Amnesty says Malawi albino killings reflect police failures

 LILONGWE, June 7 (Reuters) - Amnesty International accused Malawian police on Tuesday of failing to protect people with albinism who are targeted for their body parts which are used in magical potions and other ritual practices.

Police said they were doing all in their power to end the surge in the killing of albinos in the southern African country. Albinos have also been targeted in Malawi's neighbour Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa.

Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's Director for Southern Africa, said in a statement that Malawian authorities had failed to protect the albinos, leaving them at the mercy of criminal gangs who hunt them down for their body parts.

The report says at least 18 people with albinism have been killed in Malawi since November of 2014 while at least five others are known to have been abducted and remain missing. Four were murdered in April 2016, including a baby.

"Their bones are believed to be sold to practitioners of traditional medicine in Malawi and Mozambique for use in charms and magical potions in the belief that they bring wealth and good luck," Amnesty said.

"The macabre trade is also fuelled by a belief that bones of people with albinism contain gold."

Malawi government spokesperson and Minister of Information Patricia Kaliati dismissed the claims by Amnesty.

"We are doing everything within the law to stop this carnage," Kaliati told Reuters.

Malawi Police spokesman Nikolasi Gondwa said gangs in neighbouring Tanzania and Mozambique were fuelling the trade.

Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting about one in 20,000 people worldwide who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes. It is more common in sub-Saharan Africa. (Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; Editing by Ed Stoddard and James Macharia)

"Amnesty Says Malawi Albino Killings Reflect Police Failures." Mail Online. Ed. Ed Stoddard and James Macharia. Associated Newspapers, 07 June 2016. Web. 07 June 2016.

Response

Albino killings had been a problem in the continent of Africa for a long time. It has become a problem again in Malawi and the problem has even addressed the police problem in Malawi. People are saying that Malawi police has failed to protect albinos in their country and still lots of people are being abducted and killed. This is a religion related problem where African people believe that albinos are somehow magical and they use it in charms and magical potions. It is a barbaric action and it must be stopped no matter what. It clearly violates all the rights of albinos and Malawi government shouldn't take this issue lightly. They must take a clear and definite action to punish those who practice such nonsense, barbaric action against albinos.