bin Laden's Philippine cell: 7 win freedom; missionaries still held

Orlando Sentinel ^ | November 16, 2001 | Robert Perez

[Cincinatus' Wife]

When Muslim extremists released seven of their 10 remaining hostages late Wednesday in the Philippines, officials at New Tribes Mission in Sanford prayed two of their missionaries were among them.

But there was no such luck for Martin and Gracia Burnham. Abu Sayyaf rebels -- a group backed by terrorist Osama bin Laden -- held on to the Americans they kidnapped from a second-honeymoon trip nearly six months ago.

The Burnhams were taken hostage May 27 as they vacationed at a beach resort on Palawan Island. From there, the couple have faced a terrorizing life on the run through the jungles of the southern Philippines as the Abu Sayyaf dodged the nation's army.

Martin Burnham is known to have been wounded at least once in an early clash between the rebels and the military.

One of the released hostages, Angie Montealegre, 31, said the Burnhams gave her a message to relay to their family, but she didn't reveal the specific content.

"They want me to tell what we really know of their condition, that they are not OK, they are not fine," Montealegre said. "They are sick and tired of being there, sick and tired of running."

Montealegre described harrowing conditions during clashes with pursuing troops.

"We learned how to run, we learned how to crawl, we learned how to jump because the bullets really whizzed past our heads," she said.

The Burnhams' plight has convinced New Tribes officials in Florida to do more than pray for the release of the missionary couple from Wichita, Kan., who have lived in the Philippines since 1985.

New Tribes leaders and Paul Burnham, Martin's father, are in Washington, D.C., this week pressing to get the Burnhams' release onto President Bush's agenda.

Bush is scheduled to meet with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo next week.

"We hope to convey to the president through our contacts in Washington our concern for Martin and Gracia's safety," said Scott Ross, a New Tribes spokesman who is in Washington with Paul Burnham. "We want to convey our desire for a start of a dialogue between the Philippine government and the rebels to get Martin and Gracia released."

Ross said members of Congress who are set to meet with Arroyo during her visit also would press for negotiations to get the Burnhams released.

Arroyo, who is set to arrive in Washington on Tuesday, has steadfastly refused to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf, pushing for a military solution instead. But the rebels have evaded capture for months by constantly moving through rugged mountain jungles on the southern island of Basilan, hostages in tow.

Wednesday's release of seven hostages -- which came as 7,000 Philippine military troops closed in on the rebels -- increased the anxiety about the Burnhams' plight.

Ross said a released hostage saw the Burnhams as late as Monday. The former hostage reported that while the Burnhams have lost weight and have been exposed to the elements for months, they are surviving, Ross said.

Hostages released earlier in the ordeal had described the Burnhams as keeping the group together, leading the hostages in prayer and song.

In the past, rebel leader Abu Sabaya has threatened to kill the Burnhams if any rescue operation is attempted. Another American whom the Abu Sayyaf took hostage along with the Burnhams, Guillermo Sobero of California, was beheaded by the rebels in an execution; Sobero's body was found in October.

In a call to a Philippine radio station last month, Martin Burnham worried aloud that he and his wife would be killed before Arroyo's trip to meet with Bush.

Abu Sabaya told Radio Mindanao Network last month that "it would be embarrassing if President Arroyo goes to the U.S. with the bodies of Martin and Gracia."

Ross said he does not think Arroyo's visit puts the Burnhams in more danger, but he said New Tribes is concerned that the Philippine government refuses to open a dialogue with the Abu Sayyaf.

"There has been no indication from the Philippine government of a change in their strategy," Ross said. "They're keeping an open line for negotiations, but there would have to be a surrender and release of hostages before they will negotiate."

In the meantime, the Burnhams' children and other family members can do nothing but pray and wait. The couple's three children, who were raised in the Philippines and range in age from 10 to 14, are living with their grandparents in Rose Hill, Kan., near Wichita.

"The family seems to be doing well," Ross said. "The children continue to express concern for the parents. They would really love to see them home for the holidays."

Other members of the family, including sisters and brothers, think the longer the kidnapping goes on, the more dangerous is it for Martin and Gracia, both 42.

"We've learned that there has been some indiscriminate artillery and air bombardments on Abu Sayyaf positions," Ross said. "That concerns us."

Alex Branch of The Wichita Eagle and wire services contributed to this report. Robert Perez can be reached at rperez@orlandosentinel.com or 407-322-1298. Copyright © 2001, Orlando Sentinel

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Two more Americans that need to be rescued and safely brought home.

Keep the heat on these thugs!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Two more who need prayers.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

FYI

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Filipina nurse freed "after converting to Islam"--………. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham and about eight other Filipinos.....

The Abu Sayyaf seized the Burnhams, Californian tourist Guillermo Sobero and 17 other Filipinos from a beach resort on Palawan island on May 27 and brought them to their jungle hideouts on Basilan, where they took more Filipino hostages, including Malonzo.

They later freed several of their captives in exchange for ransom but beheaded others, including Sobero.

[mombonn]

Thanks for the ping - I was just going to give this a prayer bump.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you mombonn. I'm not familiar with this group but they need to be rescued and brought home. Bin Laden and his thugs need to be stopped.

[Weirdad]

Thanks for this up to date post on a problem that I was not really even aware of. I will be praying, and looking into it. May God protect them and free then soon.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you. Their situation sounds desperate.

[Ymani Cricket]

Prayer Bump. The other night before bed I felt compelled to pray for the missionaries in Afghanistan. I felt bad for not having done so before. When I woke up the next day and heard they were free I was overjoyed.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you YC. Let's all pray these missionaries will be free too. Let them and any others we don't know about be released.

[cyn]

prayer bump -- and thanks for the flag.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ross said members of Congress who are set to meet with Arroyo during her visit also would press for negotiations to get the Burnhams released.

Arroyo, who is set to arrive in Washington on Tuesday, has steadfastly refused to negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf, pushing for a military solution instead. But the rebels have evaded capture for months by constantly moving through rugged mountain jungles on the southern island of Basilan, hostages in tow.

__________________________

President George W. Bush meets with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the Oval Office of the White House, November 20, 2001. The United States said it would boost both military and economic assistance to the Philippines to help Manila in its fight against Muslim separatists. (Larry Downing/Reuters) - Nov 20 5:25 PM ET

Bush Pledges Economic, Arms Aid to Philippines--Bush credited the Philippine president with having a ``clear vision'' on how to fight the separatists, who have been holding a U.S. missionary couple hostage for more than five months on southern Basilan island. A third American was beheaded by the group in June.

``I have asked her point blank, what help does she need? She says she's got a great military, a competent military. She's confident that her military can deal with Abu Sayyaf,'' Bush told reporters.

A small number of U.S. military advisers have been sent to the Philippines to help the military deal with the guerrillas, and Bush would not rule out putting American combat troops on the ground to help in the fight. ``It's up to the (Philippine) president to make those decisions,'' Bush said.

[cyn]

thanks for that update -- I saw footage of this meeting yesterday. Will be praying for her wisdom in dealing with these terrorists, for those who might be trying to free the captives, and especially for the captives themselves.

thanks again for orig. info.

[cyn]

"Hostages released earlier in the ordeal had described the Burnhams as keeping the group together, leading the hostages in prayer and song."

Prayer bump for Martin and Gracia Burnham

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you cyn.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

(NOVEMBER 24, 08:56 EST) Renegade Philippine Gov. Arrested -- By JASBANT SINGH, AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysian police arrested a renegade Philippine governor and six supporters when they tried to slip into the country by boat early Saturday, the country's police chief said.

Nur Misuari, governor of the southern Muslim region in the Philippines, and his supporters will be turned over to the Philippine government ``as soon as possible,'' the Malaysian news agency Bernama quoted police chief Norian Mai as saying.

Malaysia has ruled out granting asylum to Misuari, a former rebel leader whose supporters attacked government troops in the southern Philippines this week, breaking a five-year peace.

``He cannot be running to Malaysia to seek refuge from an internal conflict he got himself into with the Philippine government,'' Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told The Associated Press.

Norian said Misuari was arrested on Jampiras, Malaysia's closest island to Philippine territorial waters and a 30-minute boat ride from Sandakan, a coastal town in northeastern Malaysia.

Misuari traveled from Jolo, a war-torn island in the southern Philippines where his supporters have reportedly teamed up with Islamic extremists from the Abu Sayyaf group to fight Philippine troops.

Forces loyal to Misuari attacked a Philippine army base Monday, killing four soldiers and seven civilians. About 100 rebels have been killed in fighting since then, the Philippine military has said.

Misuari abandoned a 1996 peace deal that Malaysia had helped broker. The Philippine government has accused him of trying to upset regional elections Monday to choose his successor, and has charged him with rebellion.

The 1996 peace agreement with Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front was a historic step toward ending a revolt by Muslim separatists in the largely Roman Catholic Philippines. A smaller group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a cease-fire this year.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo praised the arrest, which came a day after she asked Malaysia and Indonesia for help catching Misuari amid reports he was planning to flee. [End]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Kidnapped US couple still alive in Philippines

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Eight months after being kidnapped American hostages cling to faith, each other / Filipinos Set Up U.S. Training Camp

[Cincinatus' Wife]

*** Philippines: Report - Abu Sayyaf hostage Martin Burnham killed, Gracia rescued ****** Killed Burnham, its wounded but released wife*** Friday June 07, 2002 - 8h35 GMT [Full Translation ] ZAMBOANGA (the Philippines), June 7 (AFP) - an American hostage held by islamists in the south of the Philippines was killed while his wife, blessée, were released at the time of an operation of help carried out by the army of Manila cigar Friday, indicated a General Filipino to the AFP.

The General declared that Martin Burnham had died and was not able to specify the gravity of the wounds of Gracia Burnham.

The couple of Protestant missionnaires was held since more than one year in the south of the Philippines by the group Abu Sayyaf.

They were kept on the island of Basilan whereas 5.000 soldiers Filipinos tried since months to come to end from the guérilleros with the assistance from a thousand of American soldiers serving advisers and trainers.

The couple originating in Kansas and which had spent fifteen years to the Philippines had chosen a seaside resort of the west of the archipelago to celebrate there its 18è anniversary of marriage last year.

May 27, 2001, of the guérilleros of the group Abu Sayyaf, known for its bloody taking of hostages, the paradise for tourists attacked and seized 20 people, of which Burnham, before regaining its stronghold of Basilan.

Abu Sayyaf, shown terrorism by the president George W Bush after the attacks of September 11, had decapitated in June of last year another American, a tourist, Guillermo Sobero, removed with the couple of missionnaires.[End]