LESOTHO: OPPOSITION CALLS OFF WORK STOPPAGE AFTER TWO-DAY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000167

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/EX, DS/IP/AF, CA/OCS; GABORONE FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ECON PGOV PREL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: OPPOSITION CALLS OFF WORK STOPPAGE AFTER TWO-DAY
STRIKE

REF: MASERU 161; MASERU 160

MASERU 00000167 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Summary: After a two-day strike that crippled the Maseru
economy, late on March 20 Lesotho's political opposition leaders
called off the mass action in order to hold talks with visiting
SADC leaders. We expect that business will return to regular
levels of activity on March 21, although the late announcement
canceling a third strike day may result in a tentative return to
normalcy. The second day of the strike was again widely
observed by transportation services, rendering the economy
inoperative. Public opinion has been mixed regarding the
paralyzing strike. The action was extremely costly to local
commerce, especially impoverished workers in the informal
sector. Opposition party supporters, however, widely backed the
action as an expression of frustration over the governing
party's perceived manipulation of the electoral system. The
opposition appears content for the moment to put aside mass
action and make way for dialogue, but the political crisis will
remain complex. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Early in the evening on March 20, Lesotho's political
opposition parties that had called for a three-day work stoppage
("stay away")--the ABC, MFP, BNP, ACP and NIP--held a press
conference at a local hotel announcing the suspension of their
strike after two days in order to hold talks with visiting SADC
leaders. ABC leader Tom Thabane thanked supporters for making
the stay away a "success." Diplomatic Corps representatives,
including the Ambassador, held a series of meetings with key
players, including the SADC executive secretary and opposition
parties (details will be reported septel). SADC leaders were
scheduled to continue meeting with party leaders late on March
20, as well as with Prime Minister Mosisili.


3. (U) Lesotho's opposition-led stay away entered a second day
on March 20, with broad observation by the majority of
transportation services in the capital city of Maseru that
effectively rendered the formal and informal economies
inoperative. Participation in the stay away was mixed at
interior locations, with the strike more effective in urban,
vice rural, areas where the political opposition enjoys
substantial support. Maseru remained quiet and calm throughout
the day, with minimal vehicular and pedestrian traffic.


4. (U) In contrast to a weak GOL security presence on the first
day of the stay away, police and military forces were in strong
evidence throughout the day on March 20, including manned
checkpoints and helicopter surveillance. Other than several
tire burnings in Maseru, there were no reports of violence or
property damage. According to a local press report, police
arrested a local man in Berea district for damaging the Minister
of Health's car on the first day of the strike (ref B). The GOL
issued a statement on March 19 (distributed on March 20) that
exhorted the country's workforce to ignore the stay away and
promised transportation and security services, but ignored the
opposition's political demands.


5. (U) A complete lack of public transportation in Maseru,
coupled with intimidation by some opposition party supporters,
prohibited most of Maseru's estimated 100,000 employed workers
from commuting on March 20. For a second day in a row, the
strike ground local commerce to a halt. The GOL, which only had
six government buses at its disposal, ferried some civil
servants to work, while private vehicles transported some
laborers to local factories, allowing only a small portion of
the garment industry to resume production.


6. (U) The U.S. Embassy (as well as the American International
School-AISL),remained open on March 20, providing regular
services to the public, though at a reduced staffing level.
Local employees were unable to use public transportation and
those with privately-owned vehicles were unable to acquire fuel
due to gas station closings. Post provided transportation for
essential staff to work a shortened day, offering early release
to allow employees to return home and avoid confrontation with
strike supporters.


7. (SBU) Comment: Public opinion has been mixed regarding the
crippling strike. The two-day stay away was extremely costly to
local businesses and factories, as well as to impoverished
vendors, casual laborers, and other workers in the informal
sector. Opposition party supporters widely backed the strike as
an expression of deep frustration over the governing party's
perceived manipulation of the Lesotho's "Mixed-Member
Proportional Parliament" system, robbing, they say, the ABC and
other parties of a greater portion of legislative seats, if not
an opportunity to control the government. Radio call-in
programs on March 20 were critical of the GOL, blaming PM
Mosisili and his cabinet for being unresponsive to the
opposition and to the paralyzing strike. The Government,
however, views itself as fully responsive, particularly by

MASERU 00000167 002.2 OF 002


taking a "zero tolerance" response to the opposition's attempt
to occupy Parliament on March 15 and to claiming that it is open
to meeting with the parties. The opposition appears content for
the moment to put aside mass action and make way for dialogue,
but the political crisis will remain complex. End Comment.
PERRY