LESOTHO: EAC ASSESSES GOL CURFEW, SECURITY DETERIORATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000356

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC, S/CT, D, P, M, INR,
CA, AF/S; GABORONE FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/15/2017
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC PREL PGOV LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: EAC ASSESSES GOL CURFEW, SECURITY DETERIORATION

REF: A) MASERU 355; B) MASERU 351 AND PREVIOUS

MASERU 00000356 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Charge d'Affaires a.i. W. Patrick Murphy, CDA
a.i., EXEC, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(c),(d)

1. (C) SUMMARY: Charge convened the EAC twice on June 18 to
assess mission security policies and potential threats following
the GOL's after hours announcement on June 15 of a daily curfew,
several violent security incidents over the weekend of June
16-17 (including the carjacking of a U.S. mission vehicle),and
an assessment by the GOL that recent armed attacks are the work
of renegade military and police personnel seeking to overthrow
the government. The EAC agreed that several tripwires had been
at least partially crossed, and recommended specific security
actions. Post characterizes the current political and security
climate as stable but increasingly tense. Maseru is business as
usual during daylight; the public and commercial sectors are at
regular operations during non-curfew hours. Maseru is shuttered
at nightfall, however, and the city takes on an eerie calm,
punctuated by occasional gunfire and reports of violent security
incidents. There are no reports of Amcits facing security
difficulties. END SUMMARY.

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9:00 a.m. Emergency Action Committee Meeting
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2. (C) On Monday, June 18, Embassy Maseru's EAC convened to
review post's security posture in light of weekend developments
following the GOL's imposition on June 15 of a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00
a.m. daily curfew in Maseru and at least some upcountry cities
(ref A). Charge, Peace Corps Director, Peace Corps Regional
Security Officer, GSO (acting PSO),Consul, P/DEP Officer, IMO,
Management Assistant, and CLO participated. The EAC reviewed
the following developments:

- Lesotho's Police Commissioner, contacted by Charge on the
evening of Friday, June 15, acknowledged late evening radio
reports that the GOL had imposed a comprehensive curfew as a
means of apprehending "criminals" responsible for recent attacks
on senior government and political figures (ref B). She noted
that enforcement would be "flexible" the first night of the
curfew, given the late notice, but that security officials would
strictly enforce the measure during subsequent days.
- A/PSO implemented the post's phone tree after hours on June 15
to advise all mission personnel of the new curfew.
- A/PSO reactivated the phone tree on June 16, following
overnight reports of harassment of local residents at security
checkpoints, and issued a security directive to direct all
mission personnel to adhere to the curfew and to take
precautionary security measures.
- CONS issued a warden message advising U.S. citizens of the
curfew, advising adherence, and recommending basic security
precautions.
- The evening of June 16, Embassy staff received further reports
that local police/military had mistreated individuals at
police/military checkpoints around Maseru.
- On the evening of Sunday, June 17, armed and uniformed
assailants at what appeared to be an official security
checkpoint carjacked a Peace Corps vehicle which was in
possession of Lesotho police permits to circulate in Maseru
during curfew hours. When regular police personnel approached
the checkpoint, a firefight ensued. Two Peace Corps local
staff, a driver and PCV training center cook, escaped unharmed.


3. (C) The EAC reviewed the above information and agreed that
there was no information to suggest that USG interests, to
include USG personnel or U.S. citizens, were the target,
directly or indirectly, of any hostile intentions. In light of
the overall security developments, however, the EAC agreed to
take the following actions:

- To permit all local staff to leave mission offices at 4:30
p.m. during the curfew (normal business hours end at 5:00 p.m.),
and allow earlier departure for local staff with long commutes;
- To explore possible deferment of travel to Lesotho by
non-essential visitors;
- To release an additional security notice and warden message to
update those sent to Embassy staff and U.S. citizens on Friday,
June 15, and Saturday, June 16;
- To request police permits for key personnel;
- To cease all non-emergency activities and operations during
curfew hours, regardless of ability to obtain police permits for
circulation;

- To review and update post's phone tree;
- To review roles of EAC members.

