Six Dead After Inhaling Methane Gas At Healing Ceremony

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – – Two Shaman along with a family of four died just before midnight on Tuesday.  The family was participating in a healing ceremony when the hot springs they were bathing in, located in the northern Andean province of Imbabura, leaked a poisonous gas, probably methane.

A Shaman performing a ritual/ image courtesy of allyouneedisecuador.com

Nearby a seven-year-old-boy, the couples son, slept in the car.  The tragedy came after he fell asleep while he waited for the night ceremony to finish.

Gabriel Bunay and his wife Martina Tacuri were taken to a thermal rockpool inside an indigenous settlement with their three children for an ‘energy healing’ ritual after being met by a local in the nearby city of Otavalo.

Shaman Gladys Tercero died along with another Shaman, her helper.  The spring, a thermal rockpool, began emitting a poisonous gas during the ceremony, thought to be methane gas.

Police chief Jacqueline Haro added: “The boy that survived fell asleep inside his family’s car after his mother told him to go and rest because the water was cold.”

“He is now in a children’s home receiving counselling while we wait for relatives to come and pick him up” she added.

“It’s an accidental death resulting from the inhalation of toxic gases emanating from the thermal waters,” the interior ministry said in a statement.

Local firefighter Carlos Lopez told AFP that toxicological tests had not yet been performed, “but it is confirmed that it is from inhalation of gases.”

t the site, authorities found homemade cane liquor, candles, eggs, medicinal plants, entrails and dead birds, as well as the business card of a shaman offering to solve problems with money, love, work, business and travel.

This isn’t the first time a participant has died during a ritual with Shamans:

Last April British student Henry Miller died at a tribal ceremony in neighboring Colombia.

Henry, 19, from Bristol, collapsed after taking a hallucinogenic drink called yage at a remote rainforest near the village of Mocoa in the south-east of the country.

For more information, please see:

London Evening Standard – Six dead from Healing Ceremony Methane Poisoning in Ecuador – 22 Jan. 2015

Jamaica Observer – Six die in shamanic ritual in Ecuador – 22 Jan. 2015

Business Standard News – Six die in shamanic ritual in Ecuador  – 23 Jan. 2013

The Straits Times – Six die in shamanic ritual in Ecuador – 22 Jan. 2013

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Dies at 90

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Abdullah ibn Abdilazīz, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has died at the age of 90, Saudi state television has said. Saudi state run media television cut to Koranic verses early on Friday, which often signifies the death of a senior member of royal Royal Family, the House of Saud. Just a few minutes after cutting to readings of Koranic verses a formal announcement about King Abdullah’s passing was made, he had been hospitalized for several weeks and was suffering from pneumonia. Abdullah came to power in 2005 but had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.

King Abdullah ibn Abdilazīz of Saudi Arabia. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

United States President Barack Obama said of King Abdullah, “as a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond,” he said.

According to Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra King Abdullah “is someone who is definitely going to be remembered as a reformist within the royal family.” State media also announced that Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, aged 79, is now officially the new Saudi king. “His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning,” State TV reported.

The newly named King Salman called on the royal family’s Allegiance Council to recognize Prince Muqrin as the new crown prince. “His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning,” the statement said.

King Abdullah has been called a reformer by some for his allowance of mild criticism of his government in the press. As king he also hinted that more women should be allowed to work in Saudi Arabia. However, throughout his reign as king Human Rights violations remained rampant in the country, most recently a webizen was convicted and sentenced to lashing for criticizing the state on an internet blog. Basic rights are denied to foreign workers in the country and freedom of movement is limited for women without a male companion and women are denied other rights including the right to drive.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dies – 22 January 2015

The Associated Press – Saudi State TV Reports: King Abdullah Has Died At 90 – 22 January 2015

BBC News – Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah dies – 22 January 2015

Bloomberg – Oil Surges in New York After Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Dies – 22 January 2015

ICRC: Law & Policy Newsletter January 2015

 UN Investigators Urge Establishment of War Crimes Tribunal for Central African Republic

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

BANGUI, Central African Republic –United Nations-mandated investigators warned on Wednesday that war crimes are currently being committed in the Central African Republic and called for the establishment of a ‘truly international’ tribunal with international judges who could objectively investigate and prosecute perpetrators of such crimes in the war torn country on both sides of the ongoing conflict in the African nation. Law professor Philip Alston, member of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic, warned against a proposal being discussed by the United Nations to establish a special criminal court in the country arguing that the Central African Republic does not have the capacity to handle such cases. Alston argued the country lacks judges with the independence and the ability to hold accountable the major political leaders who would likely be prosecuted by such a tribunal.

