Wednesday, July 06, 2005 ORANJESTAD, Aruba — A latent but growing resentment here became evident for the first time when more than 200 people, some wrapped in Aruban flags, said they were incensed by statements made by the mother of a missing American teen.
Those assembled outside the colonial courthouse in this Caribbean capital Tuesday night said they fear their tiny island nation is falsely being portrayed as not doing enough to find Natalee Holloway , the Alabama girl who vanished May 30 on a graduation trip with her high school class.
Two brothers, Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe (search), 18, who had been held as suspects were released Monday for lack of evidence.
In a brief and tearful statement Tuesday, Beth Holloway Twitty , Natalee's mother, accused Aruba of letting guilty people free.
"Two suspects were released yesterday who were involved in a violent crime against my daughter," she said.
Thanks, Tex. This is not the "piling on" that Beth and Jug need. How very sad.
Yesterday I posted that it was HURTING the investigation for the media to behave in the ignorant, arrogant and condescending way they have.
And I added that vituperation is counterproductive here.
Now I reiterate I have great sympathy for Natalee's distraught parents. And that it's understandable they would make mistakes under this frightful stress. I'm sure I would too.
BUT. It must be said: Mrs. Twitty's statement yesterday was a huge, huge blunder.
There is a furious backlash in Aruba against her now. I just saw, on Fox News, a very decent looking Aruban citizen named John Merriweather. Mr. Merriweather, described as a retired civil servant, was practically shaking in fury over Beth Twitty's statement yesterday -- noting that the Aruban people have shown great hospitality and good will toward the Twittys. And now she has slapped them in the face (Mr. Merriweather did not say exactly that, I'm just paraphrasing.)
Now whatever you may think of the Aruban legal system (and I happen to think they have NOT been irresponsible or ineffective here -- but that's beside the point), many innocent Arubans of good will have been infuriated by Mrs. Twitty's statment.
To those of you who say "Scr*w what the Arubans think," why don't YOU stop and think: How does this help the Twittys find Natalee? Answer: IT DOESN'T. IT HURTS THEM.
If there are any people in Aruba who might have a useful tip that might help solve this case, do you think they'll come forward now? I don't!
It is not my purpose to "pile on" the Twittys. I've been very sympathetic to them and remain so. But for God's sake, they desperately need to reassess their tactics here.
(Again sorry for the hit-and-run post. Again I have to leave and probably won't get back to address any replies. But I do appreciate the information you're posting here, TexKat, and the opportunity to blow off a little steam!)