Stop Albino Killings!

It is times like these that one loses his head. Why? Close your eyes for a bit and picture the dismembered body of an albino toddler. His crime? He was an albino. 

Can anyone explain to me why in this day and age people are hunted by fellow man and slaughtered?

Life, human life, is sacred and no one has the right to snuff out another’s life no matter the reason.

The recrudescence of the killings of people with albinism in an age when the rule of law is championed left, right and centre and human rights activism is at its best leaves, so much to be desired.

When people have the temerity to engage in the trade of albino body parts oblivious of the consequences speaks volumes about how people’s hearts are growing colder by the day.

What is fuelling the killings of our brothers and sisters? Why does it seem as if nothing is being done about the plight of people living with albinism?

For how long will fear be allowed to rule people who live in a free country – a country that prides itself as a haven of peace?

For how long will witchcraft and witchdoctors hold this country at ransom as they prescribe the body parts of people living with albinism – planting seeds of discord, disunity and faithlessness in fellow man?

Such questions cram the mind and can lead one to insanity – but I know I must be levelheaded!

Something needs to be done real fast.

Every Government Must Protect Its Citizens: The Tanzania Albinism Society

MESSAGE FROM THE TANZANIA ALBINISM SOCIETY:

 
After another horrific killing of our little brother Yohana Bahati, only 18 month old, our partner the Salif Keita Foundations also calls for action:

"We apologize for the graphic photo, but this is the evil that ignorance and violence produce.

Every government must protect their citizens from violent acts against their person regardless of race, gender, religion or any other reason.

Stand with us and call your national Tanzania consulate and tell them you care about albino lives and to end the violence against people with albinism now!"

WARNING! THE PHOTO BELOW IS GRAPHIC: 

The dismembered remains of an 18-month ALBINO TODDLER found in Tanzania.

Albinos Plan Demonstration

PEOPLE living with albinism yesterday announced their intention to demonstrate peacefully next month to push the government to intensify the crackdown on criminals who abduct and kill innocent people whose only ‘fault’ is being melanin deficient.

The National Chairman of the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), Mr Ernest Kimaya, said the demonstrations, planned for March 2, are a response by the albinism-affected following the inhuman treatment meted on them spawning over a decade.

He noted with concern that some 76 people with albinism have been killed between 2005/2006 and this year; appealing for concentrated efforts to tackle the vice.

“We are now arranging the peaceful rally in which we would also like to meet President Jakaya Kikwete to tell him the ordeal that people with albinism go through,” Mr Kimaya said on the sidelines of a meeting between political parties and organisations of people with disabilities...READ THE REST

Check this too: Albino Toddler Murdered and Mutilated

Albino Toddler Murdered and Mutilated

Women carrying their albino children in Dar es Salaam. (Photo courtesy of the Milliyet Daily).

Check out the Story when the Albino Toddler was Kidnapped.

The UN human rights chief harshly condemned the murder and mutilation of an albino toddler in Tanzania, demanding authorities protect albinos, whose body parts are used for witchcraft in the country.

"Violence and discrimination against people with albinism must be halted," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement, condemning "the horrific murder and mutilation of Yohana Bahati."

The one-year old boy was seized by men with machetes from his home in northern Tanzania's Chato district overnight Saturday, and his mother was badly injured in the attack.

Police found his body, with his arms and legs hacked off, on Tuesday.

Zeid said attacks on people with albinism, which are often motivated by the use of body parts for witchcraft rituals, had claimed the lives of at least 75 people since 2000.

He warned that the attacks seemed to be on the rise, with at least three incidents over the past two months.
"I call on the Tanzanian authorities to swiftly investigate and prosecute perpetrators of this terrible crime and to strengthen its protection measures for people with albinism," Zeid said.

The UN repeated its fears that the uptick in attacks against albinos could be linked to looming general and presidential elections in October 2015, as political campaigners may be turning to influential sorcerers to improve their odds.

"This is the year of elections in Tanzania and, as some analysts have suggested, it could be a dangerous year for people living with albinism," UN country chief Alvaro Rodriguez warned Wednesday.

Albino body parts sell for around $600 in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching $75,000, according to the UN.

Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes. It affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding, experts say. In the West, it affects just one person in 20,000.

Mixed Reactions to the Story on the Kidnapping of an Albino Toddler

CHECK OUT THE STORY ON Another Albino Toddler Kidnapped

Wileharda says:

The Tanzanian Government is also to blame. They are not so serious in protecting the children. They always wait for little hand outs which then goes to government officials. If they were serious enough, they could find the people behind it. Imprison all the males, husbands. Only the woman are being attacked where are the guys. Its always the man who gets away with murder.
Second,
they should take all these children away and care for them as soon as they are born and protect them It should be mandatory. Even the top officials do go to these witch doctors to get promotions. Weak lows and not seriousnes of the government is to blame. They could find the people behind this if they wanted to. These are very small communities. neighbourhood watch if organized can solve the problem too.
............................................
 

Traveler says:

I am going to be culturally insensitive for a minute: Seriously, how backwards of a nation still believes in the power of their "sorcerers" to influence a presidential election? Or that they get power from the bodies of albinos? No matter how advanced things are in most of the world or how educated the world population becomes, you will likely always have pockets of backwards thinking people. 

.........................................

 

JessicaB says:

I did volunteer work in Tanzania two summers ago and I saw one of these children in a village we visited. One of our Tanzanian friends told me that parents with albino children are encouraged to send their children to a special government-run boarding school where they can be protected from people killing them for use in witchcraft. I feel so sorry for this poor mother and the other parents who have to go through this. 

.....................................

 

JD says: 

Maybe UNICEF or something could begin a program there to help these parents get out as soon as an albino baby is born? Maybe the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation or Warren Buffet's whatever he has could pop over there and set up something?

Or is it not just kidnappers but the parents who are selling the babies too?

This is horrible that these ignorant, savage, barbaric people believe in things like carving up albino babies and selling them for use in potions. 

CHECK OUT: This War Will One Day be Won, But First...

Another Albino Toddler Kidnapped...

 An albino toddler has been kidnapped in northern Tanzania, police said, raising fears he may be killed and his body parts used for witchcraft.

Unknown attackers broke into the house and slashed the child's mother with machetes before snatching the one-and-half-year-old boy in the northern Tanzanian district of Chato late on Saturday.

"Two bandits armed with machetes stormed into their kitchen, they hit his mother with machetes and took away the baby," said regional police chief Joseph Konyo.

The child's father, who was nearby during the attack, is being questioned, he said.

"We have asked the public for cooperation to arrest the suspects," said Konyo.

Albino body parts are sought after in Tanzania for witchcraft. At least 74 albinos have been murdered in the east African country since 2000, according to the United Nations.

In August, a UN rights expert blamed a rise in attacks against albinos on looming presidential elections, due in October 2015, leading political campaigners to turn to influential sorcerers for help.

Albino body parts sell for around $600 in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching $75,000, according to the UN.

Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes. It affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding, experts say. In the West, it affects just one person in 20,000.

In December, a four-year-old albino girl was kidnapped in northern Tanzania. Multiple arrests were made but the child has not been found.