Joran van der Sloot

They might have gotten away with murder, they might have been innocent from the beginning and had nothing to do with the so alledged disappearance of Natalee Holloway. But one thing is for certain, these guys will forever live in the modern history of Americans. Their families might have been distroyed, friendships lost, their future labeled for ever, but these guys now have the American media in their hands. Just the turn of tables or just something I call Kharma.

If one day one of these guys need some money, I'll bet you, American Media will pay a lot of money for their story. They are set for life, unless new evidences come forward in the still ongoing investigation.

Example, hundreds of people are dead in the Gulf coast area, terrorism is not yet defeated and will not be defeated by just soldiers and weapons. My opinion is that this can only be defeated with information and education. Just my opinion but is too complicated to share it right now, anyway a lot of important, life changing events happening all over the word and still we get some coverage in news media, this time People Magazine over Aruba and it will not be long before we see a movie on Lifetime or other channel regarding the mystery of Natalee. This was the summer of Natalee. Summer in which the whole world was introduced to a beautiful, safe island where a drama took place. A place called Aruba.

Away from Home.

Eventhough I am away from home, I continue to follow the political news in Aruba. On sunday there were several parades on the island and clearly the largest one was from MEP. According to several people, when the last car in the parade itself was on Boulevard, the start was well beyond Drive In Theatre in Balashi.

The parade however, that kept everybody talking was the one from MPA. I honestly think they might even get one seat in the parliament. Let's see, this is the latest poll.

Country Side, pine trees.

The country side is just beautiful, looks like scenes from a movie or TV series, never would have thought of actually staying few days there. These landscapes I've always seen from my train windows when traveling from city to city in Europe, but never had a real chance of getting into the scene.

Imagine, many times to Holland, never stood near a real cow. Now in these areas, you'll smell the apple trees, pine trees and just the clean air. I can't imagine myself living here for ever, but it sure is a marvelous experience.

The spirit of Europe in Boston

Someway somehow, when I walk downtown or in the Cambridge area I get the feeling of déja vu. Then I realized, the history of this place, the buildings, the old ships and 17 th - 18 th century history, reminded me of Holland.

It's a beautiful place with narrow streets and buildings with red and brown bricks, balconies and old tiled pavements just like you'll get in Amsterdam and other European cities. Even the good transportation system, like the trains, trolleys and trams, parks and cathedrals.

An update on the latest polls result.

This is the latest poll on the election in Aruba on September 23, 2005. The results continues to be the same and all polls show exactly the same right now. But things could change in the next 15 days. Last Sunday there was a car parade (very common in Aruba during election), the AVP had a total of over 300 cars in which the candidates were also present.

The radio TOP 95.1 also organized one for the MEP in which there was around 250 cars. However in this parade there were no candidates present. During that day I met the group of one candidate that had over 30 cars and a female candidate had over 50 cars. There were several other MEP activities on the island which could explain the lack of candidates and their voters on the street.

Joran is in Holland.

As expected, Joran vd Sloot is back in Holland with his father. He returned this weekend. They'll still try to enroll for this semester in an University. They are also to get back to some family for the needed support for all that was done to them during the last 3 months. In a statement, JvdS thanked the thousands of letters of support from all over the world and the US.

Meanwhile, the investigation in Aruba still goes on and are now focused on accidental drowning near the Marriott hotel. Ads are placed in newspaper for professional divers to help in the search.

When I passed the Homeland Security Officer, who is an American working at the US Clearance at the airport, he told us that he was happy that we can breathe easier now, since Beth Witty has left the island last Sunday.

Latest from the case.

The mother of a missing U.S. teenager said Sunday she's leaving Aruba after having "exhausted all my avenues" on the island following the release of all three suspects in Natalee Holloway's disappearance. Beth Holloway Twitty said she will visit the Dutch Caribbean island "frequently" and promised to fight for justice from her home in the United States.
"I will never allow my daughter's voice to be silenced, but I have exhausted all my avenues in Aruba."

