Troubling Developments In Search Activities

Have received multiple and confirmed reports of problems developing in search procedures resulting from interference by the press. Initial reports suggest main point of interference from "foreign," press, also identified as some members of the Dutch press. "Foreign" not fully accurate relative to geography, but more a reflection of primarily American make-up of portions of search team.

At least one report of rocks being tossed in water and slurs being yelled at searchers from professional individuals sporting camera equipment which suggests their identification as members of press is reliable.

Acts of interference said to also include entering the water in and around divers, roiling water and otherwise getting in their way. Have been informed of at least one attempt to call individuals together in an attempt to settle things down so search could continue.

Additional reports suggest some members of search team may have also been more confrontational than necessary. Report reliable, but unconfirmed from additional contact at this time.

Keep in mind that multiple locations are being searched at the same time by different groups; conflicts in reports can stem from incidents at different locations.

Many locations which may have provided suspected individuals with quick access to likely disposal points yet to be searched, or searched completely.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[Banned]

Just checking if the ban really works for you.

It's my first ban, you know ;-)

I love moderators...

[fokje]

oi Dan... hope you have a goodnight sleep :)

[Mary]

Damn, Are the people from Texas gonna have to call in the National guard to watch out for them. Thats terrible that they are doing that.
Time to kick ass and take names i guess. If that is going on then it would seem they may be getting close if there is a body. You can bet others on that island know what happened.
!!!!!!

[dori]

I brought up the fact that JVDS would be acting stragely at school the next day and was told he did not go to school....

Dori,

There were not classes those days, few days later they had their graduation ceremony, same day he was arrested.

If he went to school anyway for any other reason, we don't know... I remember when I party all night came back home, took a shower and went to school.

But to my knowleadge there were no classes.

Posted by: I Thought | June 16, 2005 10:04 AM

[Bobup]

The Columbian Drug Lords that run this Island don't like people poking around on their island, seachers may find evidence of other crimes they have commited, so they send out people to disrupt the seaching. Coruption runs long and deep in Aruba

[Jamie]

I don't think JVDS "outsmarted" anyone, at least not on his own. Thinking doesn't appear to be his strong suit. I'm sure that having the benefit of a daddy who's a judge didn't hurt, though.

[KDM]

publius - Your rants are funny because I can just imagine you sitting all alone with smoke coming out of your ears burining up what few cells there are left. Jumping to conclusions without FACTS is a strong suit for many on this forum and you old "person" have done that again! I live in San Juan Capistrano, California; I am 50 and female and educated. My family has been in this country from the mid 1600's and many of them are in history books because they had this dream of a country where the government has boundries. My GGG Uncle wrote the 15th Amendment to the constitution. I am a libertarian leaning conservative who doesn't abandon the rule of law just beacause I don't like the way someone looks, their ethnicity or the fact that their Dad is a judge. I look a lot like Natalee but taller and older. I believe that facts are most important to finding her, not wild and insane and nasty insinuation and ranting.
So put that in your pipe and smoke it!

[texmom]

Slueth-I hate carrying a purse when I am partying. I keep my id and cash/credit card in my pocket. Purses get in the way and get left.

So leaving her purse, some cash, and passport in her room sounds so normal to me. She had her DL w/her as her ID. Probably took enough cash w/her for the night.

[wft]

I agree texmom. She was wearing flip flops and a denim skirt. She probably carried $ and her id in the front pocket. A purse would have been too much to keep up with.

[Dixie]

Rosemarie
Yes there is an email addy to send prayers and thoughts to Natalee's family. They post all the emails on the *Wall Of Hope* @ The MB Community Church.

Natalee@inline.com

[fran]

ok...I need to stress to the new people who keep suggesting that perhaps she went back to her room in the middle of the night after the beach to pack her bags-she did not do this. We've discussed this on here before a couple of times.

The hotel does not have a record of her returning....they would have either seen her in the cameras or they'd have a record of what time her room key was used.

however, they might not be telling us she returned to the room-afterall, they don't have to tell us everything.

