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A9
LOCAL Thursday 31 december 2020

Where’s the protection for journalists and press freedom on the Dutch Caribbean islands?

Continued from Page 8 attach conditions to the fi- consequences of my illegal She also wants an apol- safer doing my job if I knew
nancial aid provided to the arrest”, says Sharina Hen- ogy from the government. that other professionals
However he never once islands which would guar- riquez, a journalist for Ca- “My arrest was not a stand- and defenders of democ-
mentions the incidents that antee the freedom of the ribbean Network. “I want alone incident. Before that racy had my back. Other
happened this year within press. my records to be scrubbed Minister Dangui Oduber journalists, but also Parlia-
the rest of the Kingdom. A few of the assumptions from the police database had already tried to pub- mentarians, lawyers, and
State secretary Raymond that Knops made when an- and a public apology from licly discredit me. His co- maybe a university that
Knops, tasked with Kingdom swering the Parliamentary the police and the Office ordinator Judelca Briceño teaches law. But only two
Relations who answered questions were also incor- for the Public Prosecutor. once interrupted an inter- other media outlets, 24ora
written questions on behalf rect. When asked about The public prosecutor in- view I was carrying out with and Radio Bo Guia 88.9 FM,
minister Slob (Media) of this, his spokesperson re- sinuated that the assistant a business owner. The gov- and lawyer Desiree Croes
Dutch MP’s about the cur- ferred back to Minister Slob, prosecutor didn’t know ernment used public funds offered public support after
tailment of press freedom who is tasked with those that I was a journalist. While to smear my name. That’s my arrest.
on Aruba and Curaçao, topics. But Minister Slob has the police recently con- the kind of actions that in- Luckily Dutch MP’s filled
didn’t want to speak about not replied as of yet. firmed once again that the dependent journalists in the gap. But obviously they
the different incidents on assistant prosecutor was Venezuela have to deal can’t change the behav-
the islands. Additionally he Lies about my arrest’ immediately made aware with, to give an example. ior of ministers here. I was
didn’t find it necessary to “I am still dealing with the of this fact. “Look, I would feel a lot also happy with the atten-
tion Reporters Without Bor-
ders paid to my situation.
They were appalled by the
fact that in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, which
has an outstanding repu-
tation when it comes to
the freedom of the press, a
journalist was arrested. Un-
fortunately that has been
reported.
Corona made it explic-
itly clear to me the value
that Aruba associates with
democracy.”q