AMBASSADOR'S QUARTERLY SECURITY REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000172

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
FOR AF/FO, DS/FO, AF/S; RANGOON FOR PATRICK MURPHY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/4/2016
TAGS: ASEC PREL LT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S QUARTERLY SECURITY REPORT

REF: (A) 05 MASERU 628 AND PREVIOUS (B) MASERU 124 AND PREVIOUS

CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



Overview and Background
--------------


1. (SBU) The crime threat level in Lesotho remains at the
critical level. The resources of the police have not increased
and donors are receiving renewed requests for assistance. In
light of the situation, international community representatives
are seeking a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister who also
holds the Security/Home Affairs portfolio to express concerns of
foreigners in Lesotho. The United Nations has assigned a full
time RSO with assistants as well as a 24 hour detail for its
Resident Coordinator.


2. (C) The January shooting of the Foreign Minister (Ref B)
following a fractious political party conference is yet
unresolved. The impact of the attack continues to reverberate
with charges and countercharges still in play. Public and
private sector representatives have expressed their dismay with
such an occurrence coming a year before national elections. The
political conflict within the ruling LCD has been compounded by
opposition party protests against potential extension of
Independent Electoral Commissioners' terms; a firebombing
incident against a member of parliament; and political youth
leagues' distribution of inflammatory literature directed
against the government.


3. (C) The level of discord among political parties has added
to the degree of insecurity already existing due to the near 50%
unemployment rate and concomitant risk of criminal attack.
Against this backdrop, post reinforces its request for
assignment of a full time RSO to provide professional security
support to the official USG employees and their families now
representing several agencies. Concentrated guard force
training, residential security review and upgrades (with new
personnel being assigned) are essential to achieving a proactive
security posture. USG regional defense and other agency
officers are attempting to increase training for local military
and intelligence entities as part of long term regional capacity
building. With impending elections, these efforts become even
more important to stability.


4. (SBU) Post looks forward to Department's action on RSO
assignment and appreciates DS's consideration and AF Bureau's
support.

PSO Security Incidents Report
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5. The following crime incidents occurred during the first
quarter 2006:

-- Monday, January 2, 2006 at approximately 9:00 am, three
traders were robbed of over Maloti 142,000 during an armed
robbery incident that occurred at the Standard Bank Branch in
Mafeteng on Monday. Three unknown armed men entered the banking
hall and ordered all customers to lie down, while the other
three suspects were outside threatening and beating the security
officer. The bank contacted the police by phone and alarm, and
allegedly the police did not respond to the call until one of
the bank staff went to report the matter to the police after the
suspects had fled with the money.

-- Wednesday, February 15 at approximately 7:40 am, three men
robbed a Mosotho woman of her suitcase near the UN Volunteers
Compound. Security Unlimited (SU) guards heard a woman crying
next to their post (UN Volunteers Compound) and on
investigation, they saw three men robbing a woman of the
suitcase she was carrying. The SU guards immediately called the
reaction team and then attempted to chase and recover the
suitcase. However, the thieves threatened the SU guards with
their weapons, so our guards allowed them to escape. The
reaction team arrived and assisted the victim to report the case
to the police.

-- Sunday, February 26 at approximately 9:30 pm, a man and is
wife (both American citizens and ex-Peace Corps volunteers; she
works for the World Bank) walking from Kingsway Cinema (Victoria
Hotel) to the local prep school houses were held up near the
traffic circle at the Prep School by two men wielding knives.
They were robbed of their money (R60) and a cell phone. No one
was injured. They reported the incident to the Security
Unlimited guards at the prep school houses, who called their

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reaction team, who took them to the police station to open the
case.

-- Saturday, February 25 at approximately 6:30 am, five men
broke into a house in the Lower Thetsane area (where two U.S.
Embassy officers reside and which has a large diplomatic
residential presence) that is occupied by technicians working in
the textile factories. The house has a panic system, but not an
intruder detection alarm. Whilst most of the technicians had
already left for work, two had remained in the house. The
intruders gained entry into the house by lifting the sliding
door out of its guide rails (the sliding door was not burglar
proofed). The intruders demanded money from the two occupants,
who said that they did not have any money with them. The
intruders then beat one of the men, and stabbed the other man in
the shoulder. While the house was being ransacked, one of the
occupants managed to press the panic button. The men fled with
two ATM cards and some small items. By the time the Security
Unlimited Reaction team arrived, the incident was already over.
The injuries sustained by the two men were not serious and the
men were released from the hospital after receiving medical
attention.

-- On Saturday, March 25 at approximately 10:15 pm, three or
four gunmen entered a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant
(in Maseru) which was very busy. They ordered every one down to
the ground and demanded money from the cashiers. The manager
quickly cut all the lights in the restaurant. Customers fled
through the front door. In the confusion, the suspects grabbed
as much cash as they could and then exited with the crowd.
According to Security Unlimited, the police arrived quite
quickly. However, they were unable to distinguish the gunmen
from the crowd. No arrests were made nor was anyone injured.


6. (SBU) The following Embassy security meetings were held the
first quarter of 2006:

-- Daily security meetings were held at 7:45 am with LGF
contract Operations Manager, SD Coordinator and FSNI.

-- Weekly security meetings were held to discuss implementation
of guard orders and procedures; monthly meetings address policy,
contract issues, etc.

-- Post's PSO initiated a bi-monthly meeting of security
officers from all diplomatic missions and NGOs to discuss mutual
problems and concerns. The first meeting was held at the
Embassy on February 2 and attended by RSO Robert Hornbeck. The
second occurred on March 2, hosted by the EC delegation to
Lesotho. Of greatest mutual concern is the high crime rate.
Other priorities included sharing of crime information with each
other, sharing ideas on how to enhance personal safety in the
home and office, and forming a radio network for use in a
disaster or emergency evacuation. Next meeting is set for May 4
at the U.S. Embassy.

-- COM, PC, DCM, CONS and IMO met to review EAP communications
systems (March 2).


7. Visitors: RSO Robert Hornbeck visited post for one week
January 30 to February 3. Two ESC Engineers from Pretoria
conducted a quarterly visit to post March 3 - 10.
PERRY