General News
Latest albino killings in Burundi reveal flourishing underground trade in body parts
“They tied up the parents of the albino boy and then chopped off his arms and legs before running away,” a police spokesperson said. “His screaming woke up the entire neighbourhood.”
From the green hills of Burundi where their poisoned blood pools in the grass, the feet, fingers, arms and toes are taken across the border to Tanzania.
There, a rich underground trade flourishes, where albino body parts are in high demand.
A leg can go for $1,000, with the bones being turned into lucky charms, the blood poured into stews, to do everything from ward off evil spirits to bring luck to fisherman on Lake Victoria.
“The war against these killings becomes all the more difficult because the law does not provide for the existence of witchcraft while individuals do,” says Onesmo Olengurumwa, president of the human-rights association at the University of Dar es Salaam.
As a result, he says, albinos are forced into hiding, rarely attend school, can rarely stay employed, and fear for their lives.
Others don’t even get the chance to live in fear.
One victim of the killings last January was a seven-month old baby girl.
SOURCE: The East African
Albino killings: Acknowledge witchcraft
In order to win the fight against killings of people with albinism, the Government should first of all accept the fact that witchcraft exists, contrary to the laws of the land which categorically dispel such existence.
The President of the University of Dar es Salaam Human Rights Association (UDHRA), Onesmo Olengurumwa, said yesterday that the Government should make that u-turn, claiming that the entire population was convinced of its presence despite the absence of scientific verification.
Olengurumwa was taking part in the Mlimani Hard Talk on How to Battle Atrocious Killings of Albino in Tanzania jointly organised by the UDHRA and Tanzania-German Centre for Postgraduate Studies in Law.
``The war against these killings becomes all the more difficult because the law does not provide for the existence of witchcraft while individuals do,`` said the UDHRA chief, adding that once the problem is addressed to that an extent it would be easier to deal with the culprits.
Killings of albinos are fuelled by the lust to get rich quickly. Greedy, heartless gold miners and fishermen in the Lake Zone and people in other businesses elsewhere in the country are trading in the body parts of albinos, including limbs, hair, skin and genitals which are controversially reported to enable them catch more fish or strike huge precious minerals.
The belief that albinos have magical power is widespread in the superstition and witchcraft industry which tempts some politicians and business people to apply it, in order to increase their prospects for success.
However, Lawyer George Bakari suggested that the Judiciary, the media, CSOs, religious leaders, politicians and communities should bolster response to weed out the deeply entrenched superstitious beliefs that incite the murders through the systematic violation of human rights.
Bakari warned that nobody knows who is next after the albinos, quoting the late pastor Martin Niemoller of Germany who said, `first they came for Jews, I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
They came for the communist, I did not speak out because I was not a communist. They came for the trade unionist, I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for me, no one was left to speak out`.
SOURCE: Sunday Observer
Wanafunzi washupalia mauaji ya maalbino
Wanafunzi wanachama wa chama cha kutetea haki za binadamu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, wamesema watatumia nafasi yao katika jamii kufanya mabadiliko ya kumaliza ukatili nchini kwa kuishinikiza serikali kuongeza kasi ya kudhibiti mauaji ya maalbino.
Rais wa chama hicho, Onesmo Ngurumwa, aliyasema hayo jijini Dar es Salaam jana wakati wa mdahalo maalum uliojadili mauaji ya maalbino ulioandaliwa na chama hicho kwa kushirikiana na chuo kikuu kishiriki cha kimataifa cha mafunzo ya sheria cha Ujerumani.
Alisema pamoja na kwamba mauaji ya maalbino yameendelea kutokea kila mara, serikali imeshindwa kushughulikia tatizo hilo kwa kasi inayostahili.
Alisema ili kufanikisha mabadiliko wanayokusudia, wapo katika mkakati wa kuandaa mapendekezo ya namna ya kukabiliana na mauaji hayo ambayo watayapeleka serikalini ili yafanyiwe kazi.
``Tutabuni mikakati itakayosaidia kutokomeza ukatili wa binadamu hasa mauaji ya albino na tutayawasilisha kwa wadau ikiwemo serikali ili yafanyiwe kazi,`` alisema Ngurumwa.
