Bolivia Outraged After President Evo Morales Plane Diverted
Bolivia is outraged after President Evo Morales’ plane was denied landing in several European countries because of suspicions that NSA leaker Edward Snowden was on board.
The presidential jet was ultimately forced to land in Austria, a move which put the Bolivian president’s life at risk, according to one of the country’s senior politicians.
The Obama administration is seeking to bring Snowden, who is accused of leaking top secret sensitive documents to the media, back to the US to face espionage charges.
Speaking in Vienna, while waiting to leave the country, Morales commented about the incident saying that “international rules” should have been respected and that there was a “legal issue” to be examined.
Evo Morales said other South American leaders had expressed concern over the events.
Bolivian officials condemn the incident and accuse France and Portugal of preventing the plane’s passage from Russia to Bolivia.
Vice-president Alvaro Garcia Linera says the plane was “kidnapped by imperialism.”
In the meantime, protesters gathered outside the French embassy in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, to voice their discontent over the European country’s refusal to allow passage of the president’s plane back to his country.
Bolivian Senate President Gabriela Montano, who was present at the protest, said Morales being refused permission to cross France’s airspace “dealt a blow to Bolivia’s sovereignty and the sovereignty of the Bolivian people”.
French and Portuguese officials have not clarified whether the plane was denied passage over their country’s airspace.
Snowden is reportedly in the transit area of Moscow’s airport seeking asylum. His bid has been put in jeopardy after Russian President, Vladimir Putin, back tracked his initial support for the former NSA contractor.
Putin said that Snwoden could stay in Russia under the condition that he stops harming the US and its allies by leaking classified information to the media.
Snowden has reportedly withdrawn his request for asylum in Russia.
Do you think it was wrong to force President Evo Morales’ plane to land in Austria?
[Image via Shutterstock]
