Airlines told not to allow whistleblower into the UK
Source: Agencies |
01:41 UTC+8 June 15, 2013
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THE British government has warned airlines around the world not to allow Edward Snowden, who leaked information on top-secret US government surveillance programs, to fly to the UK.
A travel alert on a Home Office letterhead said carriers should deny Snowden boarding because he "is highly likely to be refused entry to the UK."
A British diplomat, who didn't want to be named, confirmed that the document was sent out to airlines around the world. Airlines in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore also confirmed the alert had been issued.
The diplomat said such alerts are issued to carriers that fly into the UK and any carrier that brings Snowden will be liable to be fined 2,000 pounds (US$3,136). He said Snowden would likely have been deemed by the Home Office to be detrimental to the "public good."
"He's cornered," said Magnus Ranstorp, a research director at the Swedish National Defense College. "Even without the UK alert, his name is now part of the intelligence matrix and his name would be flagged if he tried to travel anywhere in the world. He can't get into Chinese mainland, they have a very sophisticated database and sneaking in is not easy, and if he tries to fly he won't even get out of Hong Kong airport."
Snowden, 29, is the source of top-secret documents about US National Security Agency surveillance programs that were reported by the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers.
The American citizen, who is said to be in Hong Kong, has yet to be charged with any crime and no arrest warrant has been issued.
Even without charges, Snowden's world is shrinking. If other countries follow Britain's example, he would have few options if he had to leave Hong Kong.
A travel alert on a Home Office letterhead said carriers should deny Snowden boarding because he "is highly likely to be refused entry to the UK."
A British diplomat, who didn't want to be named, confirmed that the document was sent out to airlines around the world. Airlines in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore also confirmed the alert had been issued.
The diplomat said such alerts are issued to carriers that fly into the UK and any carrier that brings Snowden will be liable to be fined 2,000 pounds (US$3,136). He said Snowden would likely have been deemed by the Home Office to be detrimental to the "public good."
"He's cornered," said Magnus Ranstorp, a research director at the Swedish National Defense College. "Even without the UK alert, his name is now part of the intelligence matrix and his name would be flagged if he tried to travel anywhere in the world. He can't get into Chinese mainland, they have a very sophisticated database and sneaking in is not easy, and if he tries to fly he won't even get out of Hong Kong airport."
Snowden, 29, is the source of top-secret documents about US National Security Agency surveillance programs that were reported by the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers.
The American citizen, who is said to be in Hong Kong, has yet to be charged with any crime and no arrest warrant has been issued.
Even without charges, Snowden's world is shrinking. If other countries follow Britain's example, he would have few options if he had to leave Hong Kong.
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