Lively Case Discussion #596 4/4- 4/7/2007

[klaasend]

Nite LilPuma

[carpe noctem]

Thanks for reminding me, Li'l Puma.

I betta change my signature line, it being Good Friday
and all.  

[greeneyedlady]

And Judith Geerman obviously heard Amanda maid say that the VDS's had an additional illegal alien maid.

So they go see Amanda maid and ask her about 3 non-probative questions, nothing indicating what she might have previously said, and leave the whole issue up in the air. Pathetic really.

Who is the maid named Rita Joran was talking about in his notes?

Rita Didjkoff, or something like that. Her PV is in the *important case documents* section here.

GEL - right here:

http://www.scaredmonkeys.net/viewtopic.php?t=268

PROCES - VERBAAL

We, Dennis Dominico JACOBS and Eric Louis SOEMERS, respectively head agent and under inspector at the Korps Police force Aruba, former classified at the team particular projects and last mentioned at the section criminal organizations classified, explain the following.

On Thursday, August 11, 2005, around 18:55, we, took a statement, interrogated the witness:

Margaritha WERLEMAN e.v. DIJKHOFF,

Born on Aruba on March 10, 1954, aid in the household (independent) and living more closely Wolf xxxxxxxxxx on Aruba. Her statement was given in papiamento, and was translated by me, JACOBS, to Dutch and placed on record.

On your question how long have I worked for the Van Der Sloot family, I answer you the following:

I have worked ( 8 ) years at family Van Der Sloot. I work as from Monday up to and including Friday for them. I do not work on Saturday and Sunday at family Van Der Sloot. I work daily four (4) hours at family Van Der Sloot. With family VDS, I mean the parents of the detained man "Joran Van Der Sloot". (meaning the suspect "Joran Van Der Sloot"; observation JACOBS).

On your question if I can tell you specifically when I worked from Monday up to and including Friday at the family Van Der Sloot, I answer the following:
I work on Monday from 08.00 till 12.00.
I work on Tuesday from 13.30 till 17.30.
I work on Wednesday from 13.30 till 17.30.
I work on Thursday from 13.30 till 15.30
and I work on Friday from 13.30 till 17.30 at family Van Der Sloot
As you can see I work daily four (4) hours at family Van Der Sloot with exception of Thursday because then I work only two (2) hours.

On your question if the family Van Der Sloot has another aid in the household, answer I you no. I am the only aid in the household at the family Van Der Sloot. They do not have an aid in the household on Saturday and Sunday when I do not work for them. On your question if I know of a Spanish speaking aid at the family Van Der Sloot my answer is no. I have also never seen a Spanish speaking aid at the household of Van Der Sloot.

This is my true statement. If you have more questions, I will be prepared to answer these.

M. WERLEMAN e.v. DIJKHOFF

After I, JACOBS, read the declaration to the witness M. WERLEMAN e.v. DIJKHOFF in papiamento that was translated to Dutch, the witness signed them.

This is our statement, on oath of office made up this proces-verbaal, and has been signed at Oranjestad on August 11, 2005 and has been closed.

Signed,

D.D. JACOBS E.L. SOEMERS

Thanks guys,I thought the maid only worked half a day?But Joran says Rita was there that afternoon.

[klaasend]

Joran lies  

GOODNIGHT ALL!

[greeneyedlady]

Joran lies  

GOODNIGHT ALL!

He certainly does! GOODNIGHT Klaas

[carpe noctem]

We break at this time, to bring you
THE FAKE ARUBAN NEWS


>>> Is there really any other kind?


Let me help you with that...

NO!









JORAN'S NEW BOOK, DUE OUT IN JUST

WEEKS, HAD A SLIGHT COVER CHANGE

AT THE LAST MINUTE!


The Revision:






...and now, BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM.

Enjoy your Monkey broadcast day!

