INTRA-PARTY FEUDS AND CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE I.E.C.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000164 SIPDIS SIPDIS RANGOON FOR PATRICK MURPHY TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM LT SUBJECT: INTRA-PARTY FEUDS AND CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE I.E.C. MASERU 00000164 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary: Intra-party feud within the Basotho National Party (BNP),the largest opposition party, is no longer confined to the executive committee; it has spread to the BNP Youth League as well. Joang Molapo is challenging Moeketsi Hanyane, current Chairman of the Youth League. Meanwhile, Thabang Nyeoe, the leader of a small faction of rebel BNP Members of Parliament (MPs) has alleged that there was a plan to assassinate him with a " petrol bomb ". The BNP Youth League also released a press statement calling on the government not to extend the contracts of the two Commissioners of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC),Leshele Thoahlane (current Chairman of the IEC) and Mokhele Likate, as they approach the end of their two terms in office. Another controversy involving the IEC was the arrest of the Director of elections, Khothatso Ralitsie and Operations Inspector, Kotsoane Motsie for fraud on February 10, 2006. End summary. ¶2. Internal power struggles have become evident in the BNP Youth League recently as a small group of rebel Youth League members announced that they had elected Joang Molapo who lost to the current chairman in April, 2005. The Chairman condemned the action by Molapo's group, which is associated with the rebel BNP MPs who call their group, "Struggle for Democratic Change". The Statement by the BNP Youth League leadership labeled them as "sore losers" who were bent on destabilizing the party. The Chairman added that they do not abide by democratic norms and values and do not respect the rule of law. The statement by Youth League stressed that those rebel members should seize from making false statements proclaiming their un-elected minuscule group as the legitimate one. ¶3. The Chairman of the BNP Maseru Regional Constituencies, Motloheloa Khaka, issued a separate press statement denouncing and ridiculing the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister in Parliament on February 10, 2006 regarding an "assassination attempt" on the renegade BNP MP and leader of the "Struggle for Democratic Change" faction of the BNP, Mr. Thabang Nyeoe. Mr. Khaka challenged the manner in which the " bomb" was discovered by Mr. Nyeoe's driver and subsequent action. The BNP inquired how the driver knew that the object was a "bomb" and asked why he did not call the police bomb disposal unit or a forensic team of experts to scene of the find but instead called a friend of his to remove the object and take it to the police. Khaka wanted an explanation as to why someone could just remove a dangerous object without calling the police. Secondly, he wanted Nyeoe and his supporters to elaborate on how a molotov cocktail, to which was attached an unsigned threatening note and a 5.56 caliber round, was going to explode without an operator present at the scene. He also inquired how Mr. Nyeoe would have read the contents of the "threatening note" if the "bomb" was intended to kill him instantly. Mr. Khaka pointed out that this was a simple hoax intended to prop-up Mr. Nyeoe's political career. He called Nyeoe a nonentity and urged him to desist from such a stage-managed hare-brained stunt. He concluded by advising Mr. Nyeoe and his "cronies" to stop "crying wolf", because next time people might not know if truly there is a wolf out to devour him. ¶4. In a separate press release, the BNP called on the government not to extend the contracts of the two IEC Commissioners. The BNP stated that Messrs Thoahlane and Likate would complete their two (2) terms in office in accordance with the constitution in April, 2006. The BNP Youth League members indicated that their sources informed that the government with advice by the Attorney General a.i., was looking for a loophole to by-pass the constitution and extend the contracts against the wishes of the majority of opposition parties. They have also indicated that they have lost confidence in the IEC because it had allowed unwarranted interference by members of the cabinet. They contend that the IEC is "independent" only by name. ¶5. On February 24 2006, two officers from the IEC, Khothatso Ralitsie, Director of Elections and Kotsoane Motsie, Operations Inspector, appeared before a Magistrate Court facing a fraud charge. They are accused of collaborating with two directors of M and K Security Company that guards IEC facilities nationally. They are accused of making false payments "phantom guards" and also exaggerating the number of guards in the districts. The case was remanded to the first week of April but the date has not been set. The four were released after paying a M 4000.00 (approximately $ 650.00) bail deposit. The two IEC officers have not been suspended; they are still on active duty. ¶6. Comment: The intra-party turmoil in the BNP Youth League is not likely to make any significant impact. The group led by Joang Molapo is small and has no real following. The BNP statement regarding an "assassination attempt by a petrol bomb" on a rebel BNP MP, illustrated how ill conceived and terribly executed the hoax was. The BNP has managed to convince many observers that this was in fact a hoax. This incident raised MASERU 00000164 002.2 OF 002 more questions and doubts than answers. With regard to the contracts of the IEC Commissioners, there is still no clear indication on what course of action the government will take. This has generated a lot of interest and in the next few weeks, various stakeholders will be watching closely whether the contracts will be extended or the government and the State Council in consultation with political parties will appoint new commissioners. The Government has held talks with opposition parties and suggested a compromise position -- to retain one "experienced" Commissioner so there will be at least one knowledgeable official to prepare for the 2007 elections. Word is that the opposition has rejected the compromise. If the stalemate continues, the Prime Minister would call the Council of State, a body which advises King Letsie III. Such action, if it occurs, would take place over the next 2-3 weeks since the Commissioners' terms end in April. The fraud case involving IEC officers has re-ignited the assertion by opposition parties especially the BNP, that the IEC has always been staffed by corrupt officers since the first post-military elections in 1993. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the two officers have not been suspended from active duty pending the outcome of their trial, as it is the usual practice. This incident, according to many observers, is unusual and raises many questions about the integrity of the IEC. In addition, the fact that none of the opposition parties participated in the recent by-election held on March 22 2006, in Lebakeng Constituency, in the Qacha's Nek district shows lack of faith in the IEC by political parties. Meanwhile, in the ruling party, a cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place within a month or two according to post contacts. There is still tension within the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) since their last conference in January and the shooting of the Foreign Minister. Rumors suggest that up to four cabinet members may lose their portfolios. End comment. PERRY