Holloway Twitty said she will return to Aruba on Wednesday to move her belongings out of the hotel where she's been living and then will fly home. "I will regroup in the U.S. and begin seeking justice there, I'm not leaving Aruba for good. I'll be coming in and out frequently."

Holloway Twitty arrived in Aruba hours after her daughter vanished May 30 and has been an almost permanent fixture since, focusing intense U.S. media attention on the case through frequent television appearances and interviews and pressuring local authorities to act.
Her planned departure came a day after all three suspects in Holloway's disappearance were released from jail, dealing a serious setback to the prosecution and the biggest blow yet to the teen's family.

Joran van der Sloot, an 18-year-old Dutchman, and two Surinamese brothers, Satish Kalpoe, 18, and Deepak Kalpoe, 21, were released on condition they remain available to police for questioning. Holloway's family has insisted that all three young men know what happened to the 18-year-old Alabama honors student, who vanished on the last day of a vacation to celebrate her high school graduation.

Holloway was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers. Her family has often been critical of Aruban authorities' handling of the case, especially for taking 10 days to arrest the three young men and two weeks to search van der Sloot's home.
Van der Sloot and the brothers were arrested June 9 on suspicion of involvement in Holloway's disappearance. All three have denied any connection to the disappearance.
As a Dutch citizen, van der Sloot can leave Aruba but must remain in Dutch territory as a condition of his release. The Surinamese brothers must stay in Aruba because they have different visa requirements.

Van der Sloot will soon be going to college in Holland, according to his lawyer, but his mother said Sunday he wouldn't leave immediately. "We're looking at the options. We're taking it easy, day by day," Anita van der Sloot said in a telephone interview.

Police insist the investigation into Holloway's widely publicized disappearance will continue, but legal observers in Aruba say the releases indicate the government has no case.
Police, Dutch investigators, FBI and thousands of volunteers have scoured Aruba without finding a sign of Holloway, often chasing apparently false leads, including a witness who said he saw men dumping a body at a landfill days after Holloway vanished. Police and volunteers wasted days picking through the enormous landfill.

Twitty, some family members, American journalists and Vale Hart from Diario, had a farewell dinner last night at the Hostaria d'Avitorio Restaurant.

The Latest Polls for the upcoming election.

There are several Polls on the island and practically giving the same results. The current government's leading party is forecasted to continue for the next 4 years. However, I must remind you that these polls are not scientific. Another poll on a TV program where you can send message with the name of the party you are intending to vote for, recently showed the standing of their ongoing voting: MEP with over 70%, leading secondly by the AVP with over 20%. They have currently the long running polling system.

Voting will take place on Friday September 23, 2005.

What we all did not want to See.

Dutch Marine overflying the scene.
A Heart broken Aruban watching what used to be Aruban's prime Tourists spot, Natural Bridge.

Bush No, Condo Yes.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice decided yesterday that the USA will accept the help offered from foreign countries to help alliviate the situation of the refugees, after the destructive passage of Hurricane Katrina, according the State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack.

Hours later, the president George W. Bush, affirmed that no requests have been made to other countries for help. "I don't expect a lot of help from foreign countries because we did not request such. However I do expect a lot of solidarity, few cash.."

However, Condoleezza Rice decided that "they will not reject any help that may aliviate suffering of people in the affected zones."

Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, United Kingdom, Dutch Kingdom of the Netherland, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, United Emirates, NATO and OEA have offered cooperation.

The Netherlands is send from the Netherland Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) a ship with medicines and rescue equipment to the region and is said to be in the area in 5 days. The ship is equipped with foodsupplies, two helicopters for medical evactuations, extra marines, rubberboats and is also capable of producing thousands of liters of drinking water a day.

According to the Prime Minister Balkenende, he also offered President Bush, expertise in dykes, medical and forensic experts, special pomps that can produce drinking water, F-16's and military divers. No word yet if these were accepted.

Venezuela offered huminatary help and fuel. An Venezuelan Oil Company already sent $ 1.000.000,00

Destruction of Aruba's natural symbol.

