Aruba Threat Causes Security Concerns: Impacts Holloway Investigation

If I drank, I'd need one right now. This is either breaking news, or I've been played. This post warrants a qualifier.

The vast majority of my reporting here has been based upon identified sources. I've adhered to that standard in every case, except one. Occasionally, one source has provided me quality information and always remained anonymous.

To date they haven't been wrong, sometimes putting me hours - and once or twice - a day or more ahead of large media. This source has not been responsible for the preponderance of reporting I have done on the Natalee Holloway disappearance. But their contribution has been significant for its content, just the same.

I was contacted today and told I would have a breaking development tonight not directly related to the resolution of this case and that it would break in Aruban media tomorrow. Given this qualifier, I've decided to go ahead and make the post. If I die on the vine, so be it. But at least I have given as full a disclosure as I possibly can.

Reports suggest that over a week ago a letter came into a government office in Aruba postmarked from the United States, it is alleged that the letter threatened the government of Aruba that "If they didn't give Natalee back," an as yet unidentified group behind the letter would take action against the island.

According to a source, those actions included contaminating water and meat imports flowing to the island from the United States. I did verify that the US is the largest importer of those and other products and goods onto the island. I am unclear as to what, if any other threats may have been made at that time.

According to this uncorroborated report, it was this which precipitated Prosecutor Karen Janssen being dispatched to Holland and Dutch investigators taking over on the ground in Aruba.

Additionally, a prosecutor was also dispatched to FBI headquarters in Washington to share information and to work with the FBI. I've been told that this matter was kept extremely secret within a tight circle around the Prime Minister; the Minister of Justice and the Head of the Intelligence Office.

End note: That said, I realize that politics in Aruba are somewhat volatile and there is an election coming soon. It could serve the best interests of some if any seeming change in the approach to the Natalee Hollway investigation were the result of something other than an unacceptable investigation, which focused negative attention on certain political figures right now.

As I am unaware of the political affiliations of my source, I felt it best to add this end note to the post.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[wysiwyg]

Good joke Scarlett! And I assume you mean "levity" as opposed to "brevity" which is a good thing, but then I am a nitpicker.

[complex brian]

even if its a totally bogus claim and probably is, it seems to me you can't take threats like these lightly in this day and age. who knows who wrote it. but if you wanted something to take this mystery from strange to even stranger, then here it is. i dont think people who haven't followed this case extensively quite understand why this has been followed so much by so many people including the MSM media.

[bamaguy11]

i didn't object to "extremist" because there are extremists of all types. that's my point. they are not all white, and from the south.

[lee]

think of what a single bit of finger did to Jack in the Box...at least, I think it was Jack in the Box.....maybe it was Wendy's.....

anyway, if someone wanted to destroy tourism for a while what easier way then to "add" something to the water or get it into the food supply.....a single person nutcase could do this....

strange case, getting stranger by the minute...

Dan.....good work....

[chance]

Explain complex Brian

[proudredneck]

charlotte,

what makes you classify them as "white" extremists?

what makes you think they live in the "southern" part of the us?

i'm sick of this South bashing

last i checked timothy mcvay wasn't southerner

Posted by: bamaguy11 | July 29, 2005 02:54 AM

And that Bin Ladin, such a home-grown southern boy!

[007Scarlett]

Yes I did mean levity...obviously, I am not proficient at multi-tasking (writing a memo and a blog entrie simultaneously) at 2 a.m. Thank you for your correction. Up with nitpickers!!

[007Scarlett]

"entry", not "entrie"...damn it..I am going to bed.

[proudredneck]

Oh I have no doubt that some extremist group would do such a thing. I have lived in Alabama all of my life, and I know how angry rednecks react. BUT...this could also be an attempt to further demonize the U.S. in the eyes of the world, and bring empathy to the Aruban government, i.e. the big, bad U.S. is bullying tiny, innocent, little Aruba.
If this is true, is that the REAL reason that the FBI was finally brought into the case?
How pathetic, all the way around.

Posted by: 007Scarlett | July 29, 2005 02:22 AM

Scarlett, what really stands out with me is that you say "I have lived in Alabama all my life..."

Honey, you need to go out in the real world. If you think things are bad in Alabama, you really need to move somewhere, anywhere and open your eyes and ears. You live in a very protective, protected and sane environment but it will not be this way long.

[casje12]

Wow, American terrorists trying to attack a fellow NATO ally. In every other country this would be considered as an internal affair, but because it's a rich white 'all American girl' the US want to invade this island and the FBI really needs to take over the investigation.

Invading other countries for your own best interest is sooooo George W. Bush...

