Tanzania announces crackdown on albino murders. On the same day a 10-year-old albino girl was murdered and mutilated, the government of Tanzania announced a crackdown on those who kill albinos and sell their body parts, reports the AFP. Sorcerers buy the body parts of albinos intending to use them in good luck potions. The girl was murdered just a few hours after the country’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, announced a heightened crackdown on these killings saying they have “stained the country’s good image.” And the notion that albino body parts can bring good luck is just ridiculous and lazy, he said at a rally put on by the Tanzania Albino Society (TAS). “It is utterly stupid for some people to believe that albinos have magic powers and their parts can make the rich,” he said. “People should be provided with education to understand that it is only through hard working that they can prosper in life and not through selling albinos’ body parts.” But murders of albinos in the east African nation, 26 just this year (mostly women and children), are a problem. Last year it was even reported that some people were digging up graves of albino infants to remove body parts of ritual potions. And TAS leader, Ernest Kimaya, doesn’t think authorities are doing enough to stop the tragedies. “We are yet to witness any convictions and incidents; murder of albinos are on the rise,” he said. “I have a case of one albino woman who has been hiding for more than three months after her sister was killed. This is a very serious case. We are calling upon the government to address the problem.” Kikwete said 47 thought to be involved with albino killings have been arrested this year. There are about 150,000 albinos in the country; some families murder albino babies when they are born. An albino appointed to the nation’s parliament on a special seat is confident the murderers will be captured. “The criminals involved in these superstitious networks should know that their days are numbered,” Al Shaymaa Kwegyr said.

Europeans will give the Caribbean over $212 million. In an effort to help development in the region, the European Commission (EC) is set to donate over $212 million (165 million Euros) to the Caribbean, reports Caribbean News Net. The money will be placed in the European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Program for the Caribbean.  The aid was discussed during a European Partnership Agreement (EPA) meeting in Antigua. The money will go towards the Caribbean’s e-commerce, cultural industries and trade among other areas, according to CARIFORUM-EU-EPA negotiator Karl Falkenberg. And, according to Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, the cash flow won’t stop there. At a recent meeting, Caribbean countries will also get some of the two billion Euros reserved for the World Trade Organization. “Recognizing that the traditional pool of EDF resources available to the region will have to be augmented, the EC and its member states have committed making available to CARIFORUM countries an equitable share of the 2 billion Euros set aside for ‘Aid for Trade.’ Signing the EPA will immediately pave the way for engaging the EC in respect of access to those funds.”

TAGS: $212 million, Albino, Carribean, Europeans, murders, ritual, Tanzania

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