[carpe noctem]

The ARUBAN FAKE NEWS
brought to you by:

[msmarple]

Yo Carpe - I have Carpe Noctem-ed and sent a comment to this article, which you brought to our attention this morning.

http://ny.metro.us/metro/entertainment/article/Arriba_Aruba/7806.html

Arriba Aruba!
Get on a plane and take that vacation
by donna m. airoldi / metro new york

APR 4, 2007

ARUBA. Overworked? Burned out? Or simply want to jump-start your summer tan? Why not head to Aruba, one of the Caribbean’s most accessible islands.

My fiancé and I were in need of some serious warm-weather rejuvenation recently and the myriad flights to the Queen Beatrix International Airport — enhanced by JetBlue Airways’ daily service launched from John F. Kennedy International Airport last year — made Aruba an easy choice.

On the drive from the airport, we spotted iguanas lounging on the trunks of the island’s iconic divi-divi trees, which are sculpted into graceful bending shapes by Aruba’s constant trade winds. The beautiful stretches of beach, piercing turquoise waters and gorgeous orange sunset assured us we were on our way to renewal.

Located just 15 miles off the coast of South America, this former Dutch colony isn’t your typical island paradise: Much of its 70 square miles is desert, with cacti, rock formations and sand dunes. The north and east coasts are stunning, but rugged and hammered by rough waters. De Palm Tours (depalm.com), the island’s main tour company, offers a 4x4 jeep safari to this side that includes stops at the Chapel of Alto Vista, Aruba’s first church, and the remains of abandoned gold mines. (The name Aruba comes from oro ruba, which means “red gold.”)

Visitors seeking typical sun and sand activities should stick to Aruba’s western coast. The island’s winds make parasailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing popular, while snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts can explore numerous coral reefs and ship wrecks. During our Pelican Adventures (pelican-aruba.com) snorkeling excursion, which offered lunch and unlimited beverages (such as refreshing rum punches), we saw a wide variety of marine life, including a small octopus.

Aruba got a bad rap after Natalee Holloway went missing in 2005, but those who know Aruba know the island is safe — and more than $250 million has been invested into its tourism industry, according to the Aruba Tourism Authority, with many hotel renovations wrapping up in recent months.

We stayed at the Westin Aruba Resort (westin.com/aruba), which debuted in December after completing phase one of a multimillion dollar upgrade of the former Wyndham hotel. Each guestroom boasts private balconies with ocean views and the aptly named Westin Heavenly Bed.

The resort sits on the south end of Palm Beach, arguably the best stretch, being cleaner, softer and less rocky than the rest. Anchoring the opposite end is the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino (arubamarriott.com), which recently expanded its casino and also renovated rooms. Between the two properties are more than a dozen other hotels — such as the surprisingly attractive Holiday Inn Sunspree Aruba (aruba.sunspreeresorts.com) and the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino (aruba.hyatt.com).

The Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino opened its luxurious Larimar Spa (larimarspaaruba.com) in February. The 80-minute Aloe Vera and Rum Massage, the spa’s signature treatment, costs $175. My thoroughly enjoyable, 60-minute Relaxing Massage at the Westin’s Intermezzo Day Spa was a comparative bargain at $75.

Happy hours abound in the beach bars, where drinks often cost no more than $3 or $4 during the early evening. For continued beverage bargains, hit the numerous hotel casinos. Be warned that beer comes in small bottles. Better for it to remain cold, locals say.

Meals, on the other hand, are more costly, but the food is terrific. Moist conch fritters and savory coconut shrimp appetizers at the over-water Pelican Nest Bar & Seafood Grill will set you back $8.25 and $16.50, respectively. Restaurants at the Westin were excellent, particularly its Pago Pago Steakhouse and the outdoor Azul, where guests dine barefoot beachside.

Our dining highlight was at Le Dôme Restaurant (ledome-aruba.com), located near Eagle Beach and specializing in Belgian-French cuisine. The Dover sole melted in our mouths, and if you’re a fan of offal, the sweetbreads are not to be missed.

