Mujica on Snowden and US-Latin America relations [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Mujica on Snowden and US-Latin America relations
07-16-2013 14:44 BJT

Our reporter Daniel Schweimler has had an interview with Uruguay’s president, Jose Mujica, in La Anchorena. In the interview, Mujica talked about US fugitive Edward Snowden, and Bolivian president Evo Morales’ plane row. He also spoke about US-Latin America relations.

Jose Mujica, the president of Uruguay, met us at his rural retreat, La Anchorena, the day after hosting a summit of the regional trade bloc, Mercosur. The dominant theme there -- the American whistle blower, Edward Snowden, and whether a Latin American country should grant him political asylum.

"Political asylum is as important as a religion. It’s one of the fundamental human rights, with all the errors of judgement that can be made. As an institution, humanity must defend political asylum." said Jose Mujica.

Related to the Snowden case was the refusal by several countries in Europe to allow the plane carrying the Bolivian president, Evo Morales, to use their airspace, under suspicion that Snowden was on-board, a response that caused great indignation in South America.

More:
http://english.cntv.cn/program/bizasiaamerica/20130716/103847.shtml