[JimmyJoeBillyBob]

Geez, once I thought I was getting over being disgusted with the Aruban authorities, now we have Dutch media throwing stones in the water being searched? I am a diver, and I can tell you that is very detrimental to the visability and the diver's efforts. Some Texas whup-ass would be called for indeed!

What are we to think here, but again: COVER-UP COVER-UP COVER-UP!?

Why would ANYONE ever choose that rathole for a vaction now that we see these behaviors??? East coast people - spend a few extra bucks and a few extra hours in the plane and go to Hawaii for now on. Those islands really ARE paradise, and they have the benefit of being under US law enforcement, that is to say actual law and order prevail there!!!

[sleuth#1]

I am posting the same message on several threads today, hoping that whoever is interested will also be inspired to DO something positive. Having read the posts here, I believe there is enough interest to warrant the double posting.

AmazonBuzzy posted a brilliant idea: Our collective prayers/powerful thoughts, to be done at the same time, throughout the day, would be something we could actually DO. I believe in the power of such things, and if we were to all do it at the same time, like every hour, on the hour, whoever is available; then at any given time, millions of us would be directing our thoughts and prayers towards the finding of Natalee, and justice.

We just need to get the word out.

I am encouraged by the many comments of prayers being said for Natalee. And we do not want to leave anyone out, so however you want to direct your positive energy, please do so. It will be one powerful whammy!

[RangerDanger]

JimmyJoeBillyBob,
I agree! I have two teenage children and we have just canceled our plans to spend two weeks in Aruba and rescheduled for Hawaii. My brother was married in Aruba two years ago and we have enjoyed our previous visits there. However, we will NEVER GO BACK!
I refuse to spend my money in a place where authorities have such lack of integrity in what seemingly is a large scale cover up for one of there own.

[MARY]

i to find it starnga as a young person not to have your purse with you.i mean a tiny shoulder on for lipstick i.d. and money.i to believe nh went back to her room at some point and something went very wrong.i also believe the parents knew alot more than we thought and aruba is a terrific vacation spot.i have been going there for 4 years for spring break and never ever had a problem.this could have happened anywhere,just think about going to vegas or new york and going with a stranger.what do you think is going to happen.1 moment of bad judgement.

[TexasMom]

Okay, not to be confused with a recent poster with a very similar ID, I thought most of you would find this interesting. It's taken directly from the website for the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. (http://www.netherlands-embassy.org/article.asp?articleref=AR00000331EN)(http://www.minbuza.nl/default.asp?CMS_ITEM=MBZ257571)
"The traditional objectives of Dutch foreign policy are maintaining good relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and other countries, protecting the country against outside threats and promoting a just world where peace, security, welfare and human dignity are guaranteed.

The foreign policy of the Netherlands not only strives to balance the nation’s own interests with broader values, such as human rights and peace, freedom, and prosperity for all nations, but also to be cohesive and effective, especially in the coordination of decision-making, organisation, and funding."

If anyone would care to rattle a few Dutch cages to get them to take this case seriously, and also put a leash on the Dutch media, here is some contact information:

Royal Netherlands Embassy - POLITICAL DEPARTMENT
Political Counselor: Caspar Veldkamp
Counselor: Peter Potman
Counselor: Dirk Dokter
Police/Justice Counselor: Jan Peek
Fax: (202) 364-4213
E-mail: was-pa@minbuza.nl

Dutch Minister for Aruba
Henry Baarh
Fax: (202) 237-8303
E-mail: was-plvcdp@minbuza.nl

Dutch Minister for Netherlands Antilles
Jeffrey Corion
Fax: (202) 364-4213
E-mail: was-plvcdp@minbuza.nl

Royal Netherlands Embassy - PRESS, PUBLIC AND CULTURAL DEPARTMENT
Counselor: Simon van der Burg
Advisor: Julia Koppius
Education Officer: Peter Theunissen
Cultural Officer: Evelien Gijsbertsen
Press Officer: Carla Bundy
Secretariat:
Tel: (202) 274-2633 - Hellen Dumfries
Fax: (202) 537-5124
E-mail: was-scc@minbuza.nl

Royal Netherlands Embassy - Washington
Home page: http://www.netherlands-embassy.org

[sleuth#1]

The time is coming up to the hour, and I will take this opportunity to ask those of you who are willing, to direct your thoughts and prayers towards the finding of Natalee and for justice, at that time, and every hour on the hour.