We packed in a lot, but didn’t get to it all. Luckily JetBlue adds another direct flight out of JFK May 1.

Aruba travel

- As of January, passports are required for U.S. citizens, who upon their return go through customs in Aruba rather than in the United States.

- The equator is just 11 miles south, so strong sunscreen (the locally produced Aruba Aloe is recommended) and hats are a must.

- Aruba is south of the hurricane belt — the last tropical storm classified as such that passed near the island was in 1877 — making it a safe bet for vacations year-round.

- The local currency is the Aruba florin, though U.S. dollars are widely accepted, and ATMs give the option of receiving either.

 
Here is my response:

"Aruba got a bad rap after Natalee Holloway went missing in 2005" for a good reason - not only is she still "missing," but Aruba's government and business officials went to great lengths to avoid prosecution of the the Holloway case.

They also went to amazing lengths to officially and systematically trash the victim and her family.

Aruba is "safe" compared to what? Despite what you travel writers have been told, Aruba's homicide rate in recent years is at least twice, possibly three times, the U.S. rate.

I don't have a "blog" but for more information about Murder & Crime on Aruba, go here:
http://tinyurl.com/wjjsz

Ms. Airoldi, if YOU or a relative or close friend vanished from Aruba, and the case was handled in a like manner, dismissive comments such as yours would rub very raw indeed.

And yes, I believe Natalee is dead, and Aruba would do anything rather than prosecute the fair-haired child of one of its leading Dutch citizens.    

I don't know any of Ms. Holloway's family, but I raised two daughters and have two granddaughters. I can only think, "There but for the grace of God ... "

I do give permission to publish this, but please do not include my name or any other personal information. There is a very hateful anti-Holloway community out there. Many of them are computer savy, and hacking is the least of the problems they have created. If you would like to see some of that in action, look up Refugees Unleashed or Freedom of Blog.

Thank you.

[igsigs]

msmarple    excellent response!

carpe      

[msmarple]

Just stumbled on this, from Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle.

http://tinyurl.com/ynw5ov

Victims tell Congress of cruise-ship crimesC.W. Nevius

Sunday, April 1, 2007

When Laurie Dishman, a 36-year-old food service manager at a supermarket in Sacramento, signed up for a cruise to Mexico last year, she had a simple plan.

"My friend Michelle and I were going to have an umbrella drink and relax,'' she said this week.

Dishman left aboard the Royal Caribbean ship Vision of the Seas on Feb. 21, 2006. On the first night, as the ship sailed for Mexico, her trip took an awful turn.

Dishman says a ship security guard came to her room in the wee hours, forced his way in and raped her.

That was bad enough, but then Dishman says she had to face the reaction of the crew.

First she was handed a trash bag and told to collect her own evidence -- including giving herself a "rape kit'' exam. Then she was told she might have brought the incident on herself, even though she says she clearly had bruises on her neck where the guard had choked her.

"The purser immediately said to me, 'Maybe you need to control your drinking,' '' Dishman said. "They wanted a written statement from me before I could see the doctor. It was like being victimized again.''

Dishman is taking her story to the government and the media, and she isn't the only one speaking out. Cruise lines are facing unwanted scrutiny, and the harsh light of reality isn't pretty. Three people have fallen overboard from cruise ships in the past two weeks.

On Tuesday, Dishman and other cruise ship victims testified before the House subcommittee on maritime transportation. The panel is considering legislation requiring cruise ships that dock in the United States to immediately notify local law enforcement officials of any crimes that occurred aboard the ship or any instances of passengers going overboard.

Dishman and others testifying before the panel described the boozy onboard culture and an industry that would prefer to keep any problems, from sexual assaults to passengers going overboard, as quiet as possible.

