Natalee Holloway; July 1 2005

Holloway letter campaign seeks help, The “Notes for Natalee” campaign

Do not forget about the “Notes for Natalee” campaign that friends and family of Natalee Holloway are asking supporters for their help. As previously posted, The Notes for Natalee should be performed in a respectful manner. If you need suggested text and address, please see our previous post. Scared Monkey readers we ask that you take part in this grass roots movement.

“The goal of this campaign is to illustrate in numbers of mailed letters the number of Americans who care about Natalee and her family.”

Letters can be sent to The Royal Netherlands Embassy, 4200 Linnean Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008.

>>> UPDATE
I have said for a very long time the perception of how this case was being handled is probably just as important as to how it is handled. No one can deny that the initial investigations into the Natalee Holloway disappearance were at best shaky. The wrong suspects detained, the three that are presently in jail were let go and their homes and property were not searched initially. With so little that was done correctly in the first 72 hours of this investigation and now what appears to be no new leads and Paul Van der Sloot’s release from custody; what would one expect except the media to question events in a highly critical manner?

This has prompted the Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber to create a “anti incorrect news” committee. It is obvious that Aruba is hypersensitive to the international media accounts and critical of their reporting. The converse can also be said. It is important for ALL the correct facts to come out, not just the ones that may be either beneficial or critical to Aruba.

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.

“Aruba is known for its solidarity and in these difficult moments the Government is requesting the assistance of all citizens that are of good will in fighting the incorrect and negative information on Aruba that is going around the globe. There are media, in particular the international media that transmit negative and even incorrect information, giving the impression out there that our institutions do not function, which is something that the Government does not agree with” said the Prime Minister The committee consists of public and private sector personalities and some that have served this country in high positions.

“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.

According to Oduber, he can feel a difference in the way of bringing the news by the international press, such as the Dutch and the American. This is one of the most difficult cases that Aruba has ever had but everybody is contributing their part in order to come at a solution.

The committee consists of ex- Governor Olindo Koolman, banker Bill Carson, president of the Aruba Chamber of Commerce Edwin Roos, president of the Aruba Free Zone drs. Gregg Peterson, psychologist Jaap Beaujon, the president of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association Jorge Pesquera, director of the Aruba Tourism Authority Myrna Jansen, and Government spokes person Ruben Trapenberg.

The committee meets on a daily basis to analyze all information that is given and correct where necessary, according to Prime Minister Oduber.

This would just be a word of advice to the Prime Minister, there is a big difference between reporting by the media that is factually incorrect and reporting by the media that you may not want to hear that may be difficult upon Aruba. Transparency is usually a good thing and working with the international media instead of having an adversarial relationship is always helpful.

I believe Americans, Arubans, all across the world and especially the families of Natalee Holloway just want the truth.

>>> UPDATE, From Fox News: Senator Wants FBI to Do More in Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Fearing the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway has gone cold, a U.S. senator is calling for the Aruban government to allow the FBI to get more involved in the case.

Sen. Richard Shelby wants the FBI to have full access to evidence in the case and he wrote a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller to gain support for his idea. Shelby, a Republican, represents Alabama, Holloway’s home state, in the Senate.

Aruban officials said the FBI is welcome to send more people, but government spokesman Ruben Trapenburg said he did not think the extra U.S. effort would help find the young woman who has been missing for a month.

Holloway family attorney Vinda De Sousa said of Aruban officials: “They will consider every option and possibility,” when asked about bolstering the FBI’s influence.