Estonia – Russia’s Next Target?

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TALLINN, Estonia – Following a tense week featuring NATO and Russia with Ukraine at the center of it all, it seems that a new player has been dragged into the spotlight: Estonia. Both sides seem to be turning focus towards Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as things in Ukraine have currently settled in a cease-fire that many are still unsure will hold.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik shakes hands with Eston Kohver, who was arrested by Russia on Friday. (Photo courtesy of The Guardian)

On Friday, the Estonian-Russian border at Luhamaa saw action as Russian soldiers arrested Eston Kohver, an Estonian security officer. Armed men from Russia allegedly crossed the border into Estonia, used smoke bombs and jammed radios in Estonia, and took Kohver at gunpoint with them back into Russia. Kohver has been seen since in Russia being paraded on TV and accused of spying on Russia.

Kohver is a counter-intelligence officer in Kapo, an Estonian agency similar to the FBI in the United States. Until now, Kohver’s job has typically been to keep an eye on smuggling cartels going through the border. Russia’s post-Cold War KGB, now called the Russian Federal Security Service (“FSB”), have claimed that Kohver was arrested in Russian territory with “special equipment for concealed audio recording and documents that bear evidence of an intelligence mission…”

On Wednesday, President Obama traveled to Tallinn to pledge NATO support to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should they be invaded. Citing Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, all members must defend any ally that faces a foreign attack. While Ukraine is an ally to NATO, Ukraine is not a full member who shares in this Article 5 protection. Estonia, however, is a NATO member under the protection of Article 5.

Claiming to have been invaded in this capture, however, Estonia remains in a tough position as NATO has not responded militarily and there has yet to be any strong response from its members. Considering that thousands of Russian soldiers and tanks in Ukraine were called an “incursion” rather than an actual invasion, Estonia’s recent incident is likely far from anything NATO would consider an “invasion”.

The current position in Estonia is far from the position that Ukraine is in, but Kohver’s arrest has managed to raise an already-high level of concern in the Baltic region. Latvia, another border-nation of Russia, is also worried about Russia’s recent aggression, and Lithuania has voiced concern as well. Russia’s uses of force this year have yet to be met by NATO or any forces other than Ukraine, and so this may be just another test by Putin to see how far he can get away with.

For more information, please see:

The Guardian – Russia says detained Estonian police officer is a spy – 7 September 2014

The Guardian – Russia parades detained Estonian police officer before TV cameras – 7 September 2014

Time – Russia Is Testing NATO’s Resolve in Eastern Europe – 6 September 2014

International Business Times – Ukraine Crisis: Estonia Intelligence Officer Kidnapped at Gunpoint and Taken to Russia – 5 September 2014

BP “Grossly Negligent” in Setting Off Largest Oil-Spill in U.S. History

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

WASHINGTON DC, United Sates of America – On Thursday a judge ruled that oil giant BP PLC (formerly British petroleum) was grossly negligent in its conduct which lead to the blowout that caused an explosion that killed 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and caused the largest oil spill in United States history. Carl Barbier, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, finding of gross negligence, or more reckless and extreme behavior, means that BP faces up to $18 Billion in penalties under the Clean Water Act. BP faces as much as 18 billion in pollutions fines, mostly in penalties under the Clean Water Act, far more than the $3.5 billion the company had put aside to pay for civil penalties it expected under the Clean Water Act. If the judge’s ruling is upheld the payout the company will be forced to pay under the Clean Air Act would be higher than any penalty paid in the history of the legislation. BP shares fell $2.72, or 5.7 percent, to $44.99 per share midday on Thursday, dropping the company’s market value by $7 billion. The price per share was near $60 just before the April 2010 spill.

Fire boats battled a blaze at the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig on April 21, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico just after an explosion killed 11 rig workers and sparked a blowout that would cause the largest oil spill in United States history. (Photo courtesy of the Wall Street Journal)

As a result of the ruling BP now faces a fine under the Clean Water Act of $4,300 per barrel of oil spilled during the 2010 spill. While the total number of barrels spilled is being debated it is likely to fall between 2.4 million and 4.1 million, which would make for a fine of between $10.3 billion and $17.6 billion. BP has said that it will appeal the ruling which will put on hold the final decision on the total fine to be paid by BP and will likely delay pending court cases concerning the 2010 spill.