Ships inside U.S. territorial waters -- within 12 miles of shore -- are required to follow U.S. law when it comes to reporting crimes. But enforcement gets murky when ships are in international waters. It's particularly a problem for cruise lines, whose ships typically are registered under the flags of Panama, Liberia or the Bahamas. Although required to report a crime, a ship may not always do so.

"Sometimes it is (reported) and sometimes it isn't,'' said Sacramento Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui, who took up Dishman's case and requested the hearing. "There are so many loopholes. How do you enforce it?''

The cruise lines insist they follow the letter of the law.

"Our member lines report all violations promptly and treat them seriously,'' said Christine Fischer, director of communications for Cruise Lines International Association.

Cruise ship regulation and oversight is a hot topic in Washington. In the wake of the mysterious disappearance of George Smith, who vanished from a Royal Caribbean ship in July 2005 (the case was the subject of an extensive "Vanity Fair'' profile and several television news magazine investigations), Rep. Chris Shays, a Connecticut Republican who represents Smith's district, has become a vocal critic of the cruise lines.

"I don't trust the statistics the cruise lines are giving us,'' Shays said bluntly at this week's hearing.

Even the stats they do provide are unsettling.

Maritime attorney Jim Walker, who specializes in cases like Dishman's, says Royal Caribbean reported 66 cases of sexual assault between 2003 and 2005. All cruise lines report a total of 28 people missing and presumably lost at sea in the same period.

"Sixty-six assaults in three years? Compare that to any other vacation destination," Walker said. "Can you imagine if we had that at Disneyland? We'd be dumbfounded.''

The issue isn't just that crimes take place, but that cruise lines are not reporting them or cooperating with the FBI and Coast Guard. Dishman was told that the FBI would investigate her assault, but nearly as soon as the ship docked a U.S. attorney in Los Angeles told her she should forget a criminal case against the security guard and pursue a civil judgment against the company.

"Royal Caribbean has never had an FBI investigation that has led to a conviction'' in more than 40 years, Walker said.

It appears Royal Caribbean did not make it easy for Dishman to seek justice. The security guard was fired and sent back to Trinidad and Tobago. Dishman never got a chance to confront him in court. Matsui says that until her office got involved, the cruise line wouldn't release the results of Dishman's lab tests.

"Someone like Laurie should not have to contact her congressman to get her own medical evidence,'' Matsui says.

I tried to reach Royal Caribbean spokesman Michael Sheehan through the cruise line's 24-hour messaging service, but although I was told the message was sent to him, he did not return my call.

During last week's hearings, according to the Associated Press, Gary Bald, senior vice president of global security for Royal Caribbean, acknowledged problems in the company's handling of Dishman's case and said it has taken steps to improve security, support victims and secure crime scenes.

And he offered what is probably as close to an apology as Dishman is likely to receive.

"It was our intention and desire to assist her in every way we could,'' Bald said. "I feel we accomplished that in some respects, but in others I feel we came up short.''

Matsui said it is not her goal to ruin the cruise companies, "but we need some recourse and accountability."

The cruise lines sell their experience as a chance to cut loose, and many passengers do. Almost everyone agrees that there is a lot of drinking on board, a behavior that some think the crews tacitly encourage.

"If you were in a bar you would never do that,'' says Matsui. "If you were driving, the bar would be responsible. But (on board) someone is encouraging this activity.''

Of course, vacationers have imbibed too much on cruises for eons. But if the ships are going to sell a floating party, passengers have the right to expect they will be safe.

At this week's hearing, lawmakers discussed requiring that ships have independent security forces on board, peepholes in cabin doors so passengers can see who is outside, and penalties when incidents are not reported quickly.

Dishman found the hearing empowering. She broke down in tears reliving her experience, as did some of those listening.

"Until now,'' she told the congressmen, "I didn't feel like anyone was listening.''

"We are not just listening,'' said committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "We hear you.''

Now it's the cruise industry's turn to do some listening.