Fatimata M’Baye (right) and Philip Alston, two members of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic (CAR), brief the press. (Photo courtesy of the United Nations News Centre)

International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic was established up by the United Nations Security Council in 2013 with a mandate to probe reports of human rights violations in the Central African Republic, which has been engaged in a protracted civil war. The commission was mandated with compiling information and helping identify the perpetrators of potential human rights abuses. The commission is scheduled to release its most recent report to the Security Council tomorrow. Commissioner Alston said that the latest inquiry which was conducted over the strongly recommends the establishment of accountability mechanisms in order to identify the ‘cycle of impunity’ in the Central African Republic.

Two of the Commission’s three members have warned that unless the international community pays more attention to the ongoing siltation in the Central African Republic and works to hold the perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, the situation in the country could intensify and even spiral into genocide. “We are here to say that we make some recommendations to the Security Council and Secretary-General but also to the African Union and the CAR Government,” said Commissioner Fatima. M’Baye, adding that: “We think that for the conflict in CAR not to grow even more, the international community must act fast against those who abuse human rights law and humanitarian law.” Fatima. M’Baye also said that the Commission has listed the perpetrators of abuses whom they are sure “are implicated in the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic.” She also added that this list will be handed over to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, she said.

The Central African Republic has seen more than two years of civil war and sectarian violence which has displaced thousands across the country. According to the estimates of the United Nations, nearly 440,000 people remain internally displaced and 190,000 have become refugees seeking asylum across international borders. In December of last year, Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous warned of a potentially explosive situation in the African nation amid continuing violent clashes between the Séléka alliance, a majority Muslim group, and the majority Christian anti-Balaka militia.

For more information please see

ABC News – International Court Urged For Central African Republic – 21 January 2015

International Business Times – How European, Chinese Weapons Fuel Conflict In Central African Republic – 21 January 2015

United Nations News Centre – Central African Republic: UN Investigators Urge Establishment of War Crimes Tribunal – 21 January 2015

Reuters – U.N. Worker Kidnapped In Central African Republic: Mission – 20 January 2015

 

Kenyan police tear gas children protesting

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

Nairobi, Kenya –

Many in Kenya, including the president, have recently condemned the violent actions police took against protesters, most of whom were primary school children between the ages of six and fourteen.  On Monday, January 19th, school children from the Lang’ata schools began to protest the ‘grabbing’ of their playground.  The students returned to school following a two week long teachers’ strike, to find that their playground had been sealed off by a large wall.  Whether the students were incited to revolt against the wall by activists, or whether they came to the conclusion that the taking of their playground without warning was wrong on their own, is currently unclear.

Ocuppy Playground
Lang’ata school children with an ‘Occupy Playground’ sign (Photo courtesy of Deutsche Welle)

The students began rioting; throwing rocks at the wall, pushing against it to knock it down, and coming towards police with sticks.  In response to the behavior of the children, the police guarding the wall unleashed tear gas on crowd, apparently in response to a command from a senior police member.  Videos of the scene show children scream, coughing, and in visible pain.  Some of the children were taken to the hospital for treatment following the incident.

President Kenyatta has condemned that violent behavior of the police forces that unleashed the tear gas, particularly as it was used on a crowd of children contesting the taking of their playground.  The president made it clear that violence against children is unacceptable.  He also touched on the issue of the playground being taken and sealed off on the first place.  While it is currently unclear, many residents and activists of the area speculate that the land was ‘grabbed,’ or taken illegally.  Residents and activists also point to local politicians, asserting that it is clear that the land was taken for some political reason, and the transfer of the land did not follow existing laws that would legitimize the transfer.  It appears that the playground will now be used as land for a hotel.  The president announced that the taking of the playground, and the police show of brutality is unacceptable and sets a unsavory example for the Kenyan youth.  The episode also reflects poorly on the nation of Kenya.

For more information, please visit: 

BBC News- Police tear gas Kenya school children in playground row– 19 Jan, 2015

Washington Post- Kenya: Police tear-gas school kids in demo over playground– 19 Jan, 2015

Deutsche Welle- Kenyan President vows action over police tear gassing of children– 21 Jan, 2015