During the six months after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded more than 8,000 birds, sea turtles and marine mammals were found injured or dead in the Gulf region. Scientists are still assessing the long-term effect that the estimated 170 million gallons of crude oil that spewed into the Gulf of Mexico during the BP oil spill will have on the Gulf and its critical ecosystems. Although oil is no longer readily visible on the surface of the water in the Gulf, it isn’t gone. Scientists have found significant quantities of oil on the seafloor, and the oil that has already washed into wetlands and beaches will likely persist for several years or even decades. Microscopic particulate oil is also hazardous for marine life, effecting life at all levels of the food chain and ultimately impacting the fishing economy in the gulf region.

Scientists will continue to watch for fluctuations in wildlife in the gulf region. Four years after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil disaster, the largest oil spill in United States history until the 2010 BP oil spill, the herring population collapsed demonstrating that the effects of oil on ecosystem’s may take years to be seen. Nearly 20 years after the Exxon Valdez spill the Herrin population has not yet recovered.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Court Orders BP to Pay Up To $18 Billion in Damages for Gulf Oil Spill – 4 September 2014

Bloomberg – ‘Worst Case’ BP Ruling On Gulf Spill Means Billions More in Penalties – 4 September 2014

The Wall Street Journal – BP is Found Grossly Negligent in Deepwater Horizon Disaster – 4 September 2014

The National Wildlife Federation – How Does the BP Oil Spill Impact Wildlife and Habitat? – 2014

 

Cameroon fights cholera outbreak in the shadow of Ebola

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

cholera

Yaounde, CAMEROON- Rising numbers of cholera cases make aid needed to control outbreaks, but political insecurity and the impending rainy season challenge efforts, while the Ebola virus overshadows those grappling with the cholera outbreak

While the fight against the Ebola virus occupies the global spotlight and rages on, another invisible killer has quietly crept onto the stage with much less ado.  In the Lake Chad river basin countries, the occurrence of cholera has dramatically spiked in recent months.  The illness has already claimed the lives of over 1,200 individuals, and has infected nearly 40,000.

Cholera is a water-borne illness that often strikes in regions where sanitation is poor and water is generally not potable.  Despite being one of the first studied illnesses in history, Cholera still ravages many parts of the world and claims the lives of over 100,000 people every year.  The illness causes sever vomiting and diarrhea that leads sever dehydration, and in some cases, death.

Information regarding lake basins and nutrients in river beds have uncovered information that suggests that certain high nutrient levels and river surges are responsible for a growth in plankton populations.  These plankton populations have been isolated as one cause of the transmission of cholera.  Even more concerning, river surges and growth in plankton populations are associated with warming waters, according to the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.  Bearing this in mind, there is concern that global warming may lead to an increase in the number of cholera cases.  While this information is not conclusive, the issue must be paid attention as global temperatures rise and the disease claims more lives in some of the poorest countries of the world, including those of the Lake Chad river basin.

Compounding the cholera problem is the current insecurity that affects the region, most notably, the rise in power of Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group in Nigeria.  As people have fled Nigeria, some have brought cholera with them.  In fact, the first family with cholera in Cameroon was a Nigerian family that fled from Boko Haram.  The porous border of countries in the region undoubtedly contribute to the easy spread of disease, and the political insecurity makes it difficult for health organizations to distribute medical supply kits and potable water to areas affected by both cholera and instability.

While cholera cases are already high than usual, this may just be the beginning as the rainy season approaches.  Incidents of cholera tend to spike dramatically during the rainy season when flooding and water stagnation are not uncommon.  With the rainy season fast approaching, it will be difficult for health organizations to extend aid to the areas that need it most if cholera cases continue to rise in the context of instability.

 

For more information, please visit:

All Africa- Cameroon: Cholera surges in Cameroon– 4 Sept, 2014

All Africa- Cameroon: Ebola distracts from worsening cholera outbreak in Cameroon– 4 Aug, 2014

Inter Press Service- Recurrent cholera outbreak in far north Cameroon highlights development gaps- 19 Aug, 2014

Rueters- Cameroon cholera outbreak worsens

Al-Shabab names new leader in wake of Godane’s death

By Ashley Repp
News Desk Reporter, Africa

Mogadishu, KENYA- Al-Shabab grapples with the death of leader killed this week by a US strike, reveals new leader, and contends with revenge

al shabab

In a missile operation on September 1st, carried out by the United States, the leader of al-Shabab, Ahmed Godane, was killed along with two other al-Shabab members.  The United States has targeted Godane since 2012, offering a reward for information regarding his whereabouts that would lead to his subsequent death or capture.  The Islamic militant group, rooted in Somalia, confirmed the news and announced that there would be repercussions for Godane’s death, and that it is the duty of the al-Shabab organization to avenge the death of the fallen militant leader.  Along with this statement, the group also asserted that the enemies of al-Shabab should expect to be caused “great distress.”

