Rudy Croes: “Twitty’s attitude is incredible”. SO IS ARUBA’s FREEDOM OF SPEECH, “SHUT HER UP”

From Amigoe, Friday 30 September 2005, Rudy Croes the Minister of Justice makes some comments regarding Beth Twitty that can only respond to as “things that make you sat hmmm.” Can anyone imagine being banned from a country because of what they say? The United States, where freedom of speech is so sacred and protected that we allow flag burning and pornography as a protected symbol of free speech. However, Aruba seems to think at one persons words make them persona non grata. The nightmare PR adventure continues for Aruba.

According to Justice-minister Rudy Croes (MEP), there is not much that can be done against Twitty’s attitude. He says that declaring her as persona non grata is no option. The American media would blow that up and it can fire back at us.

A government official of Aruba would actually contemplate not allowing Beth Twitty back to Aruba for the only reason of the fear of what the media would do? You have got to be kidding me? Ever hear of free speech Rudy, or does not that exit in Aruba? I really have to admit that this is not even a matter of taking the Holloway/Twitty side or Aruba’s as many have drawn battle lines. It is more a matter of trying to figure out what type of system really exists in Aruba. With comments like these out of a ruling parties official I actually feel sorry for the actual lack of human rights that really must exist for every day Arubans when “all our back are turned.” It is a sad commentary and all better take a look at the words that were said. The only reason why the Aruban government does not take action is because of the media retaliation and thus the affect of Aruban tourism. For all those people that have complained of the over-media exposure that the Holloway and Twitty’s have received I guess maybe you can understand now why it was done? Rudy Croes has literally said that without the media coverage they would have treated Beth Twitty completely differently. Minister Croes seems to be forgetting that little fact that Beth Twitty has lost her daughter Natalee Holloway on Aruba.

She is back in all sorts of programs where she calls upon Americans to avoid Aruba as vacation destination. “I can’t understand her attitude. We did everything possible to find her daughter”, said Croes. He hopes of course that one day the teenager will show up, but he said that badmouthing would definitely not contribute to that.

He can’t understand her attitude. People may agree or disagree with Beth Twitty’s reaction to how she is handling the disappearance of Natalee, but I hardly think anyone can say they can’t understand her attitude. Newsflash … her daughter has vanished into thin air while vacationing on your island Justice Minister Croes. 10 days went by before your justice system ever arrested the last people ever to be seen with Natalee. They have reportedly lied during interrogations and Joran has admitted they all three conspired to lie to investigators in the beginning. Searches of the three suspects homes were delayed as 2 security guards were originally arrested. All three suspects last seen with Natalee are free walking the streets of Aruba and seemingly contradicting their stories in interviews. The frustration level alone of no answers and no sign of her daughter right or wrong is enough to make anyone act like this. The lack of perceived cooperation and communication even referenced by Dave Holloway the other night is enough to cause complete frustration. Do you really wonder why or how Beth Twitty could not have this attitude? Really? Your own Prime Minister, the leader of your party has stated mistakes were made. Some how you can’t understand a mother’s frustration that her daughter has vanished. What is even more amazing about Minister Croes’ comments is they seemingly care more about the affects of tourism rather than the where abouts of missing teen, Natalee Holloway. Every time one turns around there is a reference to tourism. Here lies the rub. As much as it is a concern to Minister Croes and Aruba, tourism is not the concern of Beth Twitty. Getting her daughter back is.

Many Aruban people are very angry with Twitty and are afraid that her constant appeals against Aruba would have a negative effect on the tourism. Even though this does not reflect in the figures, the government does keep a finger on the pulse. Croes does not consider taking measures against Twitty yet, but does not rule out the possibility to shut her up in the future. The Dutch government was asked to diplomatically support Aruba in this matter.

If anyone ever wondered why Beth Twitty has taken the approach that she has they only have to look at the following comment to understand. She took this approach as a reaction to what she had dealt with in Aruba. There had been rumblings as to Aruba potenentially not allowing Joe Mammana in Aruba becasue of his past, now it would appear if not for media exposure “free speech” gets you the same.

Croes does not consider taking measures against Twitty yet, but does not rule out the possibility to shut her up in the future.

SHUT HER UP IN THE FUTURE? This is a government position to an American mother whose daughter was on vacation in Aruba (of which Americans make up 70% of the Aruban tourism) and vanished without a trace? I had wondered in the past about the comments against Aruba about the purposeful letting out the suspects while Americans backs were turned and focused on hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, Labor Day festivities and the death of a Chief Supreme Court Justice. I had wondered whether it was true about the increased fees for satellite feeds. I questioned whether the comment made to Beth about when was she leaving for good may have been slightlly taken out of contest. With an attitude of “shutting someone up” it really makes me wonder. So in other words, the message from Rudy Croes is, unless you play by our rules we not only won’t do anything, we will shut you up?

 These comments transcend a missing girl and bring into question how things could actually be manipulated to bring a means to an end. Are there really that few liberties? This is a free speech issue. I wonder as some sources have relayed to us whether other forms of communication that may be considered “persona non grata”. One wonders when maybe they will attempt to “Shut Scared Monkeys up in the future”? This is a free speech issue, the main stream media can feel more than welcome to join the fray at any time. It is chilling to know that if not for the fear of what the media would do to Aruba, Beth Twitty would have been treated differently.