken driving (Junior Arends) and hit and run (Robert Maduro); and so much more delinquency and violations of our laws it would take an encyclopedia to hold them!

Nilo Swaen

Ramone Lee

THESE ARE ALL PROVEN FACTS! Not lies or inventions made up to slander them. They are a group of the most corrupt public figures ever to participate in Aruban politics. Just go over the Holloway case, and now the Michael Saladin case, and you immediately know the anti-American sentiments of those now in power in Aruba.

To answer the stupid allegations in that MEP inspired and promoted piece of garbage:

1. I never funded any party in Aruba, much less the one Glenbert Croes started because Nelson Oduber, the actual Prime Minister, forbade him to participate in the party his father (Betico) founded. He was so disgusted with that prohibition that he decided, with a few friends his age, to start his own party called the OLA. This is another FACT! When you make this kind of allegation, you better have the necessary proofs (documents, transfer of money, etc.) to back up your allegation. In this case it is non-existent! Just another lie propagated by the corrupt officials who have now been discovered in the biggest of their foul deeds!


Do you remember the Holloway case and the flagrant cover-up that is going on? Well, this party will stop at nothing to slander and invent things that do not exist, or to harm Americans or American interests on the island).



2. The manifestations in front of the Government building in the past were about to get seriously out of hand by the violence inspired by the MEP party fanatics (car burning, invasion and destruction of government property, etc.) that I did meet with one labor leader to put sense into his head. That is another FACT impossible to deny!



3. I never met and have nothing to do with the Namdar group. Ask the FBI to interrogate Richad Lacle, who will soon be serving a prison sentence in Florida, to find out who is behind this group that offered a big bribe to Nelson Odbuer's party and was never denounced to the police or the prosecutors in Aruba.


My attention was brought to this case by the revelation of a letter containing a bribery of 1 million guilders to Nelson Oduber and his party. The man to whom the letter was addressed is Michael Williams, ex-campaigner for the MEP party, and who is now in Holland in contact with the Dutch authorities. Williams stated unequivocally that he gave the original to Marisol Tromp (another MEP Minister), to Frerdis Refunjol, actual Governor in Aruba, and to Nelson Oduber (Prime Minister) and Edison Briezen (Minister of Tourism). None of these ever denounced the offered bribery to the authorities!


This case is far from having reached the end. It is now beginning on an international level. I wouldn't be surprised if in the U.S., Effy Namdar will be arrested and interrogated with regards to this offered bribe. It's his signature that appears in the bribery letter! U.S. Laws strictly forbid this kind of commercial outright purchase of local and foreign officials in Government, regardless of how easy it is to buy the officials now in power!



4. When the previous government (AVP) was way off track, it was I and the DIARIO who confronted it and brought its government down. Not the MEP party, because they didn't have the credibility to convince anyone that they could do better. They lied their way through the campaign and were able to win with the DIARIO's help. I do not cater to any party in government or to any government! That too is a proven FACT.



5. There is no set up in this case, only the TRUTH! And it came out with a signed letter by Effy Namdar with a one million guilder bribery offer to the MEP party for the purchase of 100 acres of prime land at the port. Can you imagine the corruption involved here? And whether Nel Oduber, the habitual liar and head of the most corrupt government ever in Aruba, likes it or not, the DIARIO will do whatever it takes to stop the sale of public property against the offered 1 million guilders in the form BRIBERY!"