ACTING PM REQUESTS US LAW ENFORCEMENT HELP TO INVESTIGATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000617

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL LT
SUBJECT: ACTING PM REQUESTS US LAW ENFORCEMENT HELP TO INVESTIGATE
VOLUNTEER'S MURDER


CLASSIFIED BY: June Carter Perry, Ambassador, EXEC , STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



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Request for Investigative Assistance
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1. (C) On December 7, Acting Prime Minister Lehohla requested
Ambassador come to his office for a 90 minute one-on-one
discussion centering primarily on the GOL's request for
professional investigative assistance in finding the murderer of
Dutch Clinton Foundation Volunteer Samuella "Ella" Jacobina
Verweij. The Prime Minister stated that despite pressure from
him in his role as Minister of Home Affairs and Security, the
Police Commissioner had yet to come up with any concrete
evidence that her organization was seriously investigating the
slaughter of this volunteer. He stated that they were not
confident that the Lesotho police could either find the killers
or trace the vehicle used in the assault which he claims was
carried out with Israeli made military weapons. He felt the
trail may have gone cold to some extent. Yet, given the fact
that the organization though private in nature was an American
foundation, the attack took place at the residence of Trade
Minister Malie (where a bed and breakfast) is situated. The
A/PM remarked that 3 other assassination attempts have taken
place on government officials in Lesotho in 2006.


2. (C) In the past, Lesotho has called on Scotland Yard to
assist, particularly in the death of King Moshoeshoe II, in the
mid 1990's due to the ineffective work of the local police.
This recent case, the Acting Prime Minister said, was one that
also required outside assistance because of lack of capacity
within Lesotho's own department. Furthermore, he indicated that
the attempted assassination of the FOMIN in January and the
successful May murder of opposition leader Bereng had yet to be
solved. He felt that coming just two months before the major
national elections in February, failure to solve this crime
would only encourage elements within Lesotho's various political
classes to make other attempts. The Ambassador stated that she
would indeed make the request to U.S. law enforcement
authorities to see what could be done to assist the GOL in
solving this crime. (Note: Post has already contacted LEGATT
in Pretoria, who has indicated he will try to come to Maseru in
the next 2 weeks to work with the police on this case. End Note.)


3. (C) Lehohla went on to describe what he perceived as
"renegade" elements within the police force who simply are not
carrying out their duties or who have political allegiances or
agendas of their own which hinder resolution of crimes.
(Comment: Similar statements have been made to the Ambassador
in discussions with the FOMIN who also expressed concern that
inquiries into his own assassination attempt had never been
closed.)


4. (C) The Acting Prime Minister is eager to close the books on
the Clinton Foundation volunteer's case for a number of reasons:
1) he does not trust the police and 2) he also fears that such
cases left open provide a disincentive to foreigners who are
willing to give not only their money, but also their time,
effort and attention to help Lesotho in its fight against
HIV/AIDS. In a late November meeting between the DPM and Chief
of Missions from the U.S., Ireland and China as well as the UN
Resident Representative and the South African Charge, he had
reiterated his deep concerns about inadequacies within the
police force. A memorial service in honor of this volunteer was
convoked by the Government of Lesotho soon after her death and a
day before her body was flown back to the Netherlands.


5. (C) We urge the Department to support this request and post
will continue to work with Embassy Pretoria to obtain
appropriate assistance from agencies present there. We agree
with the Acting Prime Minister that a series of attempted
assassinations undermines Lesotho's efforts to both proceed on a
progressive political path as elections approach and discourages
organizations and individuals who are willing to play key roles
in assisting AIDS patients across the country. The Acting Prime
Minister also recalled the violence of the 1998 elections and
saw a parallel with the disruptions at that time and the recent
heinous actions that are occurring now in the country. He would
like to put a stop to this as soon as possible, particularly
with the help of the U.S. in this case and overall support from
international community donors.

PERRY