COMMENTARY: ARUBA CAUSED THEIR OWN DEMISE

By Richard, Aruban Boycott Contributor

It's a good time to think about what Aruba was three years ago, and what it is today.


Before Natalee Holloway vanished on the island of Aruba, who gave the place much thought? It was just another Caribbean island that prospered off tourists.

Now the place has become the image of a putrid cesspool, fit only for scorn and contempt.

Who made the change? Aruba itself. Not us, not its average citizen, not its beaches.

Its government and law enforcement have shown themselves to be corrupt, inept, incompetent, liars, deceitful, and worthy of being spit upon, if that.


Quite an accomplishment, Aruba. No wonder that even your Dutch overlords, or some of them, have denounced their Caribbean "jewel." The ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) are indeed "A Bottomless Cesspool."


And all this because, in three years, the only thing you have shown that you will NOT do is to take effective action in the case of Natalee Holloway. (I won't mention Amy Bradley other than to say that there is reason to believe that she remains alive after her kidnapping from a cruise ship ten years ago. Of course, you do nothing on that case as well.)


We Americans have reason to be outraged that our own government is evidently unwilling to use its leverage to seek justice in this part of the world. Those of us who have followed events over the last three years, however, remain determined to keep possible American visitors to Aruba aware of what has been done ... and what has not.

"No justice for Natalee ... no tourists for Aruba."

Here's a kind of ballad for Natalee that I wrote around Memorial Day last year. The spirit behind it remains unquenched. My thoughts are with Natalee's family on this day ... and my determination is to continue working for justice in this case.

The tune is a kind of hybrid of “John Brown’s Body”
and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

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 who you betrayed!
Let this 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!

1,095 DAYS LATER--NATALEE NOT FORGOTTEN

ARUBA'S FINAL ELIMINATION-BUH BYE FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES

So, it may be because of the cost of fuel, but Aruba is now feeling another BITE. Karma comes in forms of many ways. Too bad...so sad. "Bye, bye birdie..."

Eagle will eliminate destinations:
Samana, Dominican Republic, and Aruba

American Airlines' parent AMR Corp. unveiled the first details of its plan to slash its schedule by up to 12 percent this year, cutting flights from Chicago, Boston and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airline will also move some of its ATR-72 turboprop planes from San Juan to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and retire its fleet of Saab 340 turboprops, which are less fuel efficient, company officials said.


Fort Worth-based AMR, which owns American and American Eagle, said last week that it would cut its schedule, park up to 80 planes and eliminate thousands of jobs as it grapples with crushing fuel prices.


"Fuel prices have risen so quickly and show no signs of falling, the economy is far from strong, and airline industry losses are mounting," Peter Bowler, Eagle's chief executive, told employees in a memo. "I believe the crisis in the airline business is real, and the steps American is taking to reduce its schedule and the schedule it is asking us to fly on its behalf are necessary."


Flight cuts planned Changes include: Ending service from Chicago to Buenos Aires, Argentina, effective Sept. 3. Discontinuing Chicago-to-Honolulu flights, effective Jan. 5. Between Sept. 3 and Jan. 5, the flight will only be operated on peak demand days. Eliminating Boston-to-San Diego service Sept. 3. American is also making reductions in San Juan, where Eagle operates a hub. The regional airline will cut its daily San Juan departures to 35 from a planned 55, effective Sept. 3.


http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/667251.html

ARUBA JUST CAN'T ACCEPT IT--STILL BLAMING THE VICTIM 3 YEARS LATER

So, Amigoe...you want to talk about lies? Ok, so let's talk about lies.


It's been three years since Natalee has been gone, now coming up on the the 3rd anniversary and this is the crap that is posted in your paper? What in the hell does it have to do with the fact that Natalee was last seen with Joran? What does it have to do with the fact that Natalee was most likely drugged and according to Joran, was cast into the ocean after he thought she overdosed? What does this story have to do with ANYTHING? Does it shed light on the vast lies told by not only all the perpetrators, but the police, the "witnesses", the government, the Aruban Tourism Agency? NO. It does nothing but make them look like asses by trying to discredit Beth Holloway...a woman who has no reason to lie.


This isn't a smoke screen. It's a pathetic excuse to fill up that white space in that pathetic Aruban paper.

