[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Winds of conspiracy blow



<html>
<font size=6 color="#FF0000"><b>Winds of conspiracy blow<br>
</font><font size=5 color="#000000"><i>Hostages charged with
collusion<br>
<br>
</font></i><font size=3>Bangkok Post, Agencies<br>
</font><font size=5>T</font></b><font size=3>wo conspiracy theories have
emerged in the wake of the seizure of the Burmese embassy by armed
gunmen-one from Rangoon, and one grown at home.<br>
The Burmese junta said yesterday the taking of the Bangkok embassy was a
wide conspiracy. An official statement claimed Western hostages actually
were part of the plot to take over the embassy-and had colluded with the
five Burmese gunmen in advance of the takeover.<br>
Military authorities offered no proof, but quoted &quot;independent
observers&quot; who believed the Western tourists were involved and only
pretended to be applying for visas. Several hostages expressed support
for the gunmen's demands for more democracy in Burma.<br>
The junta also claimed that some &quot;senior foreign diplomats&quot;
probably were involved. They had met with anti-Burmese leaders in Bangkok
and at the border.<br>
The home-grown conspiracy charge came from the opposition New Aspiration
Party. The NAP newsletter claimed the government had secretly paid the
gunmen $1 million to abandon the embassy takeover.<br>
&quot;Not less than $1 million was believed to be in a briefcase&quot;
handed to the five Burmese gunmen as they left the embassy to get aboard
the helicopter on Saturday, the NAP claimed. <br>
Reporters present at the scene saw no one carrying any type of briefcase
getting on the copter.<br>
</font>
<BR>
</html>