Date: 2010-03-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1088. "Recognizing the plight of people with albinism in East Africa and condemning their murder and mutilation." Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative GERRY CONNOLLY for introducing this resolution. as it is important that we recognize the plight of albinos in East Africa. In recent years. the belief that albino body parts. particularly limbs. have magical powers has driven thousands of Africas albinos into hiding. According to a report released in November of last year by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). the killings of albino people in Burundi and Tanzania. based on occult practices. have triggered a crisis involving almost the entire albino population of the two countries. The stories of these victims are heart wrenching. I recall an article in the New York Times in 2008 that vividly describes the horror and fear that many Albinos live with on a daily basis. "In May 2008. Vumilia Makoye. 17. was eating dinner with her family in their hut in western Tanzania when two men showed up with long knives. "Vumilia was like many other Africans with albinism. She had dropped out of school because of severe nearsightedness. a common problem for albinos. whose eyes develop abnormally and who often have to hold things like books or cell phones two inches away to see them. She could not find a job because no one would hire her. She sold peanuts in the market. making $2 a week while her delicate skin was seared by the sun. When Vumilias mother. Jeme. saw the men with knives. she tried to barricade the door of their hut. But the men overpowered her and burst in. "They cut my daughter quickly." she said. making hacking motions with her hands. The men sawed off Vumilias legs above the knee and ran away with the stumps. Vumilia died. Yusuph Malogo. who lives nearby. fears he may be next. He is also an albino and works by himself on a rice farm. He now carries a loud. silver whistle to blow for help. "Im on the run." he said." According to the Red Cross. thousands more albinos across a huge swathe of countryside. are unable to move freely to trade. study or cultivate fields for fear of albino hunters. These albinos fear losing their lives and limbs to unscrupulous dealers who can make up to $75.000 selling a complete dismembered set. In his New Years address to the nation. President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania said the nation that the government would step up efforts to stamp out the albino killings. I commend the government of Tanzania for acknowledging the danger posed to albinos in their country. but I hope that Tanzania and Burundi will do more to educate their nations about albinos. The Albino Association of Tanzania says that although just 4.000 albinos are officially registered in the country. they believe the actual number could be as high as 173.000. A census is now under way to try to verify the figures. In addition. in 2008. President Kikwete nominated AIShymaa KwayGeer to represent the albino community at the national level. Ms. KwayGreer is the first Minister of Parliament with albinism. Yet. despite these improvements. people with albinism still live in fear. As Samuel Mluge. a Tanzania albino remarked to the reporter. "I feel like I am being hunted." No one should live in this state of fear. We must vocally denounce such killings. and do everything we can to prevent them from occurring in the future. I ask that my colleagues support this resolution. I also ask my colleagues for their continued support albinos in East Africa.