Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Philippines military says U.S. hostage Gracia Burnham very ill, on stretcher
Agence France-Presse ^ | 12:48 PM (Manila Time) | May 21, 2002

Posted on 05/20/2002 10:04:16 PM PDT by HAL9000

US hostage very ill, on stretcher: military

ONE of two American hostages held by Muslim kidnappers in the southern Philippines is seriously ill and is being carried around on a stretcher, a military officer said Tuesday.

Colonel Alexander Aleo said he had received intelligence that the condition of American captive Martin Burnham had worsened. Burnham, his wife Gracia and a Filipina nurse are being held by Abu Sayyaf Muslim group in the jungles of the island of Basilan. "His health has deteriorated drastically," said Aleo who is in charge of military forces hunting the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.

There have been previous reports that Martin Burnham was suffering from malaria but Aleo said it was possible he had contracted other diseases.

The Burnhams, an American missionary couple and Filipina Ediborah Yap were kidnapped almost a year ago by the Abu Sayyaf, a shadowy rebel group who have been linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

Aleo said the three hostages were being held by Abu Sayyaf militants who were receiving assistance from local Muslim communities in Basilan.

Because of Martin Burnham's condition, the group is being hampered in its movements, Aleo said as he expressed hope that the military would soon pin down their location and rescue them.

Over a dozen Filipino hostages and one American, Californian Guillermo Sobero, have been killed by the Abu Sayyaf since they launched their kidnapping spree in May 2001.

More than 1,000 US troops have been deployed in the southern Philippines to help local forces in their operation against the Abu Sayyaf.

However the Americans are barred from taking part in combat and can only fire back in self-defense.



TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abusayyaf; alqaeda; alqaida; burnham; fareast; hostages; islamicviolence; philippines
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: MarMema
Our military's hands may be tied, but the Holy Spirit is not.

Pray that these heathens will have an encounter with the Holy One which will cause them do what is right.

21 posted on 05/21/2002 5:07:29 AM PDT by happygrl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: happygrl
Amen,.........More Grace and Mercy,..........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!
22 posted on 05/21/2002 5:18:46 AM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: RushLake
Unfortunately, they chose to practise their good work in a country that hates the US.

Missionaries don't 'choose' their field, it is chosen for them.

23 posted on 05/21/2002 6:16:31 AM PDT by Mahone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: goldenstategirl
"Why don't these kidnappers just leave them somewhere and notify the military?"

Because they're cold hearted, thieving, murdering cowards who prefer to attack under cover of darkness or in decisively superios numbers. They enjoy rape and pilliage. They enjoy murder and mutiliation. They have no human compassion. They care for nothing but keeping their own hides intact and as rich as possible. They are mindless zealots who believe their religion justifies their lifestyles of choice.

The Philippine publc hates the terrorists with a passion. When villiagers come upon a lone terrorist, they happily rip him to shreds, using their bare hands if necessary.

24 posted on 05/21/2002 6:44:02 AM PDT by cake_crumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mahone
And every member of the Body is a minister with a calling.
25 posted on 05/21/2002 6:53:05 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Ray'sBeth
"It looks to me that it's Martin, not Gracia, who's being carried around on the stretcher"

I tend to agree. In the videotaped interview of the the Burnhams, Martin looked awful. He looked like a concentration camp victim. He was chained to trees at night. He probably wasn't turning the other cheeck quite as much as the cowardists had hoped.

On the other hand, Martin had somehow convinced the cowardists not to chain Gracia, and to give her relative freedom. On the video, Gracia cried for the deprived terrorist teenagers, and said she wished she "could give them things" or something like that.

Islamic fundimentlists believe women are weak, stupid, childlike and in need of constant supervision by men, whereas MEN are considered strong, intelligent, honorable, etc. Therefore terrorist cowards probably assume that the West would feel more strongly toward a deathly ill woman than we would toward a deathly ill man - because men are strong and better able to take care of themselves.

26 posted on 05/21/2002 6:56:00 AM PDT by cake_crumb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: repubmom
ping
27 posted on 05/21/2002 8:42:59 AM PDT by homeschool mama
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
More prayer on the way.
28 posted on 05/21/2002 10:39:23 AM PDT by mombonn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mombonn
BTTT

Amen,........ More Grace and Mercy,........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

29 posted on 05/21/2002 11:29:10 AM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: maestro
So while we sit here and worry about how illegal aliens would feel if we deported them, we are unable to go elsewhere in the world and help our own people be freed? It is very hard to justify open borders when the rest of the world is treating us no better than horse manure!
30 posted on 05/21/2002 11:45:54 AM PDT by princess leah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
Send over a few thousand troops with the latests weapons and kill each and every one of the Abu Sayyeff scum...take no prisoners. Put a bounty of $100,000 for every Abu Sayyeff corpse. That's personally what I think should happen...
31 posted on 05/21/2002 4:56:26 PM PDT by Frances_Marion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
"Aleo said the three hostages were being held by Abu Sayyaf militants who were receiving assistance from local Muslim communities in Basilan"

Even better....make a nice demilitarization zone between the southern portion of the Phillipines and northern portion by turning Basilan and surrounding islands into Bikini Atolls...

32 posted on 05/21/2002 4:59:14 PM PDT by Frances_Marion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: princess leah
Don't ever vote for a Democrat!
33 posted on 05/21/2002 5:45:55 PM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: MarMema
I don't understand why Filipinos living there is so against us being involve The reason for this is it is in the Philippine constitution which does not allow foreign goverment to conduct war against any filipino citizen(yes, some of these moslem terrorists are filipino citizens). I think I can understand this. Think, if an American islamist would kidnap a British citizen, and England sends a force here to go after the US terrorist, do you think the US Goverment will allow it?
34 posted on 05/21/2002 6:12:48 PM PDT by desertcry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: RushLake
.... acountry that hates the US. The Filipinos hates the US? I don't think so, but the Filipino islamists does. Heck US islamist, and islamists throughout the world hates, the USA.
35 posted on 05/21/2002 6:19:15 PM PDT by desertcry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Ray'sBeth
It looks to me that it's Martin, not Gracia, who's being carried around on the stretcher.

You're right. I'm sorry for the error in the headline.

I did post an article a few days ago that stated Gracia is suffering health problems too. - Philippines - Military checking reports Abu Sayyaf will free ill American hostage (Gracia Burnham)

36 posted on 05/21/2002 6:32:26 PM PDT by HAL9000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
Philippines military says U.S. hostage Gracia Burnham very ill, on stretcher

Prayer for ALL the Burnham Family and FRiends!

Amen,........More Graca and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

37 posted on 05/22/2002 4:37:51 AM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: ALL
Please,........BUMP this thread this weekend!!!
m
38 posted on 05/23/2002 10:57:08 AM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000; ALL
Philippines military says U.S. hostage Burnham very ill, on stretcher

Prayer for ALL the Burnham Family and FRiends!

Amen,........More Graca and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!

39 posted on 05/26/2002 1:43:50 PM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: desertcry
BTTT
40 posted on 05/26/2002 3:04:13 PM PDT by maestro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson