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Killing in Burundi linked to ritual medicine
A six year old albino girl was found dead last Saturday in Burundi in a killing linked to ritual medicine.
Ajia: This unfortunate crime began actually has its roots in Tanzania where some misguided people started spreading the rumor that the blood of albinos can be used for to prospect for gold and the body parts can be used to increase their catch of fish. Now the Government of Tanzania quickly took action and made it a capital crime for anybody to kill albinos. And the witchdoctors and so on moved on to Burundi where there's a lot of poverty and got some people who are completely dislocated mentally and psychologically to begin to hunt for albinos.
Before this recent incident, unfortunately September 8th, one 14-year-old girl was also assassinated. The girl was buried but these people went to the graveyard to exhume the body. Now this recent incident of this six-year old girl, was shot in the head and then body parts cut up.
Adams: How long has this been going on where people attack albinos?
It started in September.
Adams: So it's a recent phenomenon?
Ajia: It' a recent phenomenon. And I can say that the government has responded rapidly. The national assembly quickly passed a law similar to that of Tanzania making it a capital crime to kill albinos. The governor of Rigi also took measures to protect albinos. The governor of Rigi, for instance, gathered all the albinos in his province together in a house where the children were escorted to school and they were fed and taken care of. Basically the government has responded in one other case of the 11 cases. Two of the criminals were arrested and have been charged to court.
On our part, UNICEF has been working with the governors of the provinces to take care of these unfortunate persons to protect them and to provide them with non-food items and also to ensure that the children go to school.
Adams: So what is the situation of albinos now in Burundi? Are they feeling better protected because of the law or are they still concerned and scared?
Ajia: I must say that they are still very concerned. They are fearful. They are afraid for their lives. And they are asking the government to do more. Now you have to understand that in the context of Burundi, where you have a country transiting from emergency to development, things could be better in terms of law enforcement. But we do believe that the government is concerned and is taking measures. Nonetheless, it's natural that those who feel targeted should express fear and be disturbed by the situation. In fact, the rest of the population is also concerned and UNICEF has strongly deplored this new kind of crime. And we are working with government to raise awareness around the country to explode the myth that using Albino parts or blood can make anybody rich.
Producer: Gerry Adams
(duration:4'00")