[Anna]

wonder why you think saying southern and white is bashing.
Interesting that you did not relate in a negative manner to the word "extremist".

Posted by: charlotte | July 29, 2005 02:57 AM

OK, then why would these extremist be more likely to be white and southern? I believe there is no shortage of extremists in other parts of the country, Idaho, Montana and even sunny California. Because the victim is white and southern? Just curious as to your thinking.

[callmeBetty]

Below the picture of the pond where the investigation is going on, there is a photo of Queen Beatrix arriving in Curacao (sp) today....... I know it's Diario, but they can't bend this truth can they?

Does her visit add any credibility to the seriousness of this situation or is it just another mind boggling twist...Dan?

http://www.diarioaruba.com/diahuebs/noticia/index.html

[Dan]

Betty - I dont know but the hat's pretty mind boggling if ya ask me ; ) At first I thought the basketball player was the Queen ... it's too late I need some sleep.

Night

[chance]

Perhaps there was some fear that the FBI was coming to clean house, then it was realized that they would not have much power and back to the cover up?

[007Scarlett]

Proudredneck,

I have no intention of ever living anywhere else. I have seen other places, and I have had the option to live elsewhere, and still chose to live in Alabama and raise my family here. I think things are wonderful in Alabama. I shall never leave. If you have ever witnessed the "passion" (for lack of a better word) behind the UA/AU game, you surely understand the mindset behind the alleged threat to the Aruban government. In my hometown alone, our city council and school board members have been run off the road, threatened, and had their pets poisoned when they made decisions that were not popular with some people. I don't know who made the threat, whether it was some extremist (there's that word again) group, or even one nutcase acting alone, but I can believe it happened. I know people here who act that way, and I am sure you do too. I really tend to believe, as I also stated earlier, that it is just a lame attempt (probably not even by a Southerner) to make the U.S. look bad, and bring sympathy to the Aruban government.

Thanks for your concern. I like being naive and sheltered here in Alabama. I am betting that a lot of people involved in this situation wish they were still naive and sheltered in Bama too.

[casje12]

@ CallmeBetty

The Queen isn't visiting Curacao because NH is missing, but because the Kingdom Games are held there, a kind of junior olympics.

http://www.koninkrijksspelen.an/index2.html

[proudredneck]

wonder why you think saying southern and white is bashing.
Interesting that you did not relate in a negative manner to the word "extremist".

Posted by: charlotte | July 29, 2005 02:57 AM

OK, then why would these extremist be more likely to be white and southern? I believe there is no shortage of extremists in other parts of the country, Idaho, Montana and even sunny California. Because the victim is white and southern? Just curious as to your thinking.

Posted by: Anna | July 29, 2005 03:13 AM

I would be willing to bet you, Anna, that the Southern bashers have never lived farther than 25 miles from where they were born. They believe everything they were told by others like themselves who have never ventured outside their own little communities.

[chance]

That is a handsome hat, no doubt. A man's hat is his pride. Perhaps such is true with a queen as well.

Maybe I should go to bed.....

[casje12]

Please go to bed, chance...

Sleep well;-)

[peadi]

Calme Betty,

The visit of Queen Beatrix to the Antilles was planned at least a year ago because of her 25th anniversary so I do not think that is has anything to do with it

[blink]

I dont recall who made this statement, but early on in the case when it looked as though the two guards had no invovlment in Natalee's disappearence, someone said, "when the facts come out in this case, people are going to be shocked"

I have wondered if some of those folks that were on the trip with Natalee either know what happened to her or have and ideal what happened, thats why no one in that group has really talked about it.

Remember in the RunAway Bride case how when the truth started coming out, people clammed up, well I think in Natalee's case people on that trip already have an ideal of what some of those truths maybe, so to keep from telling them, they are not saying any thing.

[007Scarlett]

Has anyone heard George W. Bush say anything about this case? I am just curious, because I have not. Is an anonymous letter threatening to taint meat and water comparable to an invasion? Is that typical of Bush's policies? Let's ask some of the soldiers in Iraq. Maybe I'm sheltered and very Republican, but I don't see it.
If you want to argue, or bash me, please e-mail me. I am going to bed now.

[doggydaddy]

Well, we discussed the Prime Minister's letter to ALE requesting the involvement of the FBI (since he couldn't order it) last week (or so). The timing is right.

If there IS a political component, consider that it makes the Prime Minister look good (by having asked that the Feebies come back with greater participation)--either way, it makes him look good. If the FBI solves the case, he looks good for having instigated their renewed involvement. If they don't solve the case, "Oh well, we tried, you (the Americans) tried and it's still not solved, but we did our best with good faith.

