July 8 2001

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Muslim rebels kidnapped two New Tribes Mission (NTM) missionaries off the east coast of Palawan in the Philippines. Martin and Gracia Burnham, with NTM since 1985, were visiting the Dos Palmas resort to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary. The rebels claim that Martin Burnham was shot three times during a government raid. His condition is unknown. The rebels have also threatened to behead the couple. Along with 18 others at the resort, Martin, 41, and Gracia, 42, were awakened in their cottage at 5 a.m. on May 27 and abducted by the Abu Sayyah, a separatist group. Their whereabouts are unknown. NTM is based in Sanford, Florida. The group has more than 3,500 missionaries in 27 countries. Three NTM missionaries—Mark Rich, David Mankins, and Richard Tenenoff—were kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas over eight years ago and are still missing.

Two World Vision employees in Golungo Alto, Angola, were injured after a rebel attack on the city forced more than 3,000 people to flee 27 miles on foot to a nearby town. Sixteen Angolan World Vision staff members were missing for several days in May as other World Vision representatives in Luanda, Angola's capital, tried to find their missing team members. All 16 were eventually found, but one of the injured men, an engineer, was reportedly interrogated for nine hours before being released wearing only his underwear and carrying a Bible and pen. World Vision's warehouse was looted, and at least one vehicle was burned.