Mkurugenzi wa uhariri wa magazeti ya IPP, Sakina Datoo, alisema vyombo vya habari vina nafasi kubwa ya kupambana na ukatili huo.
Amewataka waandishi kuendelea kuandika habari za uchunguzi kuhusu mauji ya maalbino na kuwafichua wauaji ili kutokomeza vitendo hivyo.
``Kama mnakumbuka, vyombo vya habari ndivyo vilivyofichua mauaji haya, kwa hivyo ninaamini bado waandishi wa habari wanao mchango mkubwa sana katika hili,`` alisema.
SOURCE: Nipashe
Meet charts out methods to end albino killings
Education on societal morality and public involvement has been cited as important ingredients needed to win the war against the killing of albinos.
Using force alone would not solve the problem, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) dean of students Dr Martha Qorro said when opening a debate on how to stamp out albino killings.
Speaking at the event that was preceded by a demonstration around UDSM main campus, Dr Qorro said the use of force only won?t help to change the perceptions and ideologies of the people.
"This is not a matter of showing ympathy or using too much force, it was a matter of changing the mindset of the people? we want to groom people into believing that all human beings are equal," said Dr Qoro.
She said there was a need to conduct extensive public awareness campaign to educate people on various issues on albinism as there were a lot of misconceptions about it.
Dr Qorro insisted that those engaged in the evil activities of killing fellow human beings in the belief that they might get wealthy fast should be educated.
The chairperson of the Tanzania Editor?s Forum, Mrs Sakina Datoo, commended the work being done by the media but added that there was room for extensive investigative journalism to unearth more issues related to myths surrounding albino killings.
"Albino killings give a dangerous sign? a sign that our country is heading the wrong direction. Everything starts slowly, when they are done with albinos, next time they will target another group of people," observed Mrs Datoo.
She appealed to the public to assist the media in its work to reveal the evils taking place in society on things like albino killings so that the police can get the evidence needed to deal with culprits," she said.
One of the participants, Mr George Bakari said it was dismaying that the government failed to protect a section of its people whose population is less than 400,000.
The UDSM Human Rights Association chairman, Mr Olengurumwa Onesmo, said the killings create fear as no one knows which group will be targeted next.
The debate was organised by the University of Dar es Salaam Human Rights Association in collaboration with German Centre for post graduate studies in Law. Its suggestions will be forwarded to the government, police and other stakeholders for implementation.
UDHRA
Pursuant to its constitution realizes the role of Universities in various
matters concerning dignity and the rights of people. We conduct seminars, moot
courts, workshops, panel discussions etc to raise awareness to the University
community and entire country about Human rights issues. We therefore in
collaboration with Tanzania and German Centre For Post Graduate Studies In Law
(TGCL), have great pleasure and honor to invite you to attend the event .. It is
obvious that you are too scheduled but the University community has something to
share on the current crisis of albino in Tanzania.
Whereas, human rights and
freedom are inherent in all human beings regardless of their races, ethnicity,
religion, gender or creed, and status. The Constitution of Republic of Tanzania
provides that every one has the right to live. In the past 2 years this right
has been increasingly violated in number of ways but mainly the killing of
Albinos.
Recognizing the role of intellectuals in any Nation UDHR has
cordially invited likeminded Organization to prepare a one day hard public talk
to backup the on going battle by the Government in fighting this sort of
impunity .The day will 1st try to recognize the groups of people who a behind
the killings and ultimately give tangible solution on how to end this new
emerging breed of genocide right away.
The ivent will be officiated by Hon
Lawrent Masha Minister of Internal Affairs
The hard talk is scheduled to take
place on 14th February 2009 at Nkrumah hall from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm. Invited
Presenters are Prof Haroub Othman,Prof Peter Maina,Prof P. Kabudi,A Post
graduate student from TGCL George Bakari(Former President UHR)Dr S.Mvungi,,DCI
Robert Manumb and ,Sakina Dattu .The event is expecting to gather participants
from various stakeholders, media, embassies, civil societies, government
officials and university community at large.
We humbly anticipate your
positive response’
…………………………
Onesmo P. Olengurumwa
UDHRA President
‘Working for protection and promotion of human rights”
On 14th of February,2009.
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