[Deb]

Oh, no. Martin was killed? God bless Gracia, what a horrible ordeal for her.

[HAL9000]

Update - AFP via Babelfish translation

Killed Burnham, its wounded but released wife

Friday June 07, 2002 - 8h35 GMT

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.

[Cindy]

Very sad. Prayers to the Burnham's family and for Gracia to heal.

[HAL9000]

From ABS-CBN News -

AFP: Hostage Martin Burnham died in crossfire

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Roy Cimatu confirmed Friday afternoon that the Abu Sayyaf hostages nurse Ediborah Yap and Martin Burnham died, while his wife Gracia was wounded, in an armed clash between military troops and the bandits near the border area of Sirawai and Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte.

Gracia Burnham was rushed to the Southcom hospital in Zamboanga City for emergency medical treatment with American medics assisting.

abs-cbnNEWS.com

[Cincinatus' Wife]

November 16, 2001 - bin Laden's Philippine cell: 7 win freedom; missionaries still held***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. ***

[Cindy]

NTM.org: SPECIAL REPORT: THE BURNHAMS

[patriciaruth]

Bump.

[Cindy]

CLICK HERE to view a photo of the Burnhams being held hostage.

[HAL9000]

From Inq7.com

Martin Burnham executed: ground commander

NO US TROOPS INVOLVED

Posted: 5:50 PM (Manila Time) | Jun. 07, 2002

Agence France-Presse

ZAMBOANGA – US hostage Martin Burnham was murdered by Abu Sayyaf guerrillas during a surprise military rescue attempt in the southern Philippines on Friday, the army commander on the ground told Agence France-Presse.

Burnham and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap were killed and Burnham's wife Gracia was wounded but freed in the raid near the town of Siraway, according to officials. Kansas native Martin Burnham, 42, "was executed by the Abu Sayyaf rebels" when they realized that a rescue attempt was underway, Army Scout Rangers Col. Renato Padua said.

Gracia Burnham was "grazed by a bullet," he said without elaborating.

There was no mention of how Yap was killed.

Four Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and seven soldiers were wounded in the firefight, which continued in the mountainous area into late afternoon, Padua added by telephone.

"This is a close-quarter battle," he said. "No American troops are involved here."

Over the past four months, 1,000 US military advisers have been training Filipino troops going after the Abu Sayyaf, a band of Muslim guerrillas with reputed links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

[mombonn]

Sad news. Prayer for Gracia, and the rest of the family.

[dougherty]

This is terrible. I remember seeing their children on one of the morning shows and my heart really goes out to them. At least they will have their mother back. Such a sad story.

[Alas Babylon!]

The Muslim fighters are thought to number only 60 or so from an original force of 1,000 after a year of army offensives.

My hope is that before the day is over there, there will be 60 or so fundy islamics on the way to Hell.

[Corporate Law]

More glad tidings from the "Religion of Peace" /sarcasm

[2sheep]

 New Tribes Mission | Planting tribal churches
 About NTM | Doctrine
 NTM | Burnham special report

Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Martin and Gracia before.                                                 Last November

Martin and Gracia's children, from left, Zach, Mindy and Jeff

Chronology

NTM missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham have served in the Philippines since 1986. Martin is a pilot and Gracia assists in a variety of roles that support NTM's aviation program there.

Martin grew up in the Philippines, the eldest son of Paul and Oreta Burnham who continue to minister there. Gracia is a daughter of Rev. Norvin and Betty Jo Jones of Arkansas. Martin and Gracia's three children -- Jeff, 15, Mindy, 12, and Zach, 11 -- were born in the Philippines.

The Burnhams were kidnapped May 27, 2001, while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at Dos Palmas Resort off Palawan Island. Rebels from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) seized several more guests, including another American, Guillermo Sobero, and took them to Basilan Island, an ASG stronghold.

Early in the ordeal, the Philippine military surrounded the hostages and their kidnappers, who had holed up in a hospital, but the ASG escaped with more hostages, including Filipina nurse Deborah Yap. In the ensuing months, Mr. Sobero's body was found. Other hostages were killed, but most were set free. Since November 2001, only the Burnhams and Ms. Yap remain in captivity.

In the same month, a Philippine television network broadcast a video clip of the Burnhams. Martin's considerable weight loss and the couple's emotional fatigue were evident. Nonetheless, released hostages reported that the faith and hope Martin and Gracia have in Christ has been evident and encouraging.

The Philippine military has repeatedly said it has the ASG rebels surrounded. The Philippine government is pursuing a military solution. In mid-December US authorities told NTM representatives and Burnham family members that the USA would take a more active role in seeking freedom for Martin and Gracia. US troops have been sent to the Philippines.

The couple has now been in captivity a year. We do not understand all that God is doing, or why, but we will continue to trust Him.

[nicmarlo]

President Bush just discussed this, live, on FOX, prior to his meeting ..... he said he's going to call the parents, he said that he's talked to the Phillipine (president?) who said the terrorists who did this will be brought to justice. The Phillipine leader said they've reached out to the the (family? or wife?) and expressed their sympathy and sorrow, and Bush said he said he was glad the Phillipine leader has reached out to the American.

[swampfox98]

Look for the ACLU to sue the Philippine Army for abusing the seperation of Church and State law by their attempted rescue of the Burnhams.

[Registered]

Thanks for following this one so closely. Praise God Gracia will survive. God bless Martin's soul.

[repubmom]

I'm having a hard time with this - I'm so glad Gracia is safe but am heartbroken about Martin and Deborah Yap. Huge prayers for Gracia's recovery - emotionally and physically.

[cake_crumb]

I don't have the words to describe how shameful it is that the Phillipine army was unable to save Martin as well.

Thank heaven Gracia survived - surly a accident on the part of the "good guys". I pray she be given the emotional strength to recover from this ordeal.

[kayak]

Prayers for Gracia that she may recover fully from this unimaginable horror and prayers for the children. Lord, receive Your children Martin and Ediborah into Your loving arms.