LESOTHO: ALLEGED COUP PLOTTERS FACE HARASSMENT IN LESOTHO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000460

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/S;
GABORONE FOR RSO;
PASS TO MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ASEC PINS KMCA LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ALLEGED COUP PLOTTERS FACE HARASSMENT IN LESOTHO
AND SOUTH AFRICA

REF: A) MASERU 452; B) MASERU 439; C) MASERU 436

MASERU 00000460 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 31, the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF)
redetained two soldiers charged with high treason immediately
upon their release on bail from Maseru's "Maximum Central
Prison." Meanwhile, local media and opposition political
leaders claim that South African National Defense Force (SANDF)
soldiers assaulted three of six men accused by the GOL of coup
plotting (ref A) before the South African Police Service (SAPS)
arrested them. On a related note, an influential local
newspaper has come out against opposition demands to suspend
Millennium Challenge Corporation assistance to Lesotho. END
SUMMARY.



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The Release-Arrest Loop

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2. (U) On July 31, heavily armed LDF Military Police (MPs)
surrounded the Maseru "Maximum Central Prison" prior to the
release of two LDF members who had posted bail after being
charged with high treason. The MPs apprehended the two
soldiers, Captain Lehloa Ramots'o and Corporal Paul Majalle,
immediately after their departure from the prison. The military
authorities quickly bundled the two soldiers into waiting army
trucks while family and friends, