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Evo Morales Plane Incident: S. American Heads of State Demand Apology

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Bolivia’s President Evo Morales‘ recent trip from Europe back home has turned into an international incident, with regional heads of state demanding an apology from European nations involved.

On suspicion that he was offering NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden free passage on his presidential airplane from Russia to South America, Morales’ plane was re-routed and forced to land in Austria, where it was detained and searched for several hours.

“President Evo Morales’ plane was forced to land in Austria after France and Portugal refused air permits, apparently because they suspected it was carrying Edward Snowden, the former U.S. spy agency contractor wanted by Washington on espionage charges.” – Al Jazeera

“Austrian authorities searched Morales’ plane for Snowden, but found no stowaways on board, Austria’s deputy chancellor has said. ‘An act of aggression and violation of international law’ is how Bolivia‘s U.N. envoy described Austria’s decision to search the Bolivian presidential jet for NSA leaker.

“Morales finally flew out of Vienna after being detained for over 12 hours in the airport.” – RT

Now government heads from several South American nations are demanding apologies from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain for blocking of air space for Morales’ plane. Many said the United States was behind the whole incident.

“A minster of one of those European governments told me personally that it was the CIA who gave the order to the aeronautical authorities, the one who gave the alert that Snowden was on the plane,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at a political gathering in Bolivia. “The CIA is more powerful than governments.”

“Morales made his announcement as the leaders of Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and Suriname joined him in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba on Thursday for a special meeting to address the diplomatic row.

In a joint statement read after the summit, the presidents demanded an explanation and an apology from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. They also said they would back Bolivia’s official complaint with the U.N. Human Rights Commission.” –usatoday.com

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