The Hindu : Hostages shot dead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 08, 2002

International

International

Hostages shot dead

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE: Two hostages, an American and a Filipino, were shot dead in a rescue operation mounted on Friday to rescue them from the clutches of their Abu Sayyaf captors in the southern Philippines. Another American hostage, who was shot at, has been rescued and is said to be out of danger. Martin Burnham, an American national, was killed along with Ediborah Yap, a Filipino nurse, while Mr. Burnham's wife, Garcia, was shot in the leg near the town of Sirway during the rescue operation mounted by the Philippine military. She is being treated for her injuries. A Philippine military official said that four of the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers were killed and several soldiers wounded in the rescue mission. ``The terrorists will not be allowed to get away with this....I commiserate with the Burnham and Yap families. This has been a long and painful trial for them, for our Government, for our country,'' the Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said after the incident. ``Our soldiers tried their best to hold their fire for safety....we shall not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is finished,'' she maintained. The Burnhams (seen in this file picture with the leader of the Abu Sayyaf, Abu Sabaya) were kidnapped on May 27, 2001, while Ms. Yap was taken hostage a few days later by the Abu Sayyaf.

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