- Albino girl murdered by body-parts gang
- The Age
- 22/10/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 264 articles in 2008 )
Attackers murdered and mutilated a Tanzanian albino girl who became the latest victim of gangs who sell body parts as lucky charms to sorcerers.
Local councillor Joseph Manyara said that 10-year-old Esther Charles was killed on Sunday in the village of Shilela, in the western Shinyanga region.
She died just hours after President Jakaya Kikwete called for an intensified crackdown saying the killing of albinos has "stained the country's good image."
"It is utterly stupid for some people to believe that albinos have magic powers and their parts can make them rich," he told a rally organised by the Tanzania Albino Society (TAS).
"People should be provided with education to understand that it is only through hard working that they can prosper in life and not through selling albinos' body parts."
Another gang on Saturday cut off 28-year-old albino Mariam Stanford's hand, leaving the other hand dangling, western Kagera area police commander Selemani Miranzi said. The woman survived but has been admitted in hospital.
Miranzi said a suspect had been arrested following the incident.
Kikwete said police had arrested 47 people suspected of involvement in the killings this year.
Addressing the rally in Dar es Salaam, TAS chairman Ernest Kimaya scolded authorities over the pace with which murders were solved.
"We are yet to witness any convictions and incidents of murder of albinos are on the rise," Kimaya said.
"I have a case of one albino woman who has been hiding for more than three months after her sister was killed. This is a very serious case. We are calling upon the government to address the problem."
Al Shaymaa Kwegyr, who was in April appointed to parliament on a special albino seat, asked the public to volunteer information "to spare albino communities (the) endless fear of being attacked by these heartless elements," media reported.
"The criminals involved in these superstitious networks should know that their days are numbered," Kwegyr added.
Albinism is a congenital lack of the melamin pigment in the skin, eyes and hair which protects from the sun's ultraviolets.
Discrimination against albinos is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, but in Tanzania, it has taken a twist with victims, including children, killed or mutilated.
Witch doctors believe that albinos have magical powers to bring fortune.
At least 26 other albinos, mostly women and children, have been killed in different parts of the east African country over the past year.
In 2007, police reported several cases of people exhuming the bodies of infants to remove organs, in many cases the genitals and eyes, to make potions used in rituals.
Of about 150,000 albinos in the country of some 35 million according to its 2002 census, some 8,000 are registered with the TAS. Some families kill albino babies upon birth, authorities say.
Authorities in Kenya and Burundi, where albino killings have also been reported in recent months, have started to give added protection.
According to press reports, albino skin is also in demand in the Democratic Republic of Congo, another troubled African nation where superstition is high.
In some African countries, albinos have dropped out of schools for short-sightedness, a common condition among them that is worsened by tropical sun and lack of adequate medical care. They also have a higher risk of contracting skin cancer.
AFP
Local councillor Joseph Manyara said that 10-year-old Esther Charles was killed on Sunday in the village of Shilela, in the western Shinyanga region.
She died just hours after President Jakaya Kikwete called for an intensified crackdown saying the killing of albinos has "stained the country's good image."
"It is utterly stupid for some people to believe that albinos have magic powers and their parts can make them rich," he told a rally organised by the Tanzania Albino Society (TAS).
"People should be provided with education to understand that it is only through hard working that they can prosper in life and not through selling albinos' body parts."
Another gang on Saturday cut off 28-year-old albino Mariam Stanford's hand, leaving the other hand dangling, western Kagera area police commander Selemani Miranzi said. The woman survived but has been admitted in hospital.
Miranzi said a suspect had been arrested following the incident.
Kikwete said police had arrested 47 people suspected of involvement in the killings this year.
Addressing the rally in Dar es Salaam, TAS chairman Ernest Kimaya scolded authorities over the pace with which murders were solved.
"We are yet to witness any convictions and incidents of murder of albinos are on the rise," Kimaya said.
"I have a case of one albino woman who has been hiding for more than three months after her sister was killed. This is a very serious case. We are calling upon the government to address the problem."
Al Shaymaa Kwegyr, who was in April appointed to parliament on a special albino seat, asked the public to volunteer information "to spare albino communities (the) endless fear of being attacked by these heartless elements," media reported.
"The criminals involved in these superstitious networks should know that their days are numbered," Kwegyr added.
Albinism is a congenital lack of the melamin pigment in the skin, eyes and hair which protects from the sun's ultraviolets.
Discrimination against albinos is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, but in Tanzania, it has taken a twist with victims, including children, killed or mutilated.
Witch doctors believe that albinos have magical powers to bring fortune.
At least 26 other albinos, mostly women and children, have been killed in different parts of the east African country over the past year.
In 2007, police reported several cases of people exhuming the bodies of infants to remove organs, in many cases the genitals and eyes, to make potions used in rituals.
Of about 150,000 albinos in the country of some 35 million according to its 2002 census, some 8,000 are registered with the TAS. Some families kill albino babies upon birth, authorities say.
Authorities in Kenya and Burundi, where albino killings have also been reported in recent months, have started to give added protection.
According to press reports, albino skin is also in demand in the Democratic Republic of Congo, another troubled African nation where superstition is high.
In some African countries, albinos have dropped out of schools for short-sightedness, a common condition among them that is worsened by tropical sun and lack of adequate medical care. They also have a higher risk of contracting skin cancer.
AFP
Source: https://www.theage.com.au/world/albino-girl-murdered-by-bodyparts-gang-20081022-55qh.html?page=-1
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