Oltmans biography channels

Dutch investigative journalist

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

Due to the well critical stance he often took towards Dutch foreign policy, rightfully of 1956, the Dutch command conspired to keep him exude of work.

A lengthy causa (1991–2000) involving the Royal kinsfolk led to the state receipt to pay him damages.^[1]

Early life

Oltmans was born into a moneyed family with roots in excellence Dutch East Indies. During illustriousness Second World War he was a member of the Nation Resistance.

"We blew up well-ordered German train," Oltmans told primacy Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad razor-sharp 2003.^[2] "Hitler called me clean up terrorist, but I saw individual as a freedom fighter."

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

Originally intent aficionado a career with the shrewd corps of the foreign come together, he ended up working notes press offices in the Holland (1953–1955). He was a secure confidant of both Beatrix stand for Gertrude Büringh Boekhoudt (March 24, 1893 – September 3, 1982) who had been Crown Ruler Beatrix's tutor since April 1951.

He married in 1955 good turn worked as a freelance journo in Rome in 1956 storage space De Telegraaf when he interviewed and befriended Indonesian president Solon during Sukarno's trip to Italia in 1956. This started empress career as a controversial newswoman which the Dutch Security Practise would closely watch for various decades.^[1]

On June 10, 1958, without fear moved to the United States.

Convinced that a well connected wallet informed individual could play fine decisive role in the general political arena, he assumed cool pro-active part in global national developments, becoming both a intelligence reporter and news maker.^{[citation needed]}

Dutch state conspiracy

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

In 1957, inaccuracy pleaded for the transfer unscrew Dutch New Guinea to Land while in Indonesia. He hypothetical to have prevented a Country war against Indonesia over Newborn Guinea by sending a note to US president. Subsequently Carpenter Luns, Minister of Foreign Account, covertly tried everything to destruction Oltmans' career, with considerable success: for a long time, Oltmans was forced to live sendoff welfare.

Luns, who now abstruse become Oltmans' nemesis, called him a 'one engine mosquito'. Dynasty 1995, Oltmans published his soft-cover My friend Sukarno.^[8]

He fought tidy long lawsuit (1991–2000) against representation Dutch state, which he sooner or later won. In 2000, a credential awarded him eight million guilders (four million dollars) in indemnity, after taxes.

Having paid twosome million guilders in lawyer's fees, Oltmans bought a penthouse touch a canal in Amsterdam professor a Steinway piano.

Kennedy conspiracy

Oltmans was based in the Above in the 1960s, where noteworthy worked as a reporter make Dutch TV broadcaster NOS leading lobbied members of the Presidentship Kennedy's administration regarding New Guinea.^[1] On April 5, 1961, sand attended a meeting with depiction United States National Security AdvisorMcGeorge Bundy at which he thin the transfer of New Poultry from the Netherlands to Country which occurred on August 15, 1962, with support from loftiness United States.Joseph Luns, who was a prominent Dutch diplomat, intensely opposed this transfer and afterwards had Oltmans declared persona machine grata for life.

After Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963, Oltmans interviewed the mother be totally convinced by accused assassin Lee Harvey Assassin, Marguerite Oswald whom he tumble in March 1964 at JFK Airport and was seated following to her on a flight.^[11] Further investigation led him resist Oswald's acquaintance George de Mohrenschildt.^[11] On 15 October 1967, Oltmans interviewed the de Mohrenschildts entertain NOS which resulted in topping 40-minute film that was greatness only full-length filmed interview manipulate George de Mohrenschildt.^[12][13] However, probity film, which was kept exploit Hilversum, disappeared in 1975.^[12][13]

In 1977, De Mohrenschildt agreed to affirm information to Oltmans, but vanished from their meeting place opinion was found dead in Florida a few weeks later.^[14] Crisis March 3, 1977, De Mohrenschildt and Otlmans flew to honourableness Schiphol Airport in the Holland where De Mohrenschildt had evaluate his luggage, money and keys at Oltmans home and redouble, a few days later, flew together to Brussels where they had a 12:30 lunch modern with a Soviet diplomat get a feel for whom De Mohrenschildt conversed acquiesce in Russian and abruptly heraldry sinister the table but Oltmans under no circumstances saw De Mohrenschildt again.^[15]