C.W. Nevius' column appears regularly. His blog, C.W. Nevius.blog, can be found at SFGate.com. E-mail him at cwnevius@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

[msmarple]

More on cruise ship safety.

http://tinyurl.com/yv2gt5

Your Risk of Being Sexually Assaulted is Much Higher on a Cruise Ship Than in the Average American City

SAMMAMISH, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--That’s the message that Ross Klein, professor at a Canadian university, brought to Congress last week. “One has a 50% greater chance of sexual assault on a Royal Caribbean International ship as compared to the US generally,” Klein told a House of Representatives subcommittee on March 27. He explained that the figures for Royal Caribbean are comparable to those for the industry as a whole and were used for the sake of clarity.

Klein, professor of social work at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, has written numerous books, articles, and reports on the cruise industry and maintains two blogs concerned with the industry.

Dr. James Fox, hired by the cruise lines to develop crime rates for March 7, 2006 Congressional Hearings, had asserted that the rate of sexual assault on cruise ships is 17.6 per 100,000. Dr. Klein’s testimony, however, indicated that on the most conservative basis, the actual crime rate is almost three times greater, 48.065 per 100,000. As a result of his testimony, the reliability of any judgments based on those industry figures must be called into question.

A summary of his findings are shown in the following chart:

Rate of Sex Related Shipboard Incidents

(Based upon data released as a result of a Court Order

and published in the LA Times on January 20, 2007)

Annual rate of all sex-related shipboard incidents (per 100,000): 161.996
Annual rate of sexual assaults (per 100,000): 48.065
US rate for sexual assaults (per 100,000): 32.200
“The numbers indicate that the cruise industry has a problem and they appear either unwilling or unable to deal with it,” Klein added. His testimony gave further evidence to support the belief of ICV that cruise ship passengers are ill-served, sometimes fatally so, by the current security efforts of cruise lines.

Kendall Carver, President of ICV, indicated, “The testimony of Professor Klein is a valuable addition to the growing store of data that point to major problems in the cruise industry. Through advertising, the industry has created the sense that cruise ships offer a carefree, no-risk vacation. Far too many people have learned at their own cost that this is untrue.” ICV exists to promote the safety of passengers and crew and to prevent more victims.

The written testimony of Dr. Klein and of other witnesses from the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing (entitled “Crimes Against Americans on Cruise Ships”) is posted on the Committee’s website: http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=112

For more information about the International Cruise Victims Association, please visit www.internationalcruisevictims.org or write to info@internationalcruisevictims.org, phone 602-852-5896, fax 206-374-2944.

Contacts
International Cruise Victims Association
Kendall Carver, 602-852-5896
info@internationalcruisevictims.org
www.internationalcruisevictims.org

[msmarple]

Yo Carpe - I have Carpe Noctem-ed and sent a comment to this article, which you brought to our attention this morning.

On second thought - that should be Carped Noctem ...  

[carpe noctem]

Jobie - I don't think it's Joran's work, his English really isn't that good.  Just shows you the kind of people that have chosen to support the VDS.

Agreed, agreed...

Joran is ABSOLUTELY ILLITERATE, and I've read his stolen schlock

to prove just that. Sultan cut loose a few more pages on the net last night.

I don't know how the VDS are going to survive all this. It is so damaging!!!

I see why they are not saying a word about these things, and living
in a vacuum packed world. When people read this crap, there will
be a huge public out cry to evict the Van der sloots from that awful
island.

They have brought so much shame to so many!!!

More and more info trickles out each day about what a murderer
Joran really is.

>>>REDRUM
-"The Shining"

...and the people that stuck by him, even in the worst of storms...

sheesh!

THEY ARE NOW FINDING OUT, THAT THE "SPORTER" has basically
spit on them, lied in their faces, and is now telling jokes about it
to his comrades...

He thinks it is funny. HE IS EVIL

>>> It is you, that I primarily DO NOT $h%t.   -j4n

[Leslie]

Diario
http://www.diarioaruba.com/
Amigoe
http://www.amigoe.com/english/
BonDia
http://www.cspnv.com/
Solo di Pueblo
http://www.solodipueblo.com/
Aruba Today
http://www.arubatoday.com/
Translator:
http://papiamentu.donamaro.nl

[yapperz1]

Morning Monkeys

Carpe where did Sultan "cut loose" a few more pages? I am sure it has disappeared by now.
Keep up the good work Carpe. I love the pics!!!!

[msmarple]

OMG! No wonder Diario has been looking/acting different these last couple of days ...

http://www.amigoe.com/english/

Diario turns to Queen  

ORANJESTAD – In an open letter, staff and management of the morning paper Diario have asked the Queen’s attention for the commercial boycott called by the MEP and her leader, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber.  

MEP demanded the owner and also director and chief editor Jossy Mansur to publicly apologize to MEP and premier Oduber for all the articles he has published with the intention to damage the reputation of the government and MEP.  Mansur has till last Monday to do this, otherwise, the MEP will announce a boycott against Diario.  

Since Mansur ignored MEP’s ultimatum, the party decided on a total boycott of the newspaper.  No information must be given to Diario.  MEP-member had to cancel their subscription as per immediate..  They are also not allowed to buy the paper separately.  They cannot place ads in the Diario.

That’s the reason for Diario’s letter to the Queen.  He expressed his concern in this letter and asks the Queen to ‘safeguard our constitutional rights’.

[msmarple]

There is no today's edition of Diario ... (04/06/2007)

klaas- Front page?

[Frijole]

Morning Monkeys

Carpe where did Sultan "cut loose" a few more pages? I am sure it has disappeared by now.
Keep up the good work Carpe. I love the pics!!!!

Me too!  Carpe, your morning photos always give me a chuckle as I sip on coffee getting ready for work.  

Howdy to Yaps and the rest of the monkeys... yippee it is Friday!!!!  Last week it was 80, today the high will be 36... what is wrong with this picture...???  But did I mention today is Friday? ha.  

Hugs to all!

[Artcolley]

OMG! No wonder Diario has been looking/acting different these last couple of days ...

http://www.amigoe.com/english/

Diario turns to Queen  

ORANJESTAD – In an open letter, staff and management of the morning paper Diario have asked the Queen’s attention for the commercial boycott called by the MEP and her leader, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber.  

MEP demanded the owner and also director and chief editor Jossy Mansur to publicly apologize to MEP and premier Oduber for all the articles he has published with the intention to damage the reputation of the government and MEP.  Mansur has till last Monday to do this, otherwise, the MEP will announce a boycott against Diario.  

Since Mansur ignored MEP’s ultimatum, the party decided on a total boycott of the newspaper.  No information must be given to Diario.  MEP-member had to cancel their subscription as per immediate..  They are also not allowed to buy the paper separately.  They cannot place ads in the Diario.

That’s the reason for Diario’s letter to the Queen.  He expressed his concern in this letter and asks the Queen to ‘safeguard our constitutional rights’.

But, but, but....I didn't think Arubans BELIEVED in boycotts???????

My my..too bad Diario doesn't print in English...I am sure there would be many US subscribers!  
Wouldn't THAT frost the ARubans Potatos???? Roflmao!

[Artcolley]

Morning Monkeys

Carpe where did Sultan "cut loose" a few more pages? I am sure it has disappeared by now.
Keep up the good work Carpe. I love the pics!!!!

Me too!  Carpe, your morning photos always give me a chuckle as I sip on coffee getting ready for work.  

Howdy to Yaps and the rest of the monkeys... yippee it is Friday!!!!  Last week it was 80, today the high will be 36... what is wrong with this picture...???  But did I mention today is Friday? ha.  

Hugs to all!

And we have a foot of snow on the ground! We had about another inch overnight, too.
Grrrrrrr