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American Morning

Interview of Family Members of Martin and Gracia Burnham, American Aid Workers Kidnapped Six Months Ago in Philippines

Aired December 03, 2001 - 08:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The two American aid workers rescued last month from Taliban forces in Afghanistan said their story had a -- quote -- "Hollywood ending." But that doesn't mean they all do.

Two American aid workers, Martin and Gracia Burnham, were kidnapped in the Philippines six months ago, and to this day, are still being held by a Muslim guerrilla group that's been linked to Osama bin Laden. A just-released videotape shows them handcuffed in the jungle with little food, water or hope. This picture is obviously during happier times.

The Bush administration says it is working to free the Burnhams. Meanwhile, the family waits and prays.

Joining us now from Rose Hill, Kansas, are Martin Burnham's parents, Paul and Oreta, along with Martin's sister, Felicia -- welcome to you all.

FELICIA RESCHKE, SISTER OF MARTIN BURNHAM: Thank you.

(CROSSTALK)

ZAHN: Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, we're going to try to show you a little piece of that videotape now. I know this was the first message that you received from your son and daughter-in-law, and you said the tape underscored the urgency to get them home.

What did both of you see that convinced you that they might not make it much longer? Mr. Burnham, you can start if you'd like.

PAUL BURNHAM, FATHER OF MARTIN BURNHAM: Their health is deteriorating. They are very thin. They have lost a lot of weight, and you can see in their eyes, in their manner that they really need to be out soon.

ZAHN: And what's the last kind of contact you've had with Philippine authorities? And what have they told you about the prospects of getting them out?

PAUL BURNHAM: We haven't had direct answer from the Philippines. We've been going through the U.S. Embassy, and the word is that they are surrounding them, and they are trying to get them out. ZAHN: And you actually wrote in the "Philippine Daily Enquirer" -- quote: "We know that the Philippine government is doing everything to rescue us. I don't want to sound disrespectful, but it is not working."

And yet, even you can see -- what, there are some 7,000 soldiers on the job? What are they doing wrong, Mr. Burnham?

PAUL BURNHAM: We've been going through the Embassy, and we've been asking the American Embassy to check up on it and to find out and to be more involved in trying to help them wherever they need assistance.

ZAHN: Oreta, do you have hope they'll ever come home?

ORETA BURNHAM, MOTHER OF MARTIN BURNHAM: Yes. We have hope they'll come home. We are hoping that they would be released soon for their sake, and as well as their children.

ZAHN: And, Felicia, what are your thoughts at this very tough time for your family as you play out this waiting game?

RESCHKE: Well, it's been difficult these last few days, especially with the videotape coming out. Just seeing their health -- they don't look like themselves, and they look like they are in pain, and it's very hard to see that for our family. But we have just been having to continue to hope that the governments are doing everything that they possibly can and leave that in their hands.

ZAHN: And, Mr. Burnham, you said that most of your contacts have been with the U.S. Embassy officials. Even if the United States were to offer more help, we understand the Philippine defense minister doesn't think it will make much difference. I wanted to put up on the screen now something that he had actually -- we're going to listen to something he had to say along those lines.

PAUL BURNHAM: We feel like that U.S. involvement can help. We feel like there is a lot of assistance they can give in intelligence gathering and even being able to give advice to them. And we're expecting the U.S. government to be more actively involved.

ZAHN: But this defense minister actually says, what I thought I had on tape, that he doesn't even actually see that happening with the U.S. He says: "We feel that with the support in terms of an intelligence sharing agreement, we don't have the need. We don't see them coming. The armed forces of the Philippines can handle this situation ourselves."

PAUL BURNHAM: Well, it's been a long time. It's been six months, and we haven't seen any progress. So we're hoping that they'll work together to see this done, because it's really hard on Martin and Gracia and their family.

ZAHN: Mrs. Burnham, other hostages, we have been told, have paid for their freedom, and you have just mentioned the pain of having them gone for six months now. Would you ever consider paying for the release of...

ORETA BURNHAM: Well, I think there is...

ZAHN: ... Gracia and her husband?

ORETA BURNHAM: Well, I think there are other things that can be done to release them and to get them out safely. We don't -- we won't be paying a ransom, but I think there are other avenues that can be used.

ZAHN: Felicia, do you agree with that? And if that's the case, what other avenues do you think make more sense?

RESCHKE: Well, sometimes you -- it doesn't seem like anything makes a lot of sense at the time. I don't believe that ransom is really the right way to go, just simply because it would be putting a price on everybody else's head -- all of the American missionaries over there, as well as any American over there. And it would just jeopardize everybody in the long run.

However, you know, I just -- I hope that the government and the Philippine government, as well as the American government, could just work together to get them released safely, and we're just leaving it in their hands. And we just hope that they have some great ideas on how to release them, and we just keep praying in the meantime.

ZAHN: And we'd like to stay in close touch with you. Hopefully, you will get some positive news one of these days. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, thank you for your time -- Felicia Reschke, yours as well.

RESCHKE: Thanks.

ZAHN: Good luck to your family.

RESCHKE: Thank you.

ORETA BURNHAM: Thanks.

PAUL BURNHAM: Thank you, thank you.

ORETA BURNHAM: Thank you very much.

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