‘New’ evidence reinforces Beth Twitty’s lie

The computer print-out showing that Beth had lied about her arrival time in Aruba.

WILLEMSTAD/ORANJESTAD – From a print-out of Natalee Holloway’s telephone it appears that the private jet of her mother Beth had already landed in Aruba at 17:15 on May 30. At least, that’s what TV-producer from Curacao, Renée Gielen says. She has the telephone print-out of Natalee’s cellular telephone. This is very striking, says Gielen, because according to her, it means that Beth Holloway wanted to come to Aruba before Natalee was missing. “The print-out shows that Beth had called Natalee’s cell at 17:15. She did that from her own cell and she could not have done that while being in the air.”


She emphasizes that it also means that the call was not done with a satellite telephone and it is also not probable that Beth’s private jet had made an intermediate landing from the United States. “That is not usual on these short flights. For that matter, she must have left even earlier.” The print-out doesn’t show that it was a missed call, but that Beth had really talked to someone.


Gielen assumes that she had talked to Paul Lilly, one of the chaperones of Natalee during her vacation in Aruba. Besides, when Beth arrived in Aruba, she was carrying a stack of posters asking Natalee to call her. “This suggests that Beth must have known that there were problems, before Natalee disappeared”, says Gielen, who from the beginning of the disappearance case three years ago, is investigating the case.


Gielen and her team are now in the process of rounding off the documentary ‘‘Natalee, The Unrevealed Time Lines’ that is expected to be presented on June 2.

MISTAKEN

Gielen considers the print-out as new evidence that Beth had lied about the exact time of her arrival in Aruba. She has been declaring all along that she arrived in Aruba ‘around 23:00’. She also wrote this in her book ‘Loving Natalee’ that was published late last year. A former employee of the airport, Alberto G, said before the cameras of Gielen that the private-jet of Beth had landed at 19:45. He retracted his declaration, because, as he said, he was mistaken. He did this after the Americans Dan Young and Kelly Castillo that claim to be detectives, showed a computer print-out indicating that Beth had arrived earlier. G. confirmed the authenticity of that print-out.


The motive of Beth lying about her arrival time is still not clear. Despite many telephone calls and e-mails, Gielen didn’t manage to reach Beth. Also the police don’t know anything. “The police say that there are no telephone data available from the radio tower equipment for that day, which is very coincidentally” says Gielen. Former chief of police, Gerald Dompig told this newspaper earlier that at that time, the police had investigated the time line, the flight data, and also the flight movements.

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

NEED A JOB? THE ARUBA TOURISM ASSOCIATION NEEDS BRAINLESS IDIOTS

Ahata: ‘1000 openings in tourism’

ORANJESTAD – There are more than 1000 openings in the tourist sector, said Rob Smith, director of Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (Ahata) yesterday during a press conference about the big career-fair of this Saturday. This is also one of the reasons why this fair is being organized, said Smith.



Ahata wants to get an idea of how many potential candidates are on the local market. The organization also wants to get more insight on the number of qualified people that can work but have no job or are overqualified for their current function. Ahata wants to make the community and especially the youth aware of the fact that the hospitality industry has a lot to offer.




According to Smith, there are sufficient possibilities to move on financially as well as professionally. The most important message of Ahata is that Arubans distinguish themselves by their hospitality and that the passion to be helpful must be stirred again. “Helpfulness doesn’t mean that you must take up a submissive position”, emphasized Smith. The career-fair takes place this Saturday, May 17 in the YMCA in San Nicolas from 10:00 till 18:00. The next ones will take place in Santa Cruz and Oranjestad.


May 15, 2008, http://www.amigoe.com/english/

TRANSLATION: ARUBA "SPIN-SPEAK" TO ENGLISH

This post was written by Aruban Boycott Member, Dan from TX. Great response to previous post regarding Ed Briesen's gutless interview regarding the effects of the Boycott against Aruba.

Let's translate this from Aruban 'spinspeak' to English:

Aruban : "I don't know about the family problems they have, which seem to be the reason behind this case"

English: "We're going to keep bringing up slanderous and unproven rumors about the victim and her family in an attempt to rob them of public sympathy"



Please note slandering the victim is a common defense behavior in cases of murder, sexual assault, and domestic violence.



