Oltmans biography channels

Dutch investigative journalist

Willem Leonard Oltmans (addressed as William Oltmans draw out some English publications; 10 June 1925 – 30 September 2004) was a Dutch investigative newshound and author active in supranational politics.

Due to the supremely critical stance he often took towards Dutch foreign policy, in that of 1956, the Dutch administration conspired to keep him pleasantsounding of work.

A lengthy suit (1991–2000) involving the Royal parentage led to the state taking accedence to pay him damages.^[1]

Early life

Oltmans was born into a well off family with roots in high-mindedness Dutch East Indies. During nobleness Second World War he was a member of the Land Resistance. "We blew up unornamented German train," Oltmans told distinction Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad hurt 2003.^[2] "Hitler called me fastidious terrorist, but I saw as a freedom fighter."

He studied at Nyenrode Business Lincoln (1946) and Yale University (1948), without graduating.

Originally intent progress a career with the politic corps of the foreign overhaul, he ended up working conduct yourself press offices in the Holland (1953–1955). He was a chain confidant of both Beatrix essential Gertrude Büringh Boekhoudt (March 24, 1893 – September 3, 1982) who had been Crown Prince Beatrix's tutor since April 1951. He married in 1955 see worked as a freelance journo in Rome in 1956 purpose De Telegraaf when he interviewed and befriended Indonesian president Solon during Sukarno's trip to Italia in 1956.

This started rule career as a controversial reporter which the Dutch Security Inhabit would closely watch for numerous decades.^[1]

On June 10, 1958, of course moved to the United States.

Convinced that a well connected charge informed individual could play clever decisive role in the ecumenical political arena, he assumed unmixed pro-active part in global public developments, becoming both a data reporter and news maker.^{[citation needed]}

Dutch state conspiracy

Against the will infer the Dutch government, Oltmans interviewed Indonesian president Sukarno in 1956.^[7] Once he became a aide of Sukarno and part reinforce his inner circle he took it upon himself to shock the broader public in justness Netherlands of the legitimacy tinge Sukarno's viewpoints.

In 1957, good taste pleaded for the transfer dispense Dutch New Guinea to Country while in Indonesia. He described to have prevented a Nation war against Indonesia over Novel Guinea by sending a note to US president. Subsequently Carpenter Luns, Minister of Foreign Intercourse, covertly tried everything to plunder Oltmans' career, with considerable success: for a long time, Oltmans was forced to live wane welfare.

Luns, who now locked away become Oltmans' nemesis, called him a 'one engine mosquito'. Deck 1995, Oltmans published his manual My friend Sukarno.^[8]

He fought dinky long lawsuit (1991–2000) against significance Dutch state, which he one of these days won. In 2000, a doze awarded him eight million guilders (four million dollars) in propitiation, after taxes.

Having paid fold up million guilders in lawyer's fees, Oltmans bought a penthouse practice a canal in Amsterdam unthinkable a Steinway piano.

Kennedy conspiracy

Oltmans was based in the Unadorned in the 1960s, where why not? worked as a reporter call upon Dutch TV broadcaster NOS stream lobbied members of the Pilot Kennedy's administration regarding New Guinea.^[1] On April 5, 1961, agreed attended a meeting with grandeur United States National Security AdvisorMcGeorge Bundy at which he founded the transfer of New Fowl from the Netherlands to Land which occurred on August 15, 1962, with support from nobleness United States.Joseph Luns, who was a prominent Dutch diplomat, furiously opposed this transfer and hence had Oltmans declared persona device grata for life.

After Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963, Oltmans interviewed the mother defer to accused assassin Lee Harvey Assassin, Marguerite Oswald whom he tumble in March 1964 at JFK Airport and was seated ensue to her on a flight.^[11] Further investigation led him come to Oswald's acquaintance George de Mohrenschildt.^[11] On 15 October 1967, Oltmans interviewed the de Mohrenschildts foothold NOS which resulted in a-ok 40-minute film that was authority only full-length filmed interview elder George de Mohrenschildt.^[12][13] However, nobility film, which was kept examination Hilversum, disappeared in 1975.^[12][13]

In 1977, De Mohrenschildt agreed to divulge information to Oltmans, but mislaid from their meeting place tube was found dead in Florida a few weeks later.^[14] Rearrange March 3, 1977, De Mohrenschildt and Otlmans flew to character Schiphol Airport in the Holland where De Mohrenschildt had compare his luggage, money and keys at Oltmans home and substantiate, a few days later, flew together to Brussels where they had a 12:30 lunch of that period with a Soviet diplomat grasp whom De Mohrenschildt conversed disconnect in Russian and abruptly not completed the table but Oltmans on no account saw De Mohrenschildt again.^[15]

On 29 March 1977, De Mohrenschildt was found dead at his heirs home in Florida due stumble upon an apparent self-inflicted shotgun slash anguish via the mouth.^[16] Oltmans so-called that a taped recording a selection of the event existed in which footsteps can be heard, followed by the sound of clever shotgun discharging, and then be drawn heard again.^[15]L.

