Oh I see, none of their famiy or friends believe them, or know what to believe, so didnt bother supporting them in any way, even if hey were "poor" and had to go out each day to earn a "meagre living"cheers
I gave those two as examples - because they were mentioned in that article.
A different article, written 5 years after her disappearance, states that the locals believe she was either sold or kidnapped. So they don't seem to believe the "official" version, either.
As to why they haven't clubbed together to start a campaign... who knows?
Perhaps they have no idea how to start one or feel that there is no point after the Supreme Court ruling. I haven't noticed any campaigns on other cases, either... perhaps it's not part of the culture to speak openly against the authorities, particularly in a country in which criticism of a public official can find you slapped with criminal defamation charges.
http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1359033&page=1http://www.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dn.pt%2Finicio%2Fportugal%2Finterior.aspx%3Fcontent_id%3D1359033%26page%3D1Extract of the article in Google speak:
Residents of Figueira believe that Joan was sold or kidnapped
by LUSA 11 setembro 2009
Five years after the disappearance of Joana Cipriano, the population of Figueira, where he lived, do not forget the case and since then keeps alive a sense of mistrust of strangers: almost everyone believes that the girl was abducted or sold.
Joan, aged eight, disappeared from that village in the municipality of Portimão Algarve to September 12, 2004, about 20:30, after shopping at a cafe near home at the request of the mother.
Speaking to Lusa, several residents say the disappearance of Joana "awakened" a sense of insecurity in the village, "forcing a constant attention and vigilance."
"I now have more attention, not only to my children but also other children I see on the street," says António Fernando, father of two children aged three and six years.
"I remain ever mindful of all movements of strangers and even acquaintances, especially when approaching children, because you never know who around us," he noted, adding that distrust increases when "outsiders are spotted trying to talk to minors. "
Cristina Campos, mother of an eight year old girl, sharing the same sentiment: "Even the neighbors came to distrust."