Argentine protesters condemn Morales’s detention in Europe

Anti-imperialist activists in Argentina have denounced several European countries for blocking their airspace to Bolivian President Evo Morales and his ensuing detention, Press TV reports.

Anti-colonialist demonstrators rallied in the Argentine capital city of Buenos Aires to condemn France, Spain, Portugal and Italy for refusing to allow Morales’ plane, which was flying from Moscow back to Bolivia on Tuesday, to cross their airspace on suspicion of carrying US surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden onboard.

“This shows how the empire continues to sharpen its claws, trying to stop this process of change in Latin America that says no more colonialism. That is why it is so important to be here. Their attack against Evo Morales is an attack against Argentina. We will be ready in all the ways Morales and the Bolivian people need,” said Lito Borello, ex-coordinator of Urban Policies.

Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner publicly criticized the action against Bolivia’s head of state, saying the move was against all nations in South America.

Hugo Yasky, a member of the Argentina Workers’ Central Union, praised Kirchner, saying, “President Kirchner vindicated with courage our anti-colonialism struggle, linking what happened to Evo Morales with the Malvinas conflict. She called for unity among the Latin American people. She talked about the need to reinforce our alliance at all levels so that the sovereignty of our people is respected.”

Russian authorities also said that European authorities took actions that “can hardly be viewed as a friendly step toward Bolivia or Russia.”

Meanwhile, the Bolivian president urged European nations to “free themselves from the US empire” as he arrived home late Wednesday.

On June 3, Bolivia’s Ambassador to the UN Sacha Llorenti told reporters in Geneva that the decisions of the European countries on blocking Morales’ plane violated the “international law.”

He added that the diversion was an “act of aggression” against his country, and was equal to “kidnapping” the Bolivian president.