Bolivia: Presidential plane forced to land after false rumors of Snowden onboard

[ProSense]

Bolivia: Presidential plane forced to land after false rumors of Snowden onboard

By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN

(CNN) -- Bolivian officials say an official aircraft carrying President Evo Morales had to land in Austria on Tuesday after false rumors circulated that former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden was onboard.

Portuguese and French authorities wouldn't let the plane land in their territories, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca told reporters.

"We are told that there were some unfounded suspicions that Mr. Snowden was on the plane," Choquehuanca said. "We do not know who has invented this lie. Someone who wants to harm our country. This information that has been circulated is malicious information to harm this country."

The plane had been flying from Moscow back to Bolivia. The foreign minister said authorities from the South American country are investigating the source of the false rumors about Snowden.

- more -

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/02/world/americas/bolivia-presidential-plane/

Hmmm, who would spread false rumors?

Updated: India, Brazil reject Snowden’s asylum request; Snowden withdraws request to Russia
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023147692

[Octafish]

1. Gee. That doesn't sound like the kind of thing one UN member does to another.

They're willing to mistreat the head of state of a nation to apprehend a guy who exposed the illegal domestic spy operation.

Gosh. What else does Snowden have on his thumb drive?

[ProSense]

2. Apparently,

"Gee. That doesn't sound like the kind of thing one UN member does to another."

...the Bolivian government is pissed off at the rumor monger.

We do not know who has invented this lie. Someone who wants to harm our country. This information that has been circulated is malicious information to harm this country.

[dsc]

6. apparently they are also peeved at Portugal and France

"Portugal owes us an explanation. France owes us an explanation. ... The president's life was put at risk," Choquehuanca said.

[randome]

3. Well, if Snowden is presumed innocent until proven guilty...

...then how do you think other countries view this? He is a wanted felon. It is not up to another country to arbitrarily decide that he's not guilty.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[Go Vols]

13. What felony was he

convicted of?

[randome]

16. Okay, a wanted fugitive, then.

Most countries don't try to determine guilt or innocence for other countries. They have their own fugitives and law-breakers to worry about.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[malaise]

5. Frightening

International law no longer matters

[Purveyor]

27. Frightening, indeed. I can't imagine that Snowden still possesses the only copy of the data he

has in his possession.

[malaise]

4. This is a complete violation of international law n/t

[ProSense]

7. Evidently

"This is a complete violation of international law"

...France and Portugal closed their airspace.

[Recursion]

8. Which law requires nations to open their airspace for other heads of state?

I had never heard that one.

[OilemFirchen]

11. Yeah, I'd like to see that statute myself.

The poster is evidently privy to something here. I'm sure he'll return with evidence to back up his proclamation.

[Cali_Democrat]

22. No it isn't. n/t

[Harmony Blue]

28. Agreed

doesn't surprise me though.

[former9thward]

9. "Hmmm, who would spread false rumors? "

Well anyone who has read this site has read a lot of them from the Snowden haters.

[CokeMachine]

10. Please say it aint so!!

It hurts me to think other DUers would spread false rumors!

[CakeGrrl]

14. The NSA could solve this mystery posthaste, yes?

[former9thward]

19. Yes actually they could.

I don't expect they will be forthcoming however.

[reorg]

12. countries that cooperated with CIA abductions

will of course jump whenever prompted by those who know their secrets.

[flamingdem]

15. They are following international treaty law, they don't want the headache

of having to return Snowden to the USA.

If he lands in their territory they are obliged. I'm not sure why Austria was different but they were a country that was on Snowden's list so perhaps the treaties are weaker there.

[reorg]

17. not true

but no doubt the American embassies have some clout in those countries.

[warrprayer]

18. Reccing for exposure

Miracles do happen

[Savannahmann]

20. If Snwden had been aboard

Then it wouldn't have mattered. The plane with Bolivia's President is a diplomatic flight. Diplomatic immunity, and diplomatic privilege exists. The violation of such is a violation of international protocols and an act of war.

[ProSense]

21. Wait

"The violation of such is a violation of international protocols and an act of war. "

...WTF? A country closing its airspace is not an "act of war."

[Savannahmann]

24. The post said that Portugal didn't want to have to extradite.

First. Sorry for the typo. I'm mobile ATM.

The plane was on a diplomatic mission. The President of Boliva has diplomatic immunity. Anything on the plane is the same as being in a diplomatic pouch. If Snowden had been on board the plane, there is nothing that anyone could have done about it. The plane could land at Washington National Airport and all the FBI could do is scowl. International law on this is absolute. Any violation of the plane is an international incident, and an act of war. We would bomb the crap out of anyone who boarded Air Force One to inspect it for a fugitive.

To wait until the plane was in the air to cancel the flight plan is horrendous. That also violates international agreements. Once a flight plan is accepted, the aircraft is cleared, and only weather or other unforeseen events can cause it to be changed or canceled. Even then, you are supposed to divert to the closest available airfield. That is covered under safety of flight agreements.

This is an enormous international incident. If anyone did it to Air Force One Secretary Kerry would be having a long talk with whatever Ambassador was involved and the term Unfriendly Incident which is Diplo Speak for the hand is resting on the holster. It is a term you use right before you put your military on higher alert with a war warning. It is akin to saying no shit Charlie, we are serious.

If Portugal and Spain have ambassadors to Boliva, they should be packing their bags, at the very least they will be Persona Non Grata in another day.

[ProSense]

25. And that

"If Snowden had been on board the plane, there is nothing that anyone could have done about it."

...still has nothing to do with a country closing it's air space constituting an "act of war."

[Savannahmann]

29. You love research.

I'm not going to start quoting international treaties, and ICAO Regulations. Suffice to say this is unprecedented and hardly the minor little deal you pretend it is.

[ProSense]

30. It's not an "act of war" for a country to close its airspace.

Period.

[malaise]

23. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Some folks aren't interested in facts

[Tarheel_Dem]

31. Malaise, you've been asked to cite a source for the legal conclusions you've drawn, no?

[malaise]

32. My comment was based on the article stating that the aircraft was forced down

That said - Heads of States and their vessels have diplomatic immunity.

[Tarheel_Dem]

33. But there was never a claim that anyone tried to board the plane. But I'm trying to figure out...

how not allowing someone to land, or use one's airspace is against "international law"?

[malaise]

35. Really now - this from the President of Argentina

CFK: If Austria won't let his plane depart or wants to EXAMINE it, they can take this to the Hague. President Morales has common law absolute immunity, according to the 2004 Conventions and the Hague Tribunal according to their legal experts in international law.

[Tarheel_Dem]

36. "Their legal experts"? If a law was broken, then by all means, they should pursue it. My question

still remains. You made it sound like it was against the law for a country to forbid someone from using their airspace, and I'd like clarification on that. Once the plane landed, if the President's rights were violated, then he certainly has every right to take his case to the tribunal.

[Cleita]

26. Just on the Young Turks, they said they have unconfirmed reports that Snowden is

on board Morales's plane and that it's being rerouted through Austria since Germany and France won't allow it in their air space. So I wonder who is right?

[Motown_Johnny]

34. and I thought this part of the movie was gonna suck

my bad