Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU358
2007-06-19 17:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:
LESOTHO JUNE 19 SITREP: GOL REVISES CURFEW
how-toVZCZCXRO9763 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN DE RUEHMR #0358/01 1701742 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191742Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY MASERU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3069 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3441
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MASERU 000358
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
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: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ASEC CASC LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO JUNE 19 SITREP: GOL REVISES CURFEW
REF: A) MASERU 356; B) MASERU 355; C) MASERU 351
MASERU 00000358 001.2 OF 004
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MASERU 000358
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
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: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ASEC CASC LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO JUNE 19 SITREP: GOL REVISES CURFEW
REF: A) MASERU 356; B) MASERU 355; C) MASERU 351
MASERU 00000358 001.2 OF 004
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In the face of public criticism, mounting
pressure from Lesotho's political opposition, and a threatened
taxi strike, the nation's Police Commissioner announced on June
19 a loosening of Maseru's current 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew
to the hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Embassy Maseru's EAC met to
review post's security posture in the light of relative calm the
night of June 18-19, concluding that the situation had not
substantially changed since the last EAC meeting (ref A). The
political angle to attacks of this last week remains clear. The
Police Commissioner foresees the current curfew as a temporary
measure, not lasting more than a week or two, although it is
highly unclear if she and the GOL can attain the goals which she
sets as conditions for lifting the curfew -- the identification
of the armed assailants and the seizure of their weapons. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Curfew Loosened
--------------
2. (U) Lesotho's Commissioner of Police told diplomats late on
June 19 that she had shortened Lesotho's 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
curfew to the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., effective
immediately. Embassy Maseru will maintain its current policies
regarding early closing hours for LES pending a review on June
20 of the implementation of these new curfew hours.
--------------
Quiet Night, Rough Checkpoints
--------------
3. (SBU) While the evening of June 18-19 was relatively quiet
with no new incidences of attacks on GOL targets, false
checkpoints, or other incidents directly effecting U.S. mission
personnel, other resident diplomatic missions did corroborate
reports of rough treatment of civilians by police and military
forces at checkpoints around Maseru.
--------------
Prime Minister in Cape Town
--------------
4. (U) Lesotho's Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, held
previously scheduled talks with South African President Thabo
Mbeki in Cape Town on June 19. The Prime Minister, joined by at
least four senior GOL ministers, is maintaining his schedule for
his long-planned three-day official state visit to South Africa.
-------------- --
Opposition Press Conference: "Slap in the Face"
-------------- --
5. (U) At the end of a lengthy press conference on June 19
called by Lesotho's five leading opposition parties to address
SADC mediation efforts (septel),leaders briefly addressed the
current curfew. In a prepared joint statement, they concluded
that the "dusk to dawn curfew is a slap in the face of Maseru
residents" and that they will request that the GOL lift the
curfew in order to ease tensions and level the playing field
ahead of the SADC-mediated dialogue, which will resume on June
25. Separately, Professor Francis Makoa, head of the department
of political science at the National University of Lesotho,
opined during a media interview that, "I think [the curfew] is
MASERU 00000358 002.2 OF 004
an attempt to suppress the civil rights of the opposition."
--------------
Border Confusion
--------------
6. (SBU) According to Lesotho's Commissioner of Police, recent
confusion regarding the status of the Lesotho-South Africa
border crossing at Maseru had been resolved. The Police
Commissioner stated that border policies had been clarified and
that the border station would remain open on a 24-hour basis.
The South African High Commission confirmed this status to
Charge.
--------------
Little Info From GOL, Except Police Contact
--------------
7. (SBU) Despite his assurances to the diplomatic corps (ref C),
Deputy Prime Minister Lehohla has not publicly commented on the
curfew. The sole public GOL statement regarding the situation
remains the curfew announcements by the Commissioner of Police.
However, Lesotho's MFA did provide diplomatic missions on June
19 with a police contact to serve as a "focal point for
diplomatic missions and international organizations" during the
curfew. This contact was identified as Assistant Commissioner
Kholokholo at the Lesotho Mounted Police Headquarters.
--------------
Law Society to Challenge Curfew
--------------
8. (U) The Lesotho Law Society (equivalent to the American Bar
Association) has filed a case at the nation's High Court
challenging the legality of the curfew. The government's curfew
is based on a 1991 Internal Security Order which was issued by
the military government of that era. The Law Society maintains
that the current curfew order is inconsistent with the 1993
Constitution, which restored democratic rule in Lesotho.
--------------
Embassy Surveillance Detection
Contractor Released
--------------
9. (SBU) The Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) released Embassy
Maseru's contract surveillance detection team leader Motlalentoa
Kopo from military custody on June 19 after being detained on
June 18. After previously denying that Mr. Kopo, a former
military officer, was in custody, military sources stated that
they had detained Kopo because he attended an ABC political
opposition meeting at which participants allegedly discussed
taking up arms against the GOL. Mr. Kopo denies participating
in any such meeting. His detention, however, corresponds with
senior GOL officials who have told diplomats that they suspect
current and former military officers are tied to a spate of
recent violent attacks on GOL officials. According to senior
level GOL authorities, the LDF Commander, invoking military
provisions, had at least five active duty LDF officers arrested
in connection with the recent violence primarily for dereliction
of duty, but under suspicion of closer involvement in the
attacks.
MASERU 00000358 003.2 OF 004
--------------
Taxi Strike Threat
--------------
10. (U) Harvest FM, an opposition-oriented private radio station
in Maseru, reported that seven taxi associations wrote a letter
to the Commissioner of Police demanding that the curfew be
lifted by 12:00 p.m. on June 20, 2007; otherwise, they will not
release their vehicles to transport residents of Maseru. This
move by taxi associations on June 19, many of which are strongly
associated with opposition parties, has the potential to disrupt
public transport in the capital. The Police Commissioner,
however, told Charge on June 19 that she was confident the
revised curfew hours would alleviate the taxi operators'
concerns and that they would not strike.
--------------
EAC Meeting
--------------
11. (SBU) Embassy Maseru's EAC convened at 11:00 a.m. on June 19
to review the mission's security posture. The EAC agreed that
the situation had not substantially changed since the last EAC
meeting on June 18 (ref A) which assessed the situation as
stable but increasingly tense. Embassy Maseru's local guard
force personnel have been briefed on the security situation.
The Embassy's security contractor has not experienced major
problems providing security to the Embassy compound or
residences as result of the curfew. The movement of
surveillance detection teams has been slightly restricted, but
this has not led to degradation of post's security posture. The
consular section reported that there have been no incidents of
American citizens in distress, and that several AmCits had
recently registered or made inquiries regarding the current
situation.
--------------
Peace Corps Vehicle Recovered
--------------
12. (SBU) On June 19, authorities returned a Peace Corps vehicle
which was carjacked on the evening of June 17 (ref A) to Peace
Corps custody. According to senior police officials, the armed
assailants who seized this vehicle were likely the same as those
who shot Lesotho's Deputy Police Commissioner on the same
evening.
--------------
GOL Functioning Normally,
Tensions Stabilizing?
--------------
13. (SBU) COMMENT: During the last 24 hours, tensions have not
escalated in Lesotho but the situation remains unpredictable.
Despite the alarmist statements of the Deputy Prime Minister
regarding alleged coup plots (ref C),it does not appear that
the perpetrators of recent attacks pose a threat to the GOL's
immediate ability to govern. Nonetheless, the attacks of this
last week do appear to be of a political, rather than simply
criminal, nature. The Police Commissioner foresees the current
curfew as a temporary measure, not lasting more than a week or
two, although it is highly unclear if she and the GOL can attain
the goals which she sets as conditions for lifting the curfew --
MASERU 00000358 004.2 OF 004
the identification of the armed assailants and the seizure of
their weapons. END COMMENT.
MURPHY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
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: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ASEC CASC LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO JUNE 19 SITREP: GOL REVISES CURFEW
REF: A) MASERU 356; B) MASERU 355; C) MASERU 351
MASERU 00000358 001.2 OF 004
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In the face of public criticism, mounting
pressure from Lesotho's political opposition, and a threatened
taxi strike, the nation's Police Commissioner announced on June
19 a loosening of Maseru's current 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew
to the hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Embassy Maseru's EAC met to
review post's security posture in the light of relative calm the
night of June 18-19, concluding that the situation had not
substantially changed since the last EAC meeting (ref A). The
political angle to attacks of this last week remains clear. The
Police Commissioner foresees the current curfew as a temporary
measure, not lasting more than a week or two, although it is
highly unclear if she and the GOL can attain the goals which she
sets as conditions for lifting the curfew -- the identification
of the armed assailants and the seizure of their weapons. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Curfew Loosened
--------------
2. (U) Lesotho's Commissioner of Police told diplomats late on
June 19 that she had shortened Lesotho's 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
curfew to the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., effective
immediately. Embassy Maseru will maintain its current policies
regarding early closing hours for LES pending a review on June
20 of the implementation of these new curfew hours.
--------------
Quiet Night, Rough Checkpoints
--------------
3. (SBU) While the evening of June 18-19 was relatively quiet
with no new incidences of attacks on GOL targets, false
checkpoints, or other incidents directly effecting U.S. mission
personnel, other resident diplomatic missions did corroborate
reports of rough treatment of civilians by police and military
forces at checkpoints around Maseru.
--------------
Prime Minister in Cape Town
--------------
4. (U) Lesotho's Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, held
previously scheduled talks with South African President Thabo
Mbeki in Cape Town on June 19. The Prime Minister, joined by at
least four senior GOL ministers, is maintaining his schedule for
his long-planned three-day official state visit to South Africa.
-------------- --
Opposition Press Conference: "Slap in the Face"
-------------- --
5. (U) At the end of a lengthy press conference on June 19
called by Lesotho's five leading opposition parties to address
SADC mediation efforts (septel),leaders briefly addressed the
current curfew. In a prepared joint statement, they concluded
that the "dusk to dawn curfew is a slap in the face of Maseru
residents" and that they will request that the GOL lift the
curfew in order to ease tensions and level the playing field
ahead of the SADC-mediated dialogue, which will resume on June
25. Separately, Professor Francis Makoa, head of the department
of political science at the National University of Lesotho,
opined during a media interview that, "I think [the curfew] is
MASERU 00000358 002.2 OF 004
an attempt to suppress the civil rights of the opposition."