Aruban: "We've had the FBI, the Aruban special task force, F16's and special recovery vessels searching the island"

English: "Nothing we tried worked. Sorry, not our fault"


Please note that the FBI has never been allowed access to evidence, access to suspects during questioning, or anything remotely meaningful. They have never been allowed to do anything but 'observe' (and nothing in Dutch or Aruban law prevents more involvement- that is left to Aruban Justice ministry to decide.)


Let's make this clear: the Aruban government is 100% responsible for keeping the FBI out of the investigation). The F-16s were Dutch, sent by the Netherlands; they didn't cost Aruba one penny. The search vessel was unable to search even half the areas of interest due to lack of funds; Aruba ok'ed the search, but again provided no money toward this effort (it was all paid for by American donations).



Aruban: "I would not want Aruba to be known in the same way Iraq is known"

English: "We're reminding Americans of their own issues, which in fact have nothing to do with the Holloway investigation, nor have any similarities, in order to distract you from the issue at hand"



Please note this is a classical fallacy of logic called the Irrelevant Conclusion.



Aruban: "The island is so small, social ties are strong. Everybody knows everybody in Aruba"

English: "If anyone knew anything, surely they'd stick their necks out and possibly betray family, friends, and business associates who may be involved even though nothing is forcing them to. Us Arubans are just that angelic"



Please note that when the FBI first went to Aruba the week after Natalee disappeared, they were allowed to do NOTHING. They complained that the Aruba legal circles were 'incestuous' and that the very condition Mr. Briesen crows about is in fact preventing any honest, meaningful investigation!



Aruban: "What happened in Aruba...has become for us and everybody a model for crisis management on the islands"

English: "We don't care about the real issue (justice) and the real victims (Natalee Holloway and her family). We care about damage control and what is good for us"


Aruban: "But we'd like to forget and move on."

English: "But we'd like to forget and move on."

ARUBA CAUGHT IN A LIE BY "BOYCOTT WATCH"!

BOYCOTT WATCH BUSTS ARUBA!

(Source)--Summary: New statements by Aruban Tourism officials proves Boycott Watch caught Aruba in a lie, and that Aruba wanted to cash in on the disappearance of Natalee Holloway

Boycott Watch was first to break the story that Aruba lied about its tourism numbers, claiming tourism was up despite the boycott of Aruba called after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. An article in eTurboNews dated January 16, 2008 was just brought to our attention in which an Aruba official clearly indicates Boycott Watch was right all along.


In the article by Hazel Heyer, Aruba's minister of tourism and transportation, Edison Briesen was quotes saying "We were strongly hit by this incident ... In the Caribbean, this is the first time an island has been pounded this long by a single event. It's been over a year and a half now and the publicity has not ended."




This is the first time that Aruba has openly admitted their economy was hit hard by the boycott against them. Aruba originally claimed the boycott did nothing but draw attention to Aruba thus increase tourism, but Boycott Watch uncovered the numbers to prove Aruba was severely hurt by the boycott early on in the boycott.


While Aruba now says they expect an increase in tourism revenue because the Natalee Holloway disappearance is out of the news, Boycott Watch stated the Aruba economy hit its low point in a previous article, so the islands economy can only go up anyhow. In the mean time, considering the fact that the Natalee Holloway case is still open and no prosecution has been made despite the Joran Van der Sloot confession, Boycott Watch believes Aruba tourism will not fully recover for a long time. While many college students want to go to Aruba for spring break to take advantage of the lax underage drinking and drug law enforcement there, many parents are still objecting to their kids going to Aruba out of concerns for safety, and many parents won't go either.

The consumer boycott against Aruba was started and driven by blogger Michelle Simonsen at the Boycott Aruba--Justice For Natalee (http://arubanboycott.blogspot.com), and was picked up by the Governor of Alabama among many others. The boycott took on a life of its own, as Americans were upset at Aruba for seemingly doing nothing in the case. Now, many Americans are still upset because even after a passenger-seat confession of Joran Van der Sloot, Aruba has failed to take any action to prosecute anyone in the case.

Briesen appeared arrogant in the interview. When asked about the Holloway family, Briesen stated "We've been very cooperative," something Natalee Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, surely disagrees with, as demonstrated by the number of times she has been on TV stating her disappointment with the way Aruba has been handling the case and treating her personally.


