[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4827-S4828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       REMEMBERING GRACIA AND MARTIN BURNHAM ON MEMORIAL DAY 2002

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, for millions of Americans, this Memorial 
Day will be a day of reflection and remembrance with family and friends 
in honor of the brave men and women in uniform who have sacrificed to 
defend our freedom. Sadly, for Gracia and Martin, May 27, 2002 will 
mark the 1-year anniversary of the day they were taken hostage in the 
Phillippines by a band of brutal terrorists.
  For the benefit of my colleagues who are not familiar with the 
Burnham's plight, I will briefly recount their tragic tale. Martin and 
Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kansas, are missionaries for New Tribes 
Mission, a U.S. based organization that builds churches among tribal 
people who currently have no access to the gospel. Martin and Gracia 
have lived in the Philippines since they joined New Tribes in 1986. 
Martin worked as a mission pilot, transporting medical supplies, 
passengers and mail around the island nation. Gracia worked as an 
educator and cared for their three children--Jeff, Mindy and Zack.
  On May 27, 2001, Martin and Gracia were celebrating their 18th 
Wedding anniversary at a resort area in the Phillippines when they and 
18 other guests were taken hostage by a Muslim extremist group known as 
Abu Sayyaf. Since that time, 15 of the original hostages have been 
freed or allowed to escape. Three others, including California resident 
Guillermo Sobero, have been killed. Today, the Burnhams and Ediborah 
Yap, a Filipino nurse, are the only hostages that remain in captivity.
  Since their captors are being pursued by Philippine authorities, the 
Burnhams live on the run in jungle camps and struggle to survive on a 
poor and unpredictable diet. To avoid detection, they endure long 
marches over rough terrain and frantic escapes from gun battles between 
their captors and government soldiers.
  I have taken a special interest in this case because Gracia Burnhams 
parents, Betty Jo and Norvin Jones, live in Cherokee Village, Arkansas. 
Understandably, Mr. and Mrs. Jones are very worried about their 
daughter and son-in-law's physical health and safety. Both Martin and 
Gracia have lost considerable weight. During the most recent film 
footage of the Burnhams taken last November, they both looked pale, 
undernourished and weak. Even more troubling are unconfirmed reports 
this week that Martin's health has deteriorated so badly that he must 
be transported on a stretcher.
  Unfortunately, it has been several months since we have heard from or 
seen footage of Martin or Gracia. The most recent proof of life came in 
letters from Martin and Gracia sent in January. Even though there have 
been signals in recent months that an agreement to release Gracia and 
Martin was close at hand, the leader of Abu Sayyaf

[[Page S4828]]

recently indicated they are no longer interested in negotiating for 
their freedom.
  It is important to note, that Abu Sayyaf is a Muslim-separatist 
organization with admitted ties to al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Their 
goal is to establish an independent homeland under Islamic rule in the 
southern Philippines. Unfortunately, Abu Sayyaf has used kidnaping 
before to further their cause. In 2000, the group reportedly received 
millions in ransom in exchange for the release of 21 tourists kidnaped 
in Malaysia.
  The U.S. Government has responded to this tragedy by sending a 
sizeable contingent of U.S. troops to the Phillippines to help train 
Philippine soldiers who are pursuing the Abu Sayyaf rebels. In fact, 
the Philippine deployment is the second-largest military operation in 
the U.S. war on terrorism. Unfortunately, U.S. soldiers who are well 
trained in hostage rescue missions have not been permitted to actively 
pursue Martin and Gracia's captors to win their release.
  Today, I want to thank the Philippine government for its cooperation 
in the war on terrorism and their efforts to free the Burnhams. 
However, I believe more can be done and so I call on Philippine 
authorities to make every possible effort to free Martin and Gracia 
from their brutal captivity, including allowing US troops to actively 
participate in their rescue. I also call on our own government to 
increase pressure on Philippine authorities to help us achieve our 
common goals in the fight against terrorism. I fear that time may be 
running out for Martin and Gracia and we shouldn't let the 1-year 
anniversary of their capture pass by without renewing our efforts to 
use every tool we have available to save their lives.
  So, as we pause on Monday to honor members of the Armed Forces who 
gave their lives in defense of freedom--including 10 American 
servicemen who died in a helicopter crash in the Philippines in 
February--we should take great pride in our Nation and its commitment 
to preserve peace and security at home and abroad. We should also be 
aware that the plight of the Burnham's is a sad reminder that our fight 
for freedom continues today. I can think of no greater tribute to honor 
our brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, than winning 
freedom for Martin and Gracia Burnham and defeating their captors who 
seek to destroy the values we cherish as Americans.

                          ____________________