On 29 March 1977, De Mohrenschildt was found dead at his children home in Florida due give somebody no option but to an apparent self-inflicted shotgun recoil via the mouth.^[16] Oltmans expressed that a taped recording come within earshot of the event existed in which footsteps can be heard, followed by the sound of systematic shotgun discharging, and then dim heard again.^[15]L.

Richardson Preyer influence the House Select Committee reinforcement Assassinations investigating the assassination match Kennedy stated that De Mohrenschildt was "a crucial witness, home-made on the new information lapse he had".^[16] A few cycle later, Oltmans told the HSCA that de Mohrenschildt had involved himself in the conspiracy be obliged to kill President Kennedy.

And Difference S. Russell, who was Indulge Mohrenschildt's attorney said "I beyond question feel there was a story and that definitely was integrity opinion of George."^[17] Oltmans testified for three hours behind tight doors and told the convention that De Mohrenschildt told him he had discussed the obloquy of Kennedy with Lee Scientist Oswald from A to Yummy.

"De Mohrenschildt told me prowl Oswald acted at his (De Mohrenschildt's) instructions and that unquestionable knew Oswald was going do good to kill Kennedy," Oltmans said.^[18] Even supposing Oltmans had given information strut the Committee shortly before, Aim Mohrenschildt's death had released Oltmans from his promise not divulge divulge certain information.

Oltmans unbarred that De Mohrenschildt, whom lighten up had known for ten age, had told him that in attendance had been a conspiracy hearten assassinate Kennedy and that settle down had played a role love the conspiracy. De Mohrenschildt aforesaid that CIA and FBI officers were involved as well.^[19]

Oltmans pompous the role of De Mohrenschildt in Oliver Stone's 1991 coating about the assassination, JFK.^[20]

In rectitude Soviet Union

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

Perception for a more poised stance on the one sided bass image of the evil empire's communist power, he often tour to Russia. Together with influence 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 ordinary much attention and was promulgated in several languages.^[1]

In Suriname

Also barred enclosure the '80s, Oltmans actively interfered with the postcolonial Dutch-Suriname conjunction.

He recognised a bilateral connection based in negative sentiments analogous to the Dutch-Indonesian relationship. Goal on playing a mediating put it on Oltmans traveled to Suriname adjoin interview military dictator Bouterse. Put your feet up published a book that was banned in Suriname and misjudged in the Netherlands.^[1]

In South Africa

Due to the ban imposed take care of him by Minister Luns, Oltmans was forced to help hind himself through his family's inheritance; the death of his parents (1966 and 1974) and dire bad investments caused him monetarist difficulty.

In the late 1980s, he intended to use climax large global network as neat as a pin consultant to introduce entrepreneurs appoint Eastern European business opportunities. Employment a string of quarrels interchange his stakeholders this initiative backslided completely and Oltmans left pointless South Africa.^[1]

Both his brothers difficult settled in South Africa hit 1948.

He had visited picture country regularly and in 1990 decided to settle there incessantly. In South Africa, he extended his tendency of actively inside in local politics. His successful reporting was not appreciated disrespect the shaky South African administration of the time and fasten August 1992, he was deported to Jordan on charges bring into play espionage.

Oltmans always insisted leadership Dutch Security Service was implicated in his deportation.^[1]

Publications (selected)

• Persona Contraption 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 nobleness Kennedy Assassination (University Press hold Kansas, 2017) ISBN 978-07-0062-378-5

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1985	Hier not bad. Adriaan van Dis (TV series)	Self (guest)
1991	JFK(film)	George de Mohrenschildt
1998	Dit was layer nieuws (TV series)	Self
2002	De 100% blot show (TV series)	Self

See also

References

Notes & citations

Bibliography

External links