Hmm...(presuming that the story is true)...it's hard to believe though that there is any organized body that would make a demand of a foreign govt like this. It therefore must be either a crank or a small group. Hoax or real threat? 90% chance it's a bluff.

Of course, if it serves to kick start the investigation...maybe it's not such a bad bluff...

[charlotte]

ANNA AND BAMA GUY: Here is my rationale
I believe that the southern part of the United States currently represents the "creative force' of our nation at this time and moving forward. There is a preservation of stability, tradition and sanity that is giving rise to a pool of very talented individuals that will emerge as our nations leaders in all factions of business, medicine, law, education, politics, literature, military, entertainment, arts and humanities and social welfare. There is a "human energy field" in the southern part of the United States that is drawing people there that have "big ideas". There is a spirit of freedom and social grace in the south and the fear of loss grips the south more desperately than any other area of the United States. When gripped by fear the south does have a reservoir of self proclaimed protectors whom I believe are the white extremists that will resort to tactics of fear to fight their own fear within themselves.

[MrsJimiHendrix]

ELAN AND LETSBEFAIR

You two don't need me to get the point across about Queen of the Obsessed anymore do you?

LOL

DAN

since when to we import water?

OK now just remember it is not the first drink that will get you drunk so just don't do it!! call a friend first!! think things through!!
JUST SAY NO!!

[MrsJimiHendrix]

GET TO A MEETING

LOL!!

: )

[MrsJimiHendrix]

Wow, American terrorists trying to attack a fellow NATO ally. In every other country this would be considered as an internal affair, but because it's a rich white 'all American girl' the US want to invade this island and the FBI really needs to take over the investigation.

Invading other countries for your own best interest is sooooo George W. Bush...

Posted by: casje12 | July 29, 2005 03:12 AM

HEY NOW CASJE

i agree with you here. but this has nothing whatsoever to do with POTUS. your country is wrought w/ terrorism too.

so remember much like you don't want to be lumped in with this investigation, PLEASE DON'T THINK ALL AMERICANS FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT DUTCH OR ARUBANS. and dan does not either. he just cannot curtail everything and cut freee speech off completely (then you wouldn't be able to post what you did either)

so relax and ignore the other stuff. you are not alone kiddo!

[Jessie]

Well that should give the FBI something else to work on for a few weeks. Terror goup in the US making threats against another country. This goupe of nut cases who sent the letter had best have covered their tracks but good.

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

Callmebetty
"here it states that the queen will visit Curacao on July 27 (arrival in Curacao and 29th Dutch Antilles)"

http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/content.jsp?objectid=9025

I translated this to english [using >> http://ets.freetranslation.com/ ]

----------
...........................
POSTED: June 19, 2005 05:36 AM

--------------------------------------
Queen Beatrix will visit only Curaçao during the jubilee visit, but met thereby representatives and citizens of all antillian islands and Aruba.

http://www.25jaarkoninginbeatrix.nl/index.cfm?vid=529528A3-F206-B8C5-1DAE11F48CB850AF&view=detail&start=2

--------------
Friday 29 July queen visits Beatrix firstly the central bank of the Netherlands Antilles in willemstad. There she strikes the first jubilee coins of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Furthermore the queen examines there the work of the winners of the essay - and sign game. Meeting residents also on Friday 29 July speaks queen Beatrix in the Marriott hotel with residents of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

http://www.25jaarkoninginbeatrix.nl/index.cfm?vid=529528A3-F206-B8C5-1DAE11F48CB850AF&view=detail&start=1

[annie]

How pathetic! I sure hope this isn't the case because it would be extremely disappointing. As much as I want Natalee returned to her family, I certainly don't want the US to turn to terroristic behavior in order to get her back. That is really pathetic!

[casje12]

Wow, American terrorists trying to attack a fellow NATO ally. In every other country this would be considered as an internal affair, but because it's a rich white 'all American girl' the US want to invade this island and the FBI really needs to take over the investigation.

Invading other countries for your own best interest is sooooo George W. Bush...

Posted by: casje12 | July 29, 2005 03:12 AM

HEY NOW CASJE

i agree with you here. but this has nothing whatsoever to do with POTUS. your country is wrought w/ terrorism too.

so remember much like you don't want to be lumped in with this investigation, PLEASE DON'T THINK ALL AMERICANS FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT DUTCH OR ARUBANS. and dan does not either. he just cannot curtail everything and cut freee speech off completely (then you wouldn't be able to post what you did either)

so relax and ignore the other stuff. you are not alone kiddo!

@ MrsJimiHendrix

You are totally right, Mrs Hendrix. I know there are many people in the US that don't want to invade Aruba.

I just can't stand the idea that some of your countrymen are planning to attack The Netherlands in any kind of way, because an American girl is missing in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the suspect happen to be be Dutch.

You see, in a way it's the same ignorent kind of thinking, terrorists have who planned the attacks in the US and Europe.

[proudredneck]

Wow, American terrorists trying to attack a fellow NATO ally. In every other country this would be considered as an internal affair, but because it's a rich white 'all American girl' the US want to invade this island and the FBI really needs to take over the investigation.

Invading other countries for your own best interest is sooooo George W. Bush...

Posted by: casje12 | July 29, 2005 03:12 AM

HEY NOW CASJE

i agree with you here. but this has nothing whatsoever to do with POTUS. your country is wrought w/ terrorism too.

so remember much like you don't want to be lumped in with this investigation, PLEASE DON'T THINK ALL AMERICANS FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT DUTCH OR ARUBANS. and dan does not either. he just cannot curtail everything and cut freee speech off completely (then you wouldn't be able to post what you did either)

so relax and ignore the other stuff. you are not alone kiddo!

@ MrsJimiHendrix

You are totally right, Mrs Hendrix. I know there are many people in the US that don't want to invade Aruba.

I just can't stand the idea that some of your countrymen are planning to attack The Netherlands in any kind of way, because an American girl is missing in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the suspect happen to be be Dutch.

You see, in a way it's the same ignorent kind of thinking, terrorists have who planned the attacks in the US and Europe.

Posted by: casje12 | July 29, 2005 04:37 AM

DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN AMERICAN?

This could be some group of people on American soil, who came from another country, sent the letter because there is an election coming up down there and are trying to play a hand in the elections by making either Aruba, the Netherlands, the prime minister, or the US look bad?

Did you ever think?

[casje12]

DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN AMERICAN?

This could be some group of people on American soil, who came from another country, sent the letter because there is an election coming up down there and are trying to play a hand in the elections by making either Aruba, the Netherlands, the prime minister, or the US look bad?

Did you ever think?

Posted by: proudredneck | July 29, 2005 04:55 AM

Trying to play hand in the elections?
In what kind of way, redneck?
What elections?

I really don't seem to get your point.

Please explain....

[Sgt.Sally]

Aruba isn't in NATO. The Dutch may be.

I think Jansen went to the Netherlands (just why is it plural?) to check out the bartender that knew Joran and eloped to der homeland right after the disappearance. He might have to be extricated.

As far as terrorists, the Alabama style is lynching. There were thousands up into the 60s. See Billy Holiday - Strange Fruit

[iremember]

hey and goodmorning all
esp mjh
so, how much more bizarre will this case get?
i agree with other posters that this letter may be the "real" reason for the sudden increased cooperation and involvement of the FBI and the Dutch.
At the same time, it's hard to believe that this represents a serious threat, or that the cooperation with the FBI is in any way a serious response to that threat.....much more likely that the meetings include discussions of the FBI's progress in tracking done the source of that letter! In some ways, such an incident would have a much bigger effect on Washington than anything involving Natalee's case directly.

Hey, maybe someone IS "crazy like a fox".....how better to kick the awareness and concern with this case "up another notch"!

[iremember]

BTW, watched Jug Twitty on H&C Fox last night, only caught a bit, but was struck by how carefully he chose his words in response to question about information he has been given which is NOT public knowledge. He affirmed that he has ben given such, by sources in LE, he also looked very grim, I thought (shouldn't be surprising, I know, but I thought grimmer tahn other occassions)

[casje12]

@ Sgt.Sally

Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles on January 1, 1986, and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

The Netherlands is member of the NATO, in fact it's one of the Founding members.

Aruba is still part of the Netherlands and there for part of the NATO

The Netherlands is plural, because it consist of more lands or provinces, just as plural as the United States of America.

[themisses]

Three sayings come to mind -

"It's like the pot calling the kettle, black",

"Always wear clean underwear".

AND Finally,

"What goes around, comes around".

themisses

[!]

Proud....I agree.!!

[AmazonBuzzy]

One more...My grandmothers favorite:
If you pick up sh.. you stink!

[GRLFMBAMA]

"The North isn't a place. It's just a direction out of the South."

--Roy Blount, Jr.

[rons]

what a dilemma--

Those who are corrupt only understand power---Those who can't get their way resort to terrorism

If we resort to this type of violence then we are no better than those who we accuse as terrorist.

How do you deal with corruption? Expose it first--use peaceful sanctions (boycott etc.)--isolate it, so it eats itself---if their is no one on that island that has the courage to expose this disappearance and chose to live with the veil of secrecy and the criminal element then they will share in the consequences.

[seedyrum]

According to a source, those actions included contaminating water and meat imports flowing to the island from the United States. I did verify that the US is the largest importer of those and other products and goods onto the island. I am unclear as to what, if any other threats may have been made at that time.

Totally unbelievable for even USA.

I think this letter is a hoax.

There are better ways to threaten Aruba than "contaminating the water and meat supplies."

How can USA say its fighting terrorists against USA but then turn around and be terrorists to the food supply of another country/island.

If its true, that is real low and abysmal.

USA is too sophiscated to stoop to that type of lowness.

Granted USA is arrogant, but to be a terrorist?

While I want the case to come to some satisfactory and cridible conclusion but not taking cheap terroristic shots.

Just not our way of doing business.

Boycott of Aruba was better not threats of contaminating the food supply.

Abysmal, heinous, horrific, are the words I would use to define that letter.

If this is the best we can do to threaten Aruba to do the upstanding, take responsibility for your actions, stop playing cronyism, stop the hide and seek game with this case, then we are no better than Aruba.

I dont like the way Aruba and the Netherlands treat criminals over victims, but I would never go for the threats of contaminating their food supply.

People with nothing to hide hide nothing

[proudredneck]

Sgt. Sally, you really need to take some meds including a large, huge dose of Ex-Lax. Get my drift? There were NEVER thousands of lynching in Alabama, not even during the Civil War. Crazy!

[proudredneck]

"It is estimated that as many as 3560 lynchings were carried out throughout the United States from 1819 to 1961." "Throughout the United States," not just Alabama.

It was a horrible practice and it is something that should have never happened but your inflammatory comments are unnecessary.

Rwanda? No lynching here, just murder!

[proudredneck]

DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN AMERICAN?

This could be some group of people on American soil, who came from another country, sent the letter because there is an election coming up down there and are trying to play a hand in the elections by making either Aruba, the Netherlands, the prime minister, or the US look bad?

Did you ever think?

Posted by: proudredneck | July 29, 2005 04:55 AM

Trying to play hand in the elections?
In what kind of way, redneck?
What elections?

I really don't seem to get your point.

Please explain....

Posted by: casje12 | July 29, 2005 05:04 AM

There are elections coming up in Aruba. If the prime minister does not get this solved, he is looking like a loser. He could stand to lose the election. This letter was sent by someone who either is an opponent of his, threatening him that way or is a fabricated letter, so that he can call in the FBI and get it cleaned up before the elections.

I wrote myself a letter once. I told myself how good looking I was, and for a while I believed it and I showed that letter to a lot of people, who believed I was because I signed that latter "Barbara Ann." Everyone believed Barbara Ann was writing me and telling me how good looking I was. P.S. Barbara Ann was the beauty queen in my town.

[FloridaPatty]

Whatever it takes.

and it seems it worked!

[Cathy]

"''''In my hometown alone, our city council and school board members have been run off the road, threatened, and had their pets poisoned when they made decisions that were not popular with some people. I don't know who made the threat, whether it was some extremist (there's that word again) group, or even one nutcase acting alone, but I can believe it happened. """"""

I live in the South (not Alabama) as well, and in my hometown, the people are civil, and don't react that way to decisions that aren't popular. This letter could've come from any state in the US. I wouldn't doubt that Aruba has not received some hate mail. Hate mail was sent to the husband of Terry Schiavo, but nothing came out of it. But honestly, how many rednecks know that Aruba receives imports from the US? I didn't know it until I read it here. The US has good relations with Aruba, but not with Venezuela. If Natalee was kidnapped and carried to Venezuela, it would be hard to get her back.

Liberals are so hyped up about racial profiling Muslims, but wouldn't think one minute about racial profiling a whole section of the US as white extremists when they know darn well it's untrue or using stereotypes to describe white Southerners when they wouldn't use them against any other race or ethnic group. When the word Southerner is used negatively, that is bashing a section, not a small marginalize group that is present in all sections. Southerners respond to unjust negativity whether it's within their own state or another southern state.

I support the Holloway family, and pray they get their daughter back alive.

[blacklable]

I think the letter came from someone in the vicinity of mr. Matthew, who threatens Aruba since 2004. Remember it was this Aruban who started the "boycott Aruba" hype

[***]

since when do they receive water from the U.S.???
Aruba has his own fresh clean water!!! ( HAS ONE OF THE CLEANEST DRINKWATER IN THE WORLD). Better that here in the U.S. ( and i am not kidding)