In the interview, Briesen also echoed a claim by Aruban Tourism officials early in the boycott by saying "more people now know about Aruba." In both cases, these words were used to claim tourism was up because of free publicity. The only problem with that original claim is that it was a complete lie as evidenced by the fact that Briesen admitted Aruba tourism was hit hard by the boycott. There is, therefore, no reason to believe Briesen now either.


Boycott Watch believes Briesen was attempting to once again bask in self-glorification by taking pride in the media attention garnered by the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Simply stated, Boycott Watch finds these statements feeding off the probable murder of Natalee Holloway to be repulsive at best.


The most interesting statement by Briesen in the interview was when he stated "…I would not want Aruba to be known in the same way Iraq is known. One reason why we think it has been a hard blow to us." This is another de facto admission that Aruba feels it was deeply hit by the boycott. Briesen continued: "We are the safest island in the entire western hemisphere. Things like this don't happen in Aruba." But it did.


Boycott Watch President Fred Taub responded by saying "If Aruba is the safest island in the entire western hemisphere as Briesen believes, perhaps his own Iraq comparison has merit."


http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/aruba13.htm

JUSTICE ONLY FOR ARUBAN POLICE OFFICERS? BLAME THE COMMUNITY?

The Blame Game--Murder is the Fault of the Community?
"It's Their Responsibility?"

ORANJESTAD – The third suspect in the shooting tragedy, when a 38-year old man lost his life last Saturday morning, is still on the run. The police arrested four persons during a house search; three of them are meanwhile released. (Of course they've been released...it's the whole "catch and release" mentality in Aruba!)


The police do not rule out more arrests in this case, whereby the police have probably run up against a huge network of drug dealers. Yesterday during a press conference, chief of police Peter de Witte didn’t want to say yet whether the police had indeed run up against a criminal network during a routine action. He did say though that the man that was shot to death last Saturday was an ‘old friend’ of the police. (Who on that island ISN'T a friend of the police...or the judiciary...or government officials? Wake up and smell the refinery!)


The in Colombia born Hernan Tobias Quiñonez Villareal, popular as ‘El Flaco’, was guilty of several drug- and violent crimes. He has been arrested before, but not convicted due to lack of evidence. (Sounds familiar...lack of evidence. It's obvious that this justice system is not only corrupt, but INEPT as well.) He was deported after this case, and was most probably back on the island as an illegal person.


He was driving with two other persons on the Caya Betico Croes last Saturday, when the police signaled them to stop near Hooiberg. When they refused to do so, the police forced them by cornering their car. The three suspects fled and hid behind a house. El Flaco pulled a heavy caliber gun and fired on the police officers and injured the left arm of one of them. Both police officers fired back and killed El Flaco. His gun was found next to his body.


It isn't clear if the other two suspects also fired at the police officers. They fled towards the very thickly wooded Hooiberg. One was arrested soon afterwards. The police didn’t release the identity of the other two men, one of which is still on the run. It is not sure whether the police assume that this fugitive is still in Aruba. Justice raided two houses after the shooting tragedy and arrested four men and found drugs. Three of the four arrestees are already released. “We do not rule out that more arrests will follow”, said De Witte yesterday. (Same old song and dance...)


After interrogations, the four passengers of a car that was stopped near Piedra Plat on Saturday morning seemed to have nothing to do with the shooting tragedy. This shooting incident happened shortly after the incident in December, which made the police officers realize that it can also happen to either one of them. (Hello? That's the risk of being a police officer! It's not about sitting around in a bar telling people to have a drink, or waiting until you've finished eating your "frosted flakes" and acting nonchalant about crime.)


The officer that was injured is doing reasonably well. De Witte explains that after the incident in December, the police corps has taken the criticism to increase the safety of the officers, very seriously. (THAT is what took the police to take crime seriously? If it affects "their own", then it matters? So much for the safety of tourists...you are NOT one of "them", so don't expect justice.)


“Both colleagues were wearing their bullet free jacket last Saturday. But also the community has a responsibility. As a society, we must not think that this is normal. (But it's ok for the Aruban community to think that Joran's crimes against Natalee is normal...you know as Joran was quoted, he's done this like 20 times before and nothing bad happened...)