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2:00 p.m. Emergency Action Committee Meeting
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4. (C) Following a mid-morning meeting with GOL representatives,
including the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Affairs

MASERU 00000356 002.2 OF 002


Minister (ref A),Charge called a second EAC meeting on June 18
to review additional information. This meeting was attended by
Charge, Peace Corps Director, Peace Corps Regional Security
Officer, GSO (acting PSO),Consul, P/DEP Officer, and IMO.
Charge reported that, according to the DPM, the GOL now assessed
that the armed attacks were not isolated criminal activity but
rather "the work of renegade Lesotho police and military
individuals who want to overthrow the government." The EAC
discussed the following new information:

- Instead of the curfew aiding the GOL to reign in illegal
weapons, attackers had engaged GOL security teams in gun battles
in northern Maseru on June 17, seizing an seven automatic rifles
and official vehicles.
- Lesotho military soldiers shot and seriously wounded a senior
police inspector (possibly Lesotho's Assistant Commissioner for
Police Operations) and stole his car in a June 17 attack at a
checkpoint in southern Maseru.
- The GOL was not fully responsive to requests by diplomats to
provide permits or other means to respond to medical or security
emergencies during curfew hours.
- Mission and other diplomatic personnel reporting hearing
nighttime gunfire throughout the weekend of June 16-17;
- Several local hotels reported difficulty in getting staff in
place during curfew hours, and as a result were unable to serve
meals.
- Several diplomatic missions reported an inability to get to or
from the airport during curfew hours (Note: There are no
scheduled flights after 6:00 p.m., although delays are frequent
and occasionally bring arrivals to Maseru after 6:00 p.m.)


5. (C) Embassy Maseru's EAC concluded that, in light of the new
information, several tripwires regarding local violence and
transportation had been at least partially crossed. Authorities
gave diplomatic missions assurances on June 18 of GOL
responsibilities for the protection of missions and personnel,
and stated that the curfew applies only to the capital city of
Maseru. The EAC assesses, however, that the GOL's ability to
respond to a U.S. mission emergency has diminished considerably
during the current security challenges. Further, based on poor
discipline and communication within the GOL and its security
entities, the EAC will operate on the basis that the curfew
applies nationwide. After reviewing the "Actions to Consider"
in post's tripwires, the EAC resolved to take the following
additional measures:

- To enact an immediate suspension of all non-essential USG and
USG NGO partner travel to Lesotho;
- To consult with Consular Affairs (CA) on the possible release
of a public announcement on Lesotho's security situation;
- To review air and ground transportation options in the event
of a mission drawdown;
- To move a portion of post's emergency food and water supply to
a centrally located alternative command center (Management
Officer's residence);
- IMO to conduct unannounced radio checks during curfew hours
and A/PSO to conduct drills during business hours;
- To identify alternative contacts at the American International
School of Lesotho during the current "winter school"
mini-session;
- To contact RMO and other health professionals to inform them
of the security situation in Lesotho;
- To consult with RSO (resident in Gaborone) to reiterate the
possible need for on-site DS support in the event of further
security deterioration;
- Peace Corps will review possible options for relocating PC
trainees, who arrived in country on June 15-16, out of Maseru to
an alternative training site outside of the city;
-Charge and PSO briefed Embassy staff on June 18 regarding
recent developments and adjustments to the mission's security
and operational postures. PC management did the same for PC
staff.


6. (U) Post has received no reports of resident or visiting
Amcits encountering serious security difficulties. Our warden
messages have been widely read and circulated, and by all
accounts Amcits are adhering to the curfew and taking mission
security advice seriously.


7. (U) Post communication is normal at present. Local PTT,
including landline and cellular networks, are functioning. The
Embassy switchboard number is (+266) 22 312 666. Duty Officer
phone is (+266) 5888 4035.
MURPHY