Burmese letter bombs: Plot to gain sympathy, says exiled opposition
A key opposition group to the Burmese military government has denounced the sending of letter bombs to several Burmese embassies last week as a "plot" by the junta to join the US-led war against terrorism.
In a press statement, the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) a Bangkok-based umbrella body of pro-democracy organisations said the letter bombs sent to Burma's embassies in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Japan were intended to legitimise the military government by cooperating with the United States in the anti-terrorism war.
US has been one of Rangoon's harshest critics.
"It is highly suspicious that the letter bombs could be shown at a press conference in Rangoon just days after they had been discovered in the embassies.
"Considering that this was being called an act of terrorism, there was no time for proper investigations to be carried out by the countries concerned," said the NCUB which represents four main Burmese pro-democracy groups currently in exile in Thailand.
Last week, security was heightened at the three Burmese embassies after letters bearing Bangkok postmarks were suspected of carrying letter bombs.
The ruling Burmese party, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), had blamed a "dissident group residing in a neighbouring country" for sending the letters.
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