This morning, the island was shaken, when they received information that the world-known Aruba's top attraction NATURAL BRIDGE has fallen down. Investigators are on the scene and making sure it is not a act of vandalism against Aruba's tourist Industry and is just a case of mother nature.

This natural monument has been forming for the last thousands of years and since the 1960's has become one of the island prime tourist spot.

Before its name has been changed to Natural Bridge it was known as BREEK. This was because of a large ship that sank in the area and many people died and were buried near this place.

According to people that felt a little trembling, this happened around 2.00 a.m. this morning.

Now the bridge has come down and it's the end of a beautiful story.

It is not over yet.

People asked me why they let Joran go. It's simple, no one, local authorities, Dutch specialist nor F.B.I. could not get evidences or proof that a murder has been commited. Being released today does not mean that the suspect is free. He is still awaiting trial for Rape and Kidnapping. He is not allowed to leave the island cause he must always be available for interrogators to pick him in connection with ongoing investigation of the disappearance. But still going to court for rape and kidnapping. Why you ask, if there is no body there is no evidence?

Wel, the rape comes because in early statements made by the brothers, one said he saw how the other suspect make sexual advances to the girl who obviously was not at her right state of mind, either by alcohol or drugs. That, under Dutch Law is considered rape.

And the Kidnapping case is because under Dutch Law if you are the last person seen with someone who disappeared you can be charged with kidnapping unless you can prove otherwise or have an alibi that you had nothing to do with the disappearance.

The brothers and the other suspect are still detained for questioning, and their stay has been prolonged for six more days.

All over the island are still poster, new and old reminding everyone that is still not over.

No evidence of Murder, but still Suspect.

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — A judge on Thursday ordered the release of a Dutch suspect in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee
Holloway, the suspect’s father said.
Joran van der Sloot will be released Saturday morning, according to his father, Paul van der Sloot, who was told of the decision by the family’s attorney.
“The judge ruled there is no reason to keep Joran any longer on suspicion of murder,” he said.
But van der Sloot remains a suspect in the sexual assault of Holloway, he said.
“The judge ruled that he must remain at the disposal of pold.
Government officials couldn’t immediately confirm the report."

So, now they Joran must wait his trail and based on the investigation on his case, rape and kidnapping, we will know how many years he will spend behind bars, depending of there is no new evidence or some of guys crack during interrogations. We still have faith that the truth will come out.

Something happened and someone is responsible. These guys may be innocent or not, but the judge will decide that.

And it continues.

Just the morning news:
No new evidence in the case.
Main reason the lawyers were called back and Joran brought back was that the judge did not inform them he wanted them to be at the courthouse after the individual hearing so he could put the guys in the same room as him and confront them with each other.

In this confrontation, the Brothers story and the Joran's story did not match. And both parties keep on stressing that they are telling the truth. Joran's story was changed mainly 3 times during the last 20 something interrogation sessions. He also broke down in court and started crying.

Carin Jannsen told the media that she was happy for what has been a long day in court where she assisted in the case. She told the press that other detentions were possible and that some suspects may go free. That was part of an investigation.

During an hour long interview of the v/d Sloots on TV, they still believe that their son is innocent and they, in the beginning received so many hate letters, and after replying to each and every one, they received appologies from people who aknowledged that they send these letters from being misinformed and misled by the media and also because they did not expect they would get an answer. They are receiving a lot of support from all over the world, even the USA, Joran being guilty or innocent. They all know this is a tragic event for everyone.

The laywers of the Kalpoe Brother were demanding evidences and new proof for the latest arrest of the brothers and just before the case started, they were given a dossier of over 300 pages regarding the new arrests (not the 3-month investigation reports). Including 4 pictures of an underage girl posing in front ot he guys, except Satish.

The judge ruling the case was Mr. Smit. However there is a mistery of whether they will extend their stay, since one newspaper says the judge did extend it and others just are waiting on a Friday decision.