LESOTHO: OPENING OF PARLIAMENT ENDS WITH SIT-IN, EJECTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000160

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: OPENING OF PARLIAMENT ENDS WITH SIT-IN, EJECTIONS

REF: A) MASERU 77; B) MASERU 124 AND PREVIOUS

MASERU 00000160 001.2 OF 002



1. SUMMARY: After His Majesty King Letsie III officially opened
the 7th Parliament of Lesotho on Thursday, March 15, Lesotho's
major opposition parties staged a "sit-in," and pledged not to
leave the Parliament building until the government had addressed
their demands for a redistribution of legislative seats. Later
in the evening, security officials, including members of the
Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF),forcibly ejected the opposition
parliamentarians. Opposition party leaders have called for a
three-day work stoppage from March 19-21 if the GOL does not
meet their demands. This situation represents an escalation of
the opposition's tactics in pressing their complaints concerning
the February 17 national election. END SUMMARY.



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A Speech From The Throne

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2. During his address, attended by the Ambassador and other
members of the diplomatic corps, King Letsie III stated that the
seventh Parliament will focus on implementing the country's
"National Vision 2020 objectives" (NOTE: "National Vision 2020"
is a set of long-term development strategies which Lesotho
commits to achieving by the year 2020. END NOTE.) The King,
who focused exclusively on domestic matters, indicated that
Parliament will be expected to pass numerous bills into law
during the coming session, including several constitutional
amendments as well as legislation dealing with the Penal Code,
judicial administration, child protection and welfare, the
environment, national heritage, and anti-money laundering.




3. The King pointed out that the GOL will strive to attain the
7% growth rate which Lesotho requires in order to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals. He added that the GOL will
redouble its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, to create
employment opportunities by developing tourism and attracting
foreign direct investment, to protect the environment, to
improve agricultural productivity, to develop and improve roads,
water, and electricity supply to villages and towns, to improve
access to information and communication technology, and to
improve the status of youth and women. He also thanked the
nation for holding a peaceful national election, and wished the
new parliament fruitful and constructive deliberations leading
to the betterment of the lives of the Basotho people.




4. Preceding the royal address, 32 opposition parliamentarians
were sworn-in (NOTE: These parliamentarians did not attend the
official swearing-in ceremony on February 23rd with ruling party
parliamentarians, stating that they were not officially informed
of the proceedings. END NOTE.) Also, Sephiri Motanyane was
re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament. He has
previously held Cabinet portfolios as Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office and as Minister of Law and Constitutional
Affairs.




5. Several thousand political party members and supporters
thronged the exterior of the Parliament during the opening
ceremonies to support individual parties. The boisterous and
vocal crowds chanted for hours, primarily in support of
opposition parties, and could be heard inside Parliament during
the King's address. The GOL's security presence was robust, and
no incidents were reported.



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A Sit-In and An Ejection

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6. Thomas Thabane, the leader of Lesotho's largest opposition
party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC),took the floor shortly
after the new Parliamentary session began to speak on behalf of
the ABC, the Basotho National Party (BNP),the Lesotho Workers
Party (LWP),the Alliance of Congress Parties (ACP),and the
Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP).

MASERU 00000160 002.2 OF 002






7. Thabane, who has publicly attacked the GOL and the
Independent Electoral Commission for alleged electoral abuses
and incorrect distribution of proportional seats, offered the
opposition's full support of the leader of the National
Independence Party (NIP) leader in a case the latter has filed
at the High Court against the governing LCD party (NOTE: The
elderly leader of the NIP claims that his party improperly
entered into an alliance with the ruling LCD without his
consent, and the Lesotho's High Court sided with him before it
was overturned on appeal; ref A. END NOTE.) Thabane added that
opposition parties also demand a review of the manner in which
proportional seats were allocated following the February 17
election.




8. Thabane announced that opposition parties would stage a
"sit-in" in Parliament commencing on Thursday, March 15. If the
GOL does not respond to their grievances by Sunday March 18,
Thabane said the opposition would encourage their supporters
nationwide to embark on a work "stay-away" from Monday, March
19, to Wednesday, March 21.




9. The sit-in came to an end late in the evening on March 15
when members of the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) intervened,
physically ejecting some of the MPs and moving them outside
Parliament grounds. Prior to the arrival of the LDF, the
Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) had negotiated with the
MPs, trying to convince them to leave the Parliament grounds,
citing an order from the Speaker of Parliament. These
negotiations were ongoing when the military entered the
Parliament.



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The Political System Strains

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10. COMMENT: The unity displayed by opposition parties in
supporting the NIP leader, demanding redistribution of
legislative seats, and calling for a work stoppage presents new
challenges for the Government of Lesotho. The opposition MPs
ejected from the Parliament building, as well some members of
the public who called in to local radio programs, denounced the
military action as illegal and a violation of parliamentary
procedure and the immunity of MPs. This unfolding crisis
reveals cracks in Lesotho's otherwise model Mixed-Member
Proportional parliamentary system, but also indicates an
evolution of the ABC's Thabane, who may be abandoning the court
system and using more populist means to address his grievances.
END COMMENT.
PERRY