SADC PRESS RELEASE ON LESOTHO MEDIATION

UNCLAS MASERU 000192

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR AF/SSIPDIS, SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV LT
SUBJECT: SADC PRESS RELEASE ON LESOTHO MEDIATION

REF: MASERU 191 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) On March 23, the Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial
Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security
Cooperation (Tanzania) issued a press release in Maseru
regarding a potential SADC role in mediating talks among
Lesotho's political parties to resolve an ongoing
election-related impasse (para 3 below). Tanzanian Foreign
Minister Bernard Membe had told Maseru-based diplomats on March
22 he would issue the statement as part of a SADC commitment to
opposition parties. Membe and other SADC leaders were in Maseru
for a SADC Council of Ministers meeting.


2. (U) Opposition parties, led by the ABC, called off a work
stay-away on March 20 (after two days of transportation strikes
that paralyzed the Maseru economy) following an intervention by
the SADC Executive Secretary. At an opposition rally on March
25, ABC leader Tom Thabane told followers that the opposition,
while it viewed the stay away action as "successful," did not
have plans for renewed strikes in light of the SADC commitment
to mediate a dialogue. On March 25 the ABC and four other
opposition parties (ACP, BNP, MFP, and NIP) announced the
formation of an opposition alliance and reiterated "a firm view
....that the legal instrument that determines the allocation of
the proportional seats (in Parliament) has not only been
violated but also undermined and subverted.".


3. (U) Following is text of press release on the SADC
Ministerial Troika dated :

Begin Text of Press Release:

As a follow up to the consultations made by the SADC Executive
Secretary in the Kingdom of Lesotho on the current political

SIPDIS
developments, the Chairperson of the Ministerial Troika of the
Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Honorable
Bernard K. Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania was briefed on
the ongoing differences between the Government of Lesotho and
opposition parties.

The Chairperson of the Ministerial Troika of the Organ has taken
note of these developments and undertakes to make further
consultations with a view to enhancing the conducive environment
for further peaceful dialogue amongst the concerned parties in
the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The Chairperson of the Ministerial Troika of the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation calls upon the
concerned parties to truly address their differences through
dialogue in the best interest of the Basotho Nation and of the
SADC Region as a whole.

Peace and political stability are important requisites for
accelerating economic growth and eradication of poverty in all
our SADC Member States.

MASERU
23 March 2007

End Text of Press Release.

PERRY