The Off Topic Thread & Off Topic Thread II - Collectors Edition Bumper Pack

'The Winston Bogarde Award' for doing absolutely nothing all day but still getting paid for it.

DAR ES SALAAM - Tanzanian albinos are living in terror following 30 murders in the east African nation by people apparently seeking their body parts for witchcraft, according to a campaigner.

The government says most of the killings happened in the last 10 months. The latest three occurred just after a rally held in Dar es Salaam last month to denounce the practice.

"Our biggest fear right now is the fear of living," Zihada Msembo, secretary general of the Tanzania Albino Society, said. "If you leave work at night as an albino, you are unsure of reaching home safely. When you sleep, you are unsure of waking up in one piece.

"We marched, the president [Jakaya Kikwete] received us and we said 'now we can have some peace' and slept soundly that night. Next morning, we hear yet another albino was killed that very night."

The government says most of the murders occurred in western Tanzania. Police have arrested 53 suspects. The killers sell body parts such as arms, legs, hair, skin and genitals, according to police and albino groups.

Those involved in witchcraft, especially in mining and fishing industries, believed these would enrich them, President Kikwete said last month, calling it a "stupid belief".

Local media have reported several incidents of victims left to bleed to death.

"They are cutting us up like chickens," Ms Msembo said, while pointing to a picture on a wall in her cramped office of a limbless body with the skin on its face peeled off from an incident in 2007.

Albinos lack pigment in their eyes, skin or hair, making their life difficult in Tanzania where there is plenty of sunshine and they are more susceptible to skin cancer and sun burns.

Tanzania has more than 200,000 albinos in its 40 million population. Traditionally, midwives were known to kill albino babies, declare them stillborn and bury them secretly. An increased number of deliveries in health centres has helped reduce the murders of albino babies, the government says.

Many other African societies shun albinos and treat them as if they bring misfortune or accuse them of being involved in witchcraft. Three albino murders have occurred in neighbouring Burundi this year. - (Reuters)

Deleted User wrote: »

Link fail charlie.

The Big Val Bowski and his hoes disagree.

Well you do have plenty of experience in them I suppose