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Winds of conspiracy blow
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<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 "independent
observers" 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 "senior foreign diplomats"
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>
"Not less than $1 million was believed to be in a briefcase"
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>
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