Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MASERU506
2006-10-11 09:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

LESOTHO: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS

Tags:  PHUM PREL KTIA UN LT 
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VZCZCXRO5427
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0506 2840942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 110942Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2342
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0039
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0062
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2666
UNCLAS MASERU 000506 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR L/HRR AND DRL/MLGA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES

REF: STATE 169257

UNCLAS MASERU 000506

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR L/HRR AND DRL/MLGA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES

REF: STATE 169257


1. (U) Charge met on October 11 with Pitso Makosholo, acting
Principle Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
deliver reftel demarche on the Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples. Charge, who delivered talking points as well
as the non-papers (joint statements),emphasized that the
demarche was a tripartite request on behalf of the United
States, Australia, and New Zealand.

2. (SBU) Makosholo noted Lesotho's minimal interest in this
issue, given a relatively homogenous national population and the
African Group view that the region has no indigenous peoples.
Observing that the reftel talking points and non-papers were
"overly lengthy and detailed," Makosholo asked Charge to
identify the primary concern of the tripartite group with regard
to the draft declaration. Charge replied that while we will not
refrain from pursuing the rights which indigenous peoples in our
countries already exercise, the draft declaration is
fundamentally flawed in its apparent recognition of an
unqualified right of self-determination, which could undermine
territorial integrity and political unity.

3. (SBU) Acting Secretary Makosholo did not commit Lesotho to
playing an active role in pursuit of a genuine agreement on the
text, but concurred that there should be an opportunity for
States to debate its controversial provisions.

MURPHY