In stark contrast to the al-Shabab announcement, the Pentagon acknowledged the death of Godane as significant and politically symbolic.  Godane played a key role in increasing the attention given to the militant group by carrying out significant attacks, including the Westgate Mall attack in Kenya last year and the bombing during the 2010 World Cup that took the lives of over 70 people.

Indeed, Godane’s involvement and leadership within the group elevated the notoriety of al-Shabab.  He rose to power in 2008 after the death of his predecessor; once in this role, he strengthened ties with the Al-Queda organization and declared allegiance to the group.  Godane expanded the breadth of the organization’s influence and began to plan attacks with targets outside of Somalia.  Such a rebranding has incited fear, and caused international political leaders to pause and asses how to best manage the risk posed by the militants.

In the wake of Godane’s death, the Somalian government has intercepted information that al-Shabab may be planning retaliatory attacks that will specifically cause the distress that the group has warned will be next.  The information reveals that the attacks are likely to target civilians, including hospitals and educational facilities.  The Somalian government has put the country on alert and has increased security forces in response to the information.  In an attempt to diffuse the potential backlash to follow in the wake of Godane’s death, the Somalian president has offered political amnesty for al-Shabab members that leave within a 45 day grace period.

While al-Shabab has named Godane’s successor, Sheikh Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah, it remains unclear what step will be next for the group.  And as retaliatory action for the death of Godane has been at the forefront of possibilities, it is likely that tensions will remain high in the region.

 

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Al-Shabab Names New Leader After Godane Death in US Strike- 6 Sept, 2014

Rueters- Somalia’s al-Shabaab confirm leader killed by US airstrike, name new head- 6 Sept, 2014

Aljazeera- Somalia’s al-Shabab names new leader- 6 Sept, 2014

Business Week- Al-Shabaab seeks successor to US-killed leader- 6 Sept, 2014

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Sect Expelled From Guatemala Village

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Nearly 230 members of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community were forced to leave a western Guatemala village after weeks of friction with sections of the indigenous population. The Lev Tahor community was forced to pack its bags and leave San Juan Laguna after settling there six years prior.

The Lev Tahor boarded buses to Guatemala City after being expelled from San Juan Laguna (Photo Courtesy of BBC).

The Lev Tahor is a strain of Hassidic Judaism who encountered problems in their home of Quebec after suspicions arose as to the group’s treatment of their children. Quebec’s child protection authorities believed that the group was carrying out underage marriages, and forcing members to raise their children without access to doctors or education. The allegations prompted proceedings to have more than a dozen children placed in foster care. The Lev Tahor fled Canada to avoid the repercussions of the allegations and settled in San Juan Laguna.

Differences in religion and customs led to a tumultuous relationship between the Lev Tahor and locals. Tensions between the two groups came to a head on Friday, 29 August 2014, when the town’s Elders Council voted to force the group to leave. The Council’s decision came after a failed attempt to negotiate a solution between the two groups.

Locals say that the Lev Tahor “wanted to impose their religion” and were undermining the Catholic faith. Another reason behind the Council’s decision included the mistreatment by the Lev Tahor of indigenous residents and tourists. Elders accused the Jewish members of shunning the villagers, and refusing to pay the appropriate price for products in local stores.

The Lev Tahor members accused the locals of threatening to turn off their water and electricity if they did not leave San Juan Laguna. The alleged threats even went so far as to intimidate the Jewish group with the possibility of lynchings.  Ultimately, the Lev Tahor decided to abide by the Council’s decision and leave the village. The group boarded a bus for Guatemala City where they hope to be accepted.

 

For more information, please see the following:

ABC NEWS – Members of Jewish Sect Leave Guatemala Village – 29 August 2014.

ALJAZEERA – Jews Expelled From Guatemala Village – 29 August 2014.

BBC – Jews ‘Forced’ To Leave Guatemala Village – 29 August 2014.

THE TORONTO STAR – Jewish Group Lev Tahor Expelled From Guatemala Sanctuary – 29 August 2014.