BRASILIA: A Brazilian diplomat revealed yesterday that he helped a Bolivian opposition senator escape to Brazil after 15 months asylum in Brasilia’s embassy in La Paz.
Senator Roger Pinto, an opponent of Bolivian President Evo Morales, made his escape Friday in an embassy car escorted by Brazilian marines, driving 22 hours to the southwestern Brazilian city of Corumba.
“I chose life. I chose to protect a person, a persecuted politician, like (Brazilian) President Dilma (Rousseff) was persecuted,” Eduardo Saboia, the Brazilian charge d’affaires in la Paz, told Globo television on his arrival in Brasilia where he was recalled for consultations.
The diplomat said he took the personal decision to help Pinto escape “because there was an imminent threat to the life and dignity of the senator.”
He said Pinto was suffering from depression and was contemplating suicide.
Pinto, who flew from Corumba to Brasilia on Sunday, had not been granted safe conduct to enter Brazil even though he received political asylum status a year ago.
The Brazilian foreign ministry said Sunday it was investigating how Pinto was able to leave the embassy and would take appropriate measures.
Saboia said the Bolivian dissident “spent 452 days in a cubicle next to my office.”
“There was a constant violation of human rights because there was no prospect for an exit, there was no negotiation and (Pinto) was suffering from depression which was worsening,” the diplomat added.
AFP
