Albino killers “moved by macabre instincts and the most complete disinformation” – Minister Ferrão

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Albino killers “moved by macabre instincts and the most complete disinformation” – Minister Ferrão

9:19 CAT | 14 Jun 2016

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Notícias / Minister of Education Jorge Ferrão at the event held yesterday to promote awareness of the problems faced by people with albinism

Mozambican Education Minister Jorge Ferrao on Monday condemned the kidnapping and murder of albino citizens, declaring that because of these crimes Mozambique is in no condition to celebrate International Albinism Awareness Day.

The United Nations, in 2013, declared 13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day, since it was on that day that the UN adopted its first ever resolution on albinism.

Ferrao marked the date by receiving 20 albino children in his Maputo office. “This date should be an occasion for us to celebrate fraternity and togetherness between brothers of the same race, the same blood, the same family”, he said, “However, we have to use the opportunity to continue appealing against the brutality which still affects our albino brothers. We have no grounds for celebration”.

The Minister said it was inconceivable that in the 21st century that are still Mozambican citizens who hunt down other men as if they were animals.

“Today I even find it difficult to express my thoughts and emotions”, he said. “Never, over the decades have we found ourselves so impotent to block this murderous blood-lust. There are brothers who, moved by macabre instincts and the most complete disinformation, look at the bodies of albino citizens as merchandise”.

It had become common in recent years, he added, to witness situations in which Mozambicans murder relatives and other people who happen to be albinos and sell their body parts.

“I imagine that all Mozambicans of good sense are saddened, ashamed, humiliated by such barbaric behaviour”, said Ferrao. So horrific were these crimes that sometimes albino victims were cut to pieces while they were still alive “because it is believed that the more they scream and suffer, the more effective will be their body parts”.

There are thought to be about 20,000 albinos in Mozambique. They have long been discriminated against, but over the past couple of years their situation, particularly in the north of the country, has become much worse with the import from Tanzania of superstitious beliefs that there is something magical about the body parts of albinos, and that their use in black magic ceremonies can grant wealth and power.

The latest atrocity came to light a week ago, when the remains of a six year old albino child, Faztudo Filipe, were found dumped in a sack in the central city of Chimoio. The killers had cut off his arms and legs and shaved off his hair.

Police have arrested two suspects, including a neighbor of the victim’s family. An angry crowd took the law into its own hands and set fire to the suspect’s house.

Source: AIM