UPDATE 7/7 12:40 PM EST:
Well we can now add a third country two possible next homes for Edward Snowden.
Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Saturday that he would also grant asylum, if requested, to the “whistleblower.”
This makes for the third asylum option for Snowden, who is said to be holed up in the transit area of a Moscow international airport.
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NSA leaker, Edward Snowden’s search for a safe haven has taken a turn!
Both the presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela have offered to harbor the man. There are no signs that either county is making efforts to move Snowden to their country, however, Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua made asylum offers during separate speeches in their perspective home countries.
Yahoo News reports:
“The offers came one day after leftist South American leaders gathered to denounce the rerouting of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ place over Europe amid reports that the fugative American was aboard. Snowden, who is being sought by the United States, has asked for asylum in more than 20 countries including Nicaragua and Venezuela. Many other nations have turned him down.”
Regarding his offer of asylum, Nicolas Maduro said:
“As head of state, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela decided to offer humanitarian asylum to the young American Edward Snowden so that he can live in the homeland”
Maduro and Ortega’s offers are not without criticism. According to Yahoo News:
“…His critics said Maduro’s decision is nothing but an attempt to veil the current undignified conditions of Venezuela, including one of the world’s highest inflation rates and a shortage of basic products such as toilet paper.”
Ortega has offered asylum, “if circumstances allow it,” but did not say what those circumstances would be.
“We have the sovereign right to help a person who felt remorse after finding out how the United States was using technology to spy on the whole world, and especially it’s European allies,” Ortega said.
It remains unclear where Snowden will decide to go if he should be granted asylum.
SOURCE: Yahoo! News
