21 March 2002
Text: Lawmaker Says Abu Sayyaf Openly Admits Link With al Qaeda
(Abu Sayyaf currently holding two American citizens captive) (440)
Representative Todd Tiahrt (Republican of Kansas) says the Abu Sayyaf
Group's open acknowledgement that it is part of the al Qaeda terrorist
organization should give the Philippine military added incentive to
track it down.
In a March 20 speech to the House of Representatives, Tiahrt said the
Abu Sayyaf Group's admission to being part of the al Qaeda network
should also "embolden" the United States "to do as much as they can to
free our fellow Americans" Martin and Gracia Burnham.
Tiahrt represents the congressional district that is home to the
Burnhams, missionaries kidnapped in May of 2001 and held captive since
by the Abu Sayyaf Group in the southern Philippines.
Following is the text of Tiahrt's remarks from the March 20
Congressional Record:
(begin text)
REMEMBERING MARTIN AND GRACIA BURNHAM
House of Representatives
March 20, 2002
Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 298th day that Martin and
Gracia Burnham have been held captive by Muslim terrorists in the
Philippines.
A couple of weeks ago our spirits were raised as we heard of a new
video showing Martin and Gracia. Our initial enthusiasm at the
confirmation that they are still alive and healthy quickly dissipated
as we realized the videotape was much older than claimed. Though the
cameraman claims the tape is from mid-January, many signs point to it
being shot much earlier, earlier even than the tape released in
December.
Martin and Gracia's clothes are in much better condition than in the
video shot in November. Martin is not wearing glasses that he received
in November and wore on the previous video. Martin's beard is shorter,
and the Burnhams are much healthier looking than in November. So we
still await recent pictures and statements from Martin and Gracia.
The tape is noteworthy, however, because for the first time the Abu
Sayyaf Group, or the ASG, indicates that it regards itself as part of
Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, something we have long suspected.
This admission should give the Philippine government and their
military added incentive to quickly track down and capture the ASG. It
should also embolden our government to do as much as they can to free
our fellow Americans.
As always, I ask you to join me in prayer for Martin and Gracia and
their loved ones, so that this nightmare may soon be over.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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