Thanks.

[DeeDee]

KDM this blog could care less what you look like. It's not about you, it is for Natalie! Finding Natalie.

Bobup I totally agree with you, the local drug cartel does not want the Americans snooping.

I maintain that no evidence of Natalie could mean she was removed from the beach and could now be in Columbia, Curacoa or Venezuala. Not even a flip flop....too clean.

Perhaps the younger VDS and the Kalpoes are spotters, who frequent the casinos and bars looking for a victim. Pretty young woman who could be vulnerable to their kidnapping. Of course, this kind of cover up would go up through the justice system pretty far and the elder VDS could have been in on it. Perhaps that is how he maintains his gambling debts. Speculation but not impossible. God help disclose the secrets in the carribean and help the Holloway family find Natalie. Let every secret thing be known. Let other women be set free. Let the news media hear the truth and disclose it.

[JimmyJoeBillyBob]

Ugly Americans?

Ron Stroka, in the wrong thread, were you perhaps addressing me? If so, listen up:

I know what an ugly American is, and I am not one. Also, America has NO monopoly on ugly behavior or attitudes. The same is true for noble behavior and great attitudes. I hope you know this. We have seen in this very space caring and intelligent comments from people from all over the world, including Dutch and Aruban people. Similarly, we have seen despicable and ignorant trolls of all stripes on this blog. So, let's not generalize about anyone or any country, ok?. Let's instead be specific and judge people as individuals based on their own actions and statements.

You seem to be one of those that fall all over themselves with political correctness. Please get over the self-riteous drivel and realize that to the bureaucrats of the tourist island called Aruba, this is as much about BUSINESS and COMMERCE and TAX REVENUES as it is about anything else. If their industry is tourism, and we are a customer of that industry, it's simply good business to do our business with people that treat us as valued customers.

And if this investigation FAILS TO PASS THE SMELL TEST, it's perfectly reasonable that we walk from their deal and take our business elsewhere. It is only reasonable that we apply commercial pressure on them to treat us well. And that has been the case here, and I will not accept any inuendo of ugly Americanism directed my way. Maybe this is rather a case of bureaucratic complacency, and a group of government officials that do not even understand their own key industry: Hospitality.

Is it hospitable when a police commissioner publicly states that he can not bear to pursue charges against the son of his own best friend?

Is it hospitable when the same police dept proceeds to let the suspects walk free for ten days to scrub their car so clean that any trace of the known passenger is erased? What other key evidence was erased in this time?

Is it hospitable when Aruban authorities tell the non-profit volunteers from Texas that they will cooperate in any way, then they do not even cordone off the quarry such that Dutch journalists are are free to interfere with their efforts by throwing stones into the water and calling the searchers nasty names?

To me, this smells like an anti-customer attitude at best and anti-Americanism at worst. And I do not care to hear any more bleeding hearts indicting the victims in this case, nor your similar buffoonery of desparaging your own countrymen. If you were addressing me with your speach, then shame on you, sir.

I want the Aruban authorites to understand that there are MILLIONS of terribly offended parents and tourists over this law (un)enforcement fiasco. And yes, I will NEVER forget this story, nor will I ever travel to that island and support their tax coffers. If you want to call me an ugly American for taking that position, then I would reply that you are an idiot. I would never take my children to nor spend my funds in a country where there is no real attempt at justice for crimes against tourists. Whether it is corruption or incompetence, it matters none to me. The result is the same: There is no justice for tourists and you are sitting duck if you choose to travel there.

No thanks - I'll pass on Aruba and stick with Maui. That's what free markets and free will are all about. Now get over yourself, Ron.

[skepticynic]

There are even more missing persons in Hawaii as we speak that have never been found. ;)