The Bolivian Government conceded that 30 Venezuelan military officers have entered the country over the last week, but denied any violation to the Bolivian Constitution, as the troops are pilots and technicians providing support to two "Superpuma" helicopters President Hugo Chávez lent to Bolivia.
| This is the camel's nose under the tent. |
Minister of Defense Wálker San Miguel admitted that the Venezuelan troops arrived in the airport of Santa Cruz, 900 km east La Paz, but rejected claims from opposition parties that the Bolivian laws were infringed, AFP reported. San Miguel said the legal grounds supporting this operation is "the Regulations on Operations, Overflight and Landing," newspaper La Razón said on Thursday.
Óscar Ortiz, a senator for Bolivia's major opposition Podemos party, said the Venezuelan military officers entered the country without prior consent from Congress, the public power entrusted with the capacity to authorize entry and transit of foreign troops in Bolivian soil.
San Miguel claimed that the Venezuelan military are pilots that are replacing their colleagues to pilot two helicopters borrowed from Chávez' Government for personal use by Bolivian President Evo Morales. San Miguel added that the group includes personnel to verify the aircraft and install spare parts.
| The word 'help' is mighty elastic. |
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