Paul Burnham, the father of American missionary Martin Burnham, who has been held by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan for 11 months, has complained that the group's leaders failed to make good their promise to release three hostages during lengthy negotiations by phone on March 13, 19, and 26.

"On behalf of the family and children of Martin and Gracia we respectfully ask the Abu Sayyaf group and Khadaffi Janjalani to honour their agreement with us. If not, how can anyone ever trust the Abu Sayyaf again?" said Burnham in a taped message aired yesterday over Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).

In a phone call from Kansas, the residence of the Burnhams, the missionary's father said: "On March 13, after a lengthy discussion, our family finalised an agreement with (Abu Sayyaf intermediaries) for the safe release of Martin, Gracia (Burnham) and Deborah (Yap)."

He also revealed that he had talked to Abu Sayyaf commander, Abu Sulaiman, through emissaries on March 19 and 26. He added that Sulaiman had promised the safe release of the three hostages.

"But it now seems that they do not intend to keep their promise to us. Can any family believe the promises of the Abu Sayyaf in the future?" asked Paul Burnham.

"I hope they abide by their word and fulfil our gentlemen's agreement," he added. Paul Burnham did not confirm whether or not ransom payments were involved in the negotiations.

"Is it evil to make an agreement with them?" he asked in defence of his family's efforts to countermand the U.S. and Philippine governments' no ransom policy.

Meanwhile, despite expressing diminished motivation on their part to continue negotiating for the safe release of the hostages, Paul Burnham asked the U.S. and Philippine government for "control and moderation" in military operations in the hinterlands of Basilan.

"The family's motivation to continue these efforts diminish with each passing day that Martin, Gracia and Deborah remain in captivity," he added.

"Abu Sulaiman told us that the Abu Sayyaf and they too have agreed to a five-day period for releasing them. On March 26, Abu Sulaiman advised us to tell Martin and Gracia's children that they would be released soon," recalled Paul Burnham.

"The children and the family have been anxiously waiting for the Abu Sayyaf to abide by their word, but it now seems that they don't intend to keep their promise to us," he said.

Releasing the hostages will be good public relations for Muslims worldwide, noted Paul Burnham. He added that this would show a "humanitarian, compassionate and benevolent action that would reflect positively on the Abu Sayyaf and their cause and inspire us and our family to continue to advocate the rights of the Moros in the Philippines and leniency for the Abu Sayyaf members".

Meanwhile, Martin Burnham's mother has sent a message of love to the hostages.

"I would like to send a message to Martin and Gracia. We love and miss you. You have been gone so long and eleven months is a long time now. It's been hard for you, and the children miss you and are waiting for you to come home," she said with a trembling voice.

"I always wake up thinking of you in the night. You are not forgotten and I love you very much and hope to see you soon," she added.

Last month, Fox News channel, quoting unnamed Pentagon sources, said a private group paid $300,000 to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of the American hostages.

The Washington Times also reported that ransom money was paid to the Abu Sayyaf Group for the Burnhams' freedom.