WORLD : U.S. Bones in Malaysia a Hoax?
Thirty skeletons found in a refugee boat that landed in Malaysia may be part of a bizarre hoax and not the remains of U.S. Vietnam War veterans as claimed, American and Malaysian officials said today.
“It’s possible but the probability is not very high,” U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Paul Blakeburn said when asked if the remains were those of American servicemen.
The skeletons and U.S. Army metal “dog tags” bearing names, units and addresses were found in a boat carrying nine Vietnamese boat people that landed Monday at Tanjung Sedili Beach on the southeastern coast, police said.
Police searching for weapons found the bones sealed in plastic bags inside several barrels on board the 50-foot boat, which had markings in English on its side saying “USA Remains in My Boat” and “This Boat Have USA Army Remains.”
Malaysian officials suspect the men on the boat, aged between 18 and 56, were using the bones as a ruse to obtain money or gain refuge in the United States.
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