LESOTHO: UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS

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