The corps has made the possession, dealing, and using of firearms one of their priorities, but the society is also responsible.” (So Aruban society, what do you think of that? You are "responsible" for other people's crimes? You have been affected by Natalee Holloway, and now are considered "responsible" for this crime? WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP?! Pardon my french, but I see nothing but a big island of pussies.)

April 29, 2008--http://www.amigoe.com/english/

FUN FRIDAY GAME! SPANK JORAN!

Oh this was so fun to wake up to this morning!


Click below for the fun game of whippin Joran as hard as you want!


SPANK JORAN HERE


Have at it! And have a great weekend!

And remember Joran...'Homey don't play that!'

HOW ABOUT KILL AND RUN? LIKE JORAN?

Hit and run, something that
happens more often nowadays

This may have happened in Bonaire, but these are the kind of people the Netherland Antilles must be proud of.




KRALENDIJK – It happened more often lately that drivers continue driving after a collision. It happened twice last weekend; on Friday on the parking of the police station in Kralendijk, and Saturday in Antriol in Kaya Agnes, when a car collided with a column.


Hit and run is an offence and liable to punishment. (Liable? "implies a possibility or probability". In the U.S. a hit and run is a serious crime. Even though each state has it's own penalties, the word "liable" makes me wonder about these people and their lackadaisical laws.)


There were also six traffic accidents last Friday, whereby one person fell from a scooter and was injured. Three passengers of a car involved in a collision on the T-junction Kaya Korona/Kaya Papa Cornes, were injured. The man S.J.E. was arrested last Saturday in connection with robbery, while the woman A.M.S. reported her Sony video camera being stolen on one of the beaches at the south-side of the island.

(Amigoe)

JORAN SPOTTED PARTYING IN THAILAND

So where is he? "BANGKOK"?

Sounds like a perfect place for Joran to PARTY with his 'kok' out.

Remember the song, "One Night in Bangkok"
by Murray Head back in 1984?

"Bangkok, Oriental setting..And the city don't know that the city is getting... One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble. Not much between despair and ecstasy. One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble. Can't be too careful with your company. I can feel the devil walking next to me.."

Yep....they sure don't know what they are getting.


A killer and rapist.

Will someone PLEASE get a bounty hunter on this piece of human trash?

http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/3851774/_Joran_steelt_geld_van_vriend__.html?p=2,1

ST. MAARTEN--DUTCH ISLAND CONCERNED WITH CRIME

ANOTHER ARUBA?
THE ENDLESS SAGA OF CRIME IN
THE NETHERLAND ANTILLES

Leader of Government Concerned about Crime Rate

**Michelle's note: At least their leaders are concerned...

Philipsburg– Leader of Government Sarah Wescot-Williams, says she is very concerned with the recent incidents of crime such as another daring broad-daylight robbery of a store on Front Street and a couple of others in the past weeks as well as other criminal activities within the community.

The island leader says she fully supports the initiatives set out by Acting Chief Commissioner of Police, Richard Panneflek where he reportedly stated that more attention would be given to enhancing the sense of safety in Philipsburg and in apprehending those responsible for the recent armed robberies.

Commissioner Wescot supports the stance taken by the Police that with scarce resources available, priorities must be set and that the priority for the police at this time is the safety of residents and visitors.

“As a nation we cannot afford any threats to our tourism industry because the crimes committed will impact everyone and every-one’s livelihood on the island.”

“...Our nation’s well-being is under threat. I appeal to the Antillean Minister of Justice to provide short-term manpower assistance to the Windward Islands Police Force Section..."

(Source)

A PARADISE FOR CRIMINALS?

A recent study was done that paints a picture of a considerable problem with regards to crime on St. Maarten. One of the most specific forms of crime on the island is drug-related crime. The reason for this, says the report, is that St. Maarten plays an important and varied role within the (international) drugs trade.


The report further mentions that “a problematic situation also applies in relation to financial and economic crime” but notes that “the unsatisfactory involvement of investigative and law enforcement agencies has created a situation in which it is difficult to establish precisely the scope of such activities and their links to organized crime”.


