New Tribes Mission (NTM) is dismissing media reports that Muslim terrorists have moved American hostages Martin and Gracia Burnham from a jungle camp to a house in the southern Philippines.

New Tribes said in a late January statement that “the Philippine military is saying all indications are that the Burnhams are still being held captive in the jungles of Basilan Island. NTM’s sources concur with the Philippine military information.” The missionary couple has been held on Basilan Island, 560 miles south of Manila, since May 27 (see “Families of Kidnaped Burnhams Wait,” p. 26).

Meanwhile, Gracia Burnham’s sister said in a radio broadcast that relatives have no money for ransom. In an appeal to the Muslim terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, Mary Jones said, “Harming Martin and Gracia will not solve anything and will only deprive their children, and our family, of the people we love.” Local officials say Abu Sayyaf rebels are demanding $1 million each for the Burnhams and about $2,000 for a local nurse.

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“The noose is closing in,” Capco says. “We cannot predict when they will be freed—no one can predict such a thing,” he says. “It might happen tomorrow.”

Also appearing on our site today:

Families of Hostage Couple WaitMen’s prayer group for Burnhams perseveres six days a week.

New Tribes Mission Online has regular updates on the Burnhams.

For further developments on the Burnhams, see Christianity Today'sWeblog, The Wichita Eagle, Yahoo's full coverage and ABS-CBN News.

Christianity Today’s coverage of the Burnham kidnapping includes:

Missionary Couple Remains in LimboThe apparently poor condition of the Burnhams has given the case a new urgency. (Jan. 17, 2002)

Kidnapped Missionaries Reported SafeBut danger increasing ...