THE HAGUE - The arrest of Venezuelan Hugo Carvajal on Aruba in 2014 is being used by former Forum for Democracy Member of Parliament Van Haga to discredit PvdA/GroenLinks party leader Frans Timmermans.
Aruba arrested the confidant of the Maduro regime at the request of the United States, suspecting him of drug trafficking. Carvajal, nicknamed El Pollo due to his slender appearance, spent 3 days in an Aruban cell until then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Timmermans instructed the authorities on the island to release him due to his diplomatic immunity.
Since it became known that Timmermans is tasked with leading the PvdA/GroenLinks combination to an electoral victory, he has become the target of right-wing media, with Telegraaf at the forefront. The fact that the online subsidiary GeenStijl.nl has brought up the Carvajal issue prompted Van Haga to pose written questions to Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs:
Are you aware that Frans Timmermans, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, released Carvajal on July 28, 2014, on Aruba, where the drug lord had spent three days in prison?
Are you aware that the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Peter Blanken, Chief Prosecutor of Justice on Aruba, and Aruban examining magistrate Yvonne van Wersch reacted with astonishment and anger at the time? And that Chief Prosecutor Blanken called Minister Timmermans' decision "a novelty" and stated the following: "Let it be clear that these decisions were made by the Netherlands. It is unfortunate that Aruba is being held responsible for this. We do not want to be seen as an unreliable partner by America."?
Do you agree that drug lords and serious criminal activities need to be fought against? If so, how do you interpret Timmermans' lax behavior at the time, and do you share the view that this bodes ill if Timmermans were to come into power? Please provide a detailed answer.
Are you willing to investigate why Timmermans, now a prime ministerial candidate, independently decided to suddenly release Carvajal? Please provide a detailed answer, including whether you will also investigate the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this matter.