I watched a documentary style program tonight on the History Channel about the kidnapping of the American Christian missionaries and others by the al-Qaeda wannabes in the Phillipines back in May,2001. This was written and narrated by Mark Bowden, author of the "Black Hawk Down" book and he went back to the Phillipines on the hunch that the CIA must have been involved in the operation there to take down the terrorists.
He discovered never-before released documentation confirming his hunch. In "Stalking Jihad" Bowden tells the story of the history of the group known as Abu Sayyaf, a radical jihad group who had the trademark of demanding ransom for hostages taken and of beheadings of their victims. They also believed in the idea that civilian lives meant nothing so they were entitled to rape women hostages and make them their slaves. Only the lives of the Muslim jihadis were valuable.
I remember the story of Martin and Gracia Burnham somewhat. I remember the film broadcast in America of them in the jungles of the Phillipines as hostages and how bad they looked from the effects of their captivity. Martin was completely emaciated and Gracia had the look of complete shell shock. Martin was killed as they were being rescued.
The Burnhams were in the wrong place at the wrong time, it seems. They were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary by going to a resort on the island of Palawan. Their three children were left with friends and the couple was taken the first night they were there, along with the other guests at the resort, 2 security guards, and one cook. They were 2 of the 3 Americans taken. The third American was a man from California and a beheading was his fate.
The Burnhams were residents of the Phillipines for 16 years and raised their 3 children there. They were members for the New Tribes Mission and Martin was a licensed pilot. The Phillipines is a predominantly Christian country but has a Muslim population on an island at the southern tip , Basilan. The radical element wants to secede.
The Burnhams quietly sang the national anthem the night of 9/11, Gracia said. It was 107 days into their captivity and they heard the news on Voice of America on a short wave radio. It was the only report they heard of the attack. The sang it when they were going to sleep that night. I thought that was an incredible statement from her.
Gracia was able to return to Kansas, where her children had gone after she and Martin were kidnapped. The State Department arranged for the children to leave the Phillipines. Their grandparents were in Kansas. They cared for the children until Gracia's return.
Gracia has written a book about the experience.
4 comments:
Karen, This sounds like a good program. I'll have to see if I can catch it in a re-run. Rarely is Muslim extremism in the Phillipines discussed. Great commentary, as usual.
I'm sorry they fell victim to the Muslim version of organized crime.
Somehow, religion legitimatizes it in many people's eyes. But it lacks the one key in which man should always live, Freedom.
The Burnhams could have come to Philadelphia and undergone the same fate where it would be recognized for all it is, a crime. There on that island, religion was twisted to justify their treatment and the sad part is, many people never saw the stark truth that all it was, was a crime. How a God was served by their fate is beyond me.
Abu Sayyaf, a radical jihad group who had the trademark of demanding ransom for hostages taken and of beheadings of their victims. They also believed in the idea that civilian lives meant nothing so they were entitled to rape women hostages and make them their slaves. Only the lives of the Muslim jihadis were valuable.
I'm no fan of missionaries, but I would never wish jihadist kidnapping on anyone. There's only one way to deal with those sort of barbarians, and it does not involve jail time.
Her book is wonderful.
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