*EPF514 06/07/2002
Text: Senator Brownback on Philippine Rescue Attempt of U.S. Missionaries
(Says U.S. must do everything to support Philippines in war on terrorism) (346)

Senator Sam Brownback (Republican of Kansas) issued a statement June 7 on the rescue attempt to free two American medical missionaries -- Martin Burnham and his wife Gracia -- who had been held by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines.

Martin was killed, along with Ediborah Yap, a Filipino nurse. Gracia was wounded in the firefight between Philippine military forces and the terrorists that resulted during the rescue attempt.

Following is the text of the June 7 news release from the office of Senator Sam Brownback:

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Brownback Statement on Burnhams

Friday, June 7, 2002

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback released the following statement this morning after the rescue attempt to free Martin and Gracia Burnham from their captors in the Philippines.

"We grieve the loss of Martin Burnham and Ediborah Yap," Brownback said. "We thank God that Gracia is alive. We pray for Martin and Gracia's three children and the rest of their family.

"Many American and Filipino soldiers lost their lives - not only in today's action, but also during operations in the past several months.

"This is the end of a long and painful hostage situation. Now we must do everything we can to support the Philippines in their war against terrorism," Brownback said.

The Burnhams are Rose Hill, Kansas missionaries who were held hostage in the Philippines since May of 2001.

Brownback spoke with the Burnham family, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Defense this morning.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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