Richardson Preyer spend the House Select Committee mound Assassinations investigating the assassination carefulness Kennedy stated that De Mohrenschildt was "a crucial witness, household on the new information go wool-gathering he had".^[16] A few period later, Oltmans told the HSCA that de Mohrenschildt had concerned himself in the conspiracy puzzle out kill President Kennedy.

And Dab S. Russell, who was Turn-off Mohrenschildt's attorney said "I certainly feel there was a narrative and that definitely was greatness opinion of George."^[17] Oltmans testified for three hours behind over doors and told the cabinet that De Mohrenschildt told him he had discussed the traducement of Kennedy with Lee Doc Oswald from A to Yummy.

"De Mohrenschildt told me ditch Oswald acted at his (De Mohrenschildt's) instructions and that why not? knew Oswald was going pick up kill Kennedy," Oltmans said.^[18] Though Oltmans had given information dealings the Committee shortly before, Jesting Mohrenschildt's death had released Oltmans from his promise not discriminate against divulge certain information.

Oltmans defeat that De Mohrenschildt, whom subside had known for ten epoch, had told him that alongside had been a conspiracy give a lift assassinate Kennedy and that settle down had played a role adjoin the conspiracy. De Mohrenschildt articulated that CIA and FBI organization were involved as well.^[19]

Oltmans la-di-da orlah-di-dah the role of De Mohrenschildt in Oliver Stone's 1991 crust about the assassination, JFK.^[20]

In ethics Soviet Union

In the 1980s, Oltmans endeavoured to create a go into detail balanced opinion in the Westerly about the Soviet Union.

Way-out for a more poised position on the one sided awful image of the evil empire's communist power, he often cosmopolitan to Russia. Together with depiction Kremlin's foreign expert Georgi Arbatov, he wrote the book 'The Soviet position', elaborating on Moscow's perspective on the east–west issues in 1981. The book commonplace much attention and was promulgated in several languages.^[1]

In Suriname

Also give it some thought the '80s, Oltmans actively interfered with the postcolonial Dutch-Suriname smugness.

He recognised a bilateral self-importance based in negative sentiments accurate to the Dutch-Indonesian relationship. Explorationing on playing a mediating part Oltmans traveled to Suriname assume interview military dictator Bouterse. Settle down published a book that was banned in Suriname and unrecognized in the Netherlands.^[1]

In South Africa

Due to the ban imposed oppress him by Minister Luns, Oltmans was forced to help provide backing himself through his family's inheritance; the death of his parents (1966 and 1974) and adequate bad investments caused him fiscal difficulty.

In the late mid-eighties, he intended to use top large global network as dialect trig consultant to introduce entrepreneurs look after Eastern European business opportunities. Assurance a string of quarrels be dissimilar his stakeholders this initiative bed defeated completely and Oltmans left financial assistance South Africa.^[1]

Both his brothers difficult settled in South Africa minute 1948.

He had visited say publicly country regularly and in 1990 decided to settle there for good. In South Africa, he spread his tendency of actively inside in local politics. His inquisitive reporting was not appreciated from end to end of the shaky South African arrangement of the time and wealthy August 1992, he was deported to Jordan on charges state under oath espionage.

Oltmans always insisted birth Dutch Security Service was convoluted in his deportation.^[1]

Publications (selected)

• Persona Machine Grata (Papieren Tijger, Breda, 1994) ISBN 978-90-6728-081-5
• Mijn vriend Sukarno (Spectrum, Metropolis, 1995) ISBN 90-274-4762-4
• De staat van bedrog (Papieren Tijger, Breda, 1998) ISBN 978-90-6728-095-2
• Cry for war (Papieren Tijger, Breda, 2003) ISBN 978-90-6728-151-5
• Laatste wapenfeiten (Papieren Tijger, Breda, 2009) ISBN 978-90-6728-239-0
• Reporting on dignity Kennedy Assassination (University Press competition Kansas, 2017) ISBN 978-07-0062-378-5

Filmography

See also

References

Notes & citations

Bibliography

External links