--------------
Border Confusion
--------------
6. (SBU) According to Lesotho's Commissioner of Police, recent
confusion regarding the status of the Lesotho-South Africa
border crossing at Maseru had been resolved. The Police
Commissioner stated that border policies had been clarified and
that the border station would remain open on a 24-hour basis.
The South African High Commission confirmed this status to
Charge.
--------------
Little Info From GOL, Except Police Contact
--------------
7. (SBU) Despite his assurances to the diplomatic corps (ref C),
Deputy Prime Minister Lehohla has not publicly commented on the
curfew. The sole public GOL statement regarding the situation
remains the curfew announcements by the Commissioner of Police.
However, Lesotho's MFA did provide diplomatic missions on June
19 with a police contact to serve as a "focal point for
diplomatic missions and international organizations" during the
curfew. This contact was identified as Assistant Commissioner
Kholokholo at the Lesotho Mounted Police Headquarters.
--------------
Law Society to Challenge Curfew
--------------
8. (U) The Lesotho Law Society (equivalent to the American Bar
Association) has filed a case at the nation's High Court
challenging the legality of the curfew. The government's curfew
is based on a 1991 Internal Security Order which was issued by
the military government of that era. The Law Society maintains
that the current curfew order is inconsistent with the 1993
Constitution, which restored democratic rule in Lesotho.
--------------
Embassy Surveillance Detection
Contractor Released
--------------
9. (SBU) The Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) released Embassy
Maseru's contract surveillance detection team leader Motlalentoa
Kopo from military custody on June 19 after being detained on
June 18. After previously denying that Mr. Kopo, a former
military officer, was in custody, military sources stated that
they had detained Kopo because he attended an ABC political
opposition meeting at which participants allegedly discussed
taking up arms against the GOL. Mr. Kopo denies participating
in any such meeting. His detention, however, corresponds with
senior GOL officials who have told diplomats that they suspect
current and former military officers are tied to a spate of
recent violent attacks on GOL officials. According to senior
level GOL authorities, the LDF Commander, invoking military
provisions, had at least five active duty LDF officers arrested
in connection with the recent violence primarily for dereliction
of duty, but under suspicion of closer involvement in the
attacks.
MASERU 00000358 003.2 OF 004
--------------
Taxi Strike Threat
--------------
10. (U) Harvest FM, an opposition-oriented private radio station
in Maseru, reported that seven taxi associations wrote a letter
to the Commissioner of Police demanding that the curfew be
lifted by 12:00 p.m. on June 20, 2007; otherwise, they will not
release their vehicles to transport residents of Maseru. This
move by taxi associations on June 19, many of which are strongly
associated with opposition parties, has the potential to disrupt
public transport in the capital. The Police Commissioner,
however, told Charge on June 19 that she was confident the
revised curfew hours would alleviate the taxi operators'
concerns and that they would not strike.
--------------
EAC Meeting
--------------
11. (SBU) Embassy Maseru's EAC convened at 11:00 a.m. on June 19
to review the mission's security posture. The EAC agreed that
the situation had not substantially changed since the last EAC
meeting on June 18 (ref A) which assessed the situation as
stable but increasingly tense. Embassy Maseru's local guard
force personnel have been briefed on the security situation.
The Embassy's security contractor has not experienced major
problems providing security to the Embassy compound or
residences as result of the curfew. The movement of
surveillance detection teams has been slightly restricted, but
this has not led to degradation of post's security posture. The
consular section reported that there have been no incidents of
American citizens in distress, and that several AmCits had
recently registered or made inquiries regarding the current
situation.
--------------
Peace Corps Vehicle Recovered
--------------
12. (SBU) On June 19, authorities returned a Peace Corps vehicle
which was carjacked on the evening of June 17 (ref A) to Peace
Corps custody. According to senior police officials, the armed
assailants who seized this vehicle were likely the same as those
who shot Lesotho's Deputy Police Commissioner on the same
evening.
--------------
GOL Functioning Normally,
Tensions Stabilizing?
--------------
13. (SBU) COMMENT: During the last 24 hours, tensions have not
escalated in Lesotho but the situation remains unpredictable.
Despite the alarmist statements of the Deputy Prime Minister
regarding alleged coup plots (ref C),it does not appear that
the perpetrators of recent attacks pose a threat to the GOL's
immediate ability to govern. Nonetheless, the attacks of this
last week do appear to be of a political, rather than simply
criminal, nature. The Police Commissioner foresees the current
curfew as a temporary measure, not lasting more than a week or
two, although it is highly unclear if she and the GOL can attain
the goals which she sets as conditions for lifting the curfew --
MASERU 00000358 004.2 OF 004
the identification of the armed assailants and the seizure of
their weapons. END COMMENT.
MURPHY