In addition to drugs and financial and economic crimes, people smuggling and trafficking in human beings were also examined during the course of this study. The report confirms that concerns exist regarding the availability of weapons and the increasing prevalence of crimes involving firearms that are being committed on the island.



...Richards regrets that in some Dutch newspapers, St. Maarten has been depicted as a ‘paradise for criminals’. In elaborating further, it was reported that the “multiplicity of circumstances, arising from the logistical (harbor and airport) and the economic infrastructure (banking system) that are available on St. Maarten and which provide opportunities for drug smuggling, people smuggling and illegal financial transactions are being addressed using controls and powers that, do not reflect, or hardly reflect, the scope of the problems”.


Governor Richards finds it regrettable, though, that no attention is paid, in the report, to one essential aspect, namely how to fund the implementing of the recommendations listed...Richards believes that combating organized crime is not the exclusive responsibility of the island government of St. Maarten alone. He says that it is also that of all the partners comprising the judicial and law enforcement chain of the Netherlands Antilles and the Dutch Kingdom.


(Source)

AMERICAN AIRLINES TO ARUBA--BUH BYE!

Maybe just for this weekend--

HOPEFULLY more weekends to follow!

American Airlines wants to cancel flights

ORANJESTAD -- American Airlines has threatened to cancel all her flight for this coming weekend. That's what the American airline company has told Tourism-minister Edison Briesen, says Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP).


Management of American Airlines told Briesen in an e-mail that the company is concerned about the 'unstable situation' in Aruba. The company also requests a guarantee that the airplanes can land without any problems this coming weekend. "If we cannot give them this guarantee, they will cancel the flights, and that is a very serious matter", said Oduber.


Airport director Peter Steinmetz indicated yesterday that he regrets the fact that the public employees' actions are concentrating on the airport. "I regret the fact that they are trying to interfere with the landing and taking off of airplanes. I am not saying that the actions aren't rightful, but we are not really a party in this matter and we are only trying to drive the economic engine of Aruba."


Steinmetz also confirms that there was a bomb alert last Saturday, which turned out to be false alarm. An investigation on who did it is still going.

SURE DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR PATRICK TO GET THAT BOOK DONE!

NEW INFO 4/18/08: PATRICK THE MOLE????

Bring it on Patrick...bring it on!!!

Posted by anonymous:

Please jump over to the scared monkeys site and read what is now being said about Patrick. He has sent an email to everyone on the SM boycott Aruba email list, asking them to stop the boycott of Aruba, yet he removes SM replies from his own website. It seems that Patrick is very much in this for himself and the money. SM contacts have learned that Patrick has known the Sloots for seven years and he lived across the street from the Kalpoes. It seems that the entire video was probably staged and Patrick is likely being paid by AHATA. Think before you buy the book.



Previous entry 3/15/08:

I'm still waiting for the books "written" (I'm sure they are all scholars) by Deepak and Satish. Oh hell, why don't we just throw Steve Croes in there, Dompig, Koen Gottenbos...and of course Paulus version vs. Anita's retarded denial of her "good boy".

Puke. I don't have anything against this guy Patrick except for the fact that he's trying to make money off this.


A real man who really wanted to help find Natalee would do what he did, sit back, go about his life and not exploit his "heroic" efforts, putting all the attention on HIM.


Do you see any of the crew of Persistence or Tim Miller from Texas Equuasearch writing books, or hanging out at the clubs, bragging about yourself with the paparazzi?

Pathetic. Simply Pathetic.

HOUSTON--A DAY TO REMEMBER

IT'S NO APRIL FOOL'S JOKE...ARUBA COMPARED TO THE TITANIC

The protest for the Boycott of Aruba has generated so much buzz...there are more questions for Dan in TX to answer from his butt-kicking experience in Houston last weekend.

Bring it on!

Q: How big was the Aruban delegation in Houston?


Q: Did they have their famous/infamous dancers, or any other lavish stuff?

How gay is this?
What is she supposed to be?
A peacock?

A: We only saw three people at the Aruba booth. To answer #2 as well, no they were just travel-agent type in business suits.


Q: To those people who posed questions about Natalee, do you know what they replied? In previous shows, they just said that the investigation is still open.


A: I don't think anyone asked the Aruba people about the investigation. We simply asked them to express their displeasure if they happened to go by the booth...


Q: Did any of them approach, or talk with, any of the protesters?


A: One man, an American working with Aruba, judging by his speech, came out and chatted very briefly with us, and took our photo with his camera phone. I don't know why, but he seemed polite enough. (Michelle's note: I'm sure Joran seemed "polite enough" too...isn't that what they said about Ted Bundy?)


Q: Did you get the sense that they were expecting you?


A: I do not think they were expecting us, because one woman came out for a break and put her hand over her name tag and ducked away from us as soon as she saw us. There seemed to be a moment of recognition wherein she realized, "Uh oh....!"

HOUSTON--I THINK ARUBA HAS A PROBLEM PART II

Michelle: Hi Dan in Tx! I'm overjoyed at the success of the Houston protest and you were there to witness every dirty little detail. So naturally, I'm dying to get some juice from this past weekend! How about some Q & A's?


Dan in Tx: Absolutely!


Q :How many people would you say promised to go up to the Aruban booth and tell them what they thought? Did any of them later report back to you? Did any of them tell you what the Aruban response was?


A: I personally sent five or six people to 'visit' the Aruba booth. I can't speak for everyone else in the protest, but I'm sure they did the same since we were sharing ideas and strategies all day. A few of those people did report back- that's how we discovered that the Arubans actually took one man's tote from him! As for the ATA's response, well...they were pissed. Even the event coordinator for the travel show told me they complained numerous times about us but of course it was out of his hands. Again, I really don't think Aruba has true freedom of speech because Arubans really don't seem to understand freedom of assembly.


Q: You say that all the pamphlets, etc., that you brought were given out ... how many did you bring?


A: We had between 600-700 pamphlets and 125 cloth totes. We gave away all our color pamphlets first, then all our black and white pamphlets, then all our totes, then whatever we had left- the business cards and 'Boycott Bucks'--Monopoly money with Natalee's photo on the front and a map of Aruba on the back. (Michelle's note: John, thanks for your ingenious Monopoly money idea...what a guy! Rock on...)


Q: Did anyone express interest in doing further work on Natalee's case? Did anyone ask to be put on the mailing list? Did anyone offer to donate money to help out with expenses?


A: A cart driver offered to donate the back of his cart as advertisement for Natalee's disappearance (and we do plan to get back in contact with him). A lot of people seemed very interested in the blogs and websites once we pointed them out in the pamphlets. I specifically remember telling one man that the stuff on TV is glossed-over and watered-down; the real details are on the blogs. A lot of people were surprised that Aruba is also a hub for drug trafficking, money laundering, and most didn't know about how the airport is understaffed and unsafe. I think other protesters have seen this before, but one lady told me that she used to go to Aruba years ago but it's not the same place it was. One of my team talked to a lady who canceled her entire social club's trip to Aruba because of Natalee! We did not ask for any money, of course, and we couldn't accept it anyway as part of our protest permissions.


I would like to say that Houston P.D. was very cooperative and supportive, and the convention center personnel did not give us any trouble. The first person who I talked to before the protest even started saw my boycott tee shirt and came up to me and talked about the case with me. This particular man was actually an off-duty H.P.D. investigator.


Michelle: Dan, thanks for all the great information, dedication and hard work! And kudos to the rest of you "aruban boycotters"! I couldn't be more proud of the people who are actually "bringing it on"...so very cool old school. The era of the protesting! Speaking your mind! Politics! Having a cause! It worked for the hippies back then, and we are taking grassroots to a new level with the invention of the internet!


Dan in Tx: I'll be happy to answer more questions if you or your readers have any!

HOUSTON--I THINK ARUBA HAS A PROBLEM

AGAIN, ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PROTEST!


AND ANOTHER SUCCESS IN PISSING OFF THE ATA!

Thank you Dan from TX for this report and your hard work (along with the others...if I knew who they were I'd personally thank them as well...so thank you other boycotters!)

A Great Public Interest!

We handed out all the supplies we had- probably 300-400 fliers, 50 totes, and 150 business cards! Everyone who was at the protest is really curious to know how many fliers we had because they all went like mad- I couldn't keep a flyer in my hand!


We saw two guys with cameras walk right past us, so I don't think they were with the TV stations. There was a bridal show going on in the same facility, so they may have been down there for that. As far as I can tell, no media showed up. We did get people who were willing to go in and 'talk' to the ATA booth for us.


A travel agent working at the booth (he was American) came out and chatted with us and took a photo of the protestors - no clue why, and I really don't care why. (Michelle's note: I wouldn't have done that, but it's too late. You can't trust those people, so just be careful now. You never know what they have up their dirty sleeves.) We got a couple of photos of the Aruba booth- it was pretty small, just a table really, but that seemed typical.

Note: Not the actual ATA table...just a fun
example of imaging how pathetic and
embarrassing it must have been!

The only sour note was toward the end of the day the people at the doors (security) made people coming into the show with our totes to turn them inside-out.

(And that would be for what reason? Do these idiots not realize that an 'inside-out' tote bag is going to catch someone's eye and then wonder...curiosity strikes and here come the boycotters outside with all the bad acts of Aruba and what was done (or not done-justice) to Natalee.)

That kind of sucked but I don't know what could be done about it- as far as I can tell, the convention center people have the right to dictate behavior on their property.

(Legally, I'm not sure if that constitutes a violation of freedom of speech. The tote bag was not obscene, it did not cause the person carrying the tote to create any specific "behavior", the tote did not have foul language, it was not causing a distraction that would incite a riot or disturbance. But since this was on private property, I'd have to research that one just out of principle.)

One guy also came out and told us that the ATA booth took one guy's bag away from him- apparently they demanded that he give the bag to them and he did. That was stupid since they had no right to do that, but at least we have some dirt on the ATA.

(Need I say more?)


Before we left I talked to the guy in charge of the show, and he said that the ATA had been complaining to him about the protest all day, and he had to tell them that we had permission, we were behaving, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

(When I first read that I about pissed myself laughing...ok, not really, but I was laughing pretty darn hard. The actions of the ATA are just putting more negative attention on Aruba! They have and are continuing to dig their own graves. Oh wait, there's no room for graves in Aruba...I guess it would have to be a cremation or just throwing them into the ocean, I suppose.)

THIS BOYCOTT WILL BE ANOTHER "100 YEARS WAR"


JUSTICE FOR NATALEE OR SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THE AMERICAN CONSUMERS!

NEXT TARGET: HOUSTON--BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

The next tourism convention/protest will be on March 29-30, 2008, in Houston, Texas at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This brings our loud voices of protest to a grand total of SEVEN in the past year! I'm so proud of everyone who has become so involved with full faith and 110% effort in our crusade for what is right...justice.

DO IT FOR NATALEE!

Who said THE PEOPLE can't make change?
Here's your evidence!



Aruba, be prepared for the US public to be there
representing Natalee Holloway and JUSTICE.


We will continue to haunt you every day,
every minute, every second...until JUSTICE is served.


WILL YOU BE IN THE HOUSTON AREA ON MARCH 29-30?


NEEDED PASSIONATE BOYCOTTERS
AND PEACEFUL PROTESTORS


Email ME and I will 'forward' you to the next level and dimension!

michellesaysso@yahoo.com

PORN & LAWSUITS--YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS UP...

Here's a letter to Greta from a loyal Aruban Boycott member:

Greta,

We have been discussing the absurdity of the lawsuit the ATA has planned to file against you. If the goal is to elevate the island in the minds of tourists then reminding them of the travesty of Natalee Holloway for the next several years is probably not the way to go.


There must be another reason, and here is my take.

Aruba and all the Caribbean islands are overrun by organized crime. The meager budgets of these mini-nations are no match for the immense power of the Mafias of Russia, China, Italy, Israel, and Japan to name a few.

Could it be that by keeping attention on the island they are calling out to the US and to the US media to clean up something they have no hope of cleaning up themselves?

--Bill, United States.



(Michelle's note: Aruba's media guru for their Prosecutor's Office is John Pauly, a former media consultant [gee, that leaves the imagination open for interpretation!] in Philadelphia. He is good buddies with Steve Cohen, and owns property in Aruba. He's is a "frequent flyer", so to speak, and is allegedly involved in Aruba's sexual deviancy underworld.

See a previous post on this dirty old man:

JOHN PAULY--MEDIA/SEX CONSULTANT?