ARUBA: Has The Netherlands Really Done Everything “REASONABLE” to Solve the Natalee Holloway Case?

Define “reasonably”? Can the term reasonable and a crime being investigated in Aruba actually be used in the same sentence?

Why is anyone supposed to believe everything reasonable was done to investigate the disappearance of Natalee Holloway? Many stated from the outset that the fix was in when two black security guards were arrested while the last three people to be with Natalee Holloway, Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe remained free to walk the streets. Dutch official Hero Brinkman is on record as saying that Aruba is “Corrupt as Hell!!!”

What is reasonable when one knows that the very island that the crime took place on is corrupt and that one of the suspects, a Dutch citizen, has connections through his father to obstruct justice?

In the case of the article that appeared in Amigo February 11, 2009, The Netherlands: ‘Done everything to solve the Holloway case;’ “reasonably” as defined by whom, former US President Bill Clinton in that it all depend on what the meaning of is, is. Going through the motions of looking like one is cooperating in an investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is hardly a sincere effort.

The Netherlands has ‘reasonably’ done everything a country can do to solve the case of the disappeared American teenager Natalee Holloway, says state secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (Kingdom Relations, CDA) in a letter to the Lower House that have asked for more information.

Holloway disappeared in May of 2005 and the case is still not solved.  There are currently two investigations going in the disappearance case: the criminal investigation into the disappearance of the teenager and an investigation by the national detective into the allegations of Justice-minister Rudy Croes in the early stages of the criminal investigation. 

Jan van der Stratten

It was in December of last year that Croes accused the former chief of police Jan van der Straaten of having blown the investigation in the first ten days.  He did this in consideration of his friendship with Paul van der Sloot, the father of Joran van der Sloot, who is still the prime suspect. The Public Prosecutor doesn’t give any details during this investigation, writes Bijleveld to the Lower House.

Bijleveld explains all ‘the efforts’ the Netherlands had done in the Holloway-case until now.  Upon request of Aruba, Dutch militaries have assisted with the search in the early stages.  Dutch sniffer dogs and F-16’s with special camera were also put in.  Aruba has again requested the assistance of the Netherlands in September of 2006 and Dutch experts have tested the investigation in the Netherlands.  This ‘revision’ provided sufficient clues to continue the investigation in Aruba.  The Dutch team together with their Aruban colleagues performed in 2007 and 2008 a continued investigation into the still open scenarios.   Bijleveld says that ‘all necessary means’ were put in, but have not led to solving the case.  The Aruban police are still investigating the case at this moment.

There are two investigations going on in the case of the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway? One might have to look high and low to find anything with regards to any investigation that is being pursued in Aruba.

Hans Mos has defended the police investigation into the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway referencing that it was one of the most expensive homicide investigations of all time.  However, cost does not equate to competent or a lack of corruption.

Have they really done everything, The Netherlands or Aruba? Hardly. Just recently we learned that Public Prosecutor Hans Mos would be having an early departure as the head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Aruba. That makes two Aruban Public Prosecutors come and gone and no justice for Natalee Holloway.

The case, which is still not closed and which is estimated to have cost more than seven and a half million euros, has led to increasing criticism of Mr Mos.

The announcement of his departure comes at a time when relationships between Aruba and the Netherlands are strained. The Aruban Justice Minister, Rudy Kroes, has accused the Netherlands of spying after serious allegations about Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber and a member of Mr Kroes’ family were found in a confidential document produced by the Dutch delegation to the island.

Can The Netherlands really say that everything reasonable was done in investigating the Natalee Holloway case when one of their own citizens, Joran van der Sloot, has been caught on tape twice as to having involvement in Natalee’s demise? First Joran states that he dumped her in the ocean and then he admits to human trafficking and selling her to a Venezuelan man.  He stated he sold Natalee for $10,000. However, because Joran Van der Sloot has lied from day one in dropping Natalee Holloway off at the Holiday Inn, some how it gives him not only a license to lie, but also a license to be prosecuted. He can’t be lying about everything.

Dutch Crime investigator Peter R. deVries has been faithfully on the case trying to provide evidence that Joran Van der Sloot is implicated in Natalee’s disappearance so it would beg the question then why is not The Netherlands?

What you have done is reasonable? Hardly. Even with all the new information that has come out since Natalee’s disappearance and the three initially suspects actions, especially Joran Van der Sloot’s, the good Dutch people of the Netherlands hardly think your efforts have been reasonable.

UPDATE I: Comments from Diaro Managing Editor Jossy Mansur regarding supposed investigations and current state of affairs of tourism in Aruba:

I know of no 2 cases being investigated with regards to the disappearance of Natalee. I’m extremely, and I emphasize the word EXTREMELY happy that Hans Mos is leaving. He made quite a few blunders in the case and just wants to close it. So far that I know, there are no investigation going on.
 
Aruba’s tourism has suffered and continues to suffer. Percentage-wise we have it from reliable sources that the industry is down between 15 and 20%, and still falling even in high season. I don’t see it going back to its previous normal levels. I hope it does, but there’s nothing in sight that convinces me it will return to normal, especially if we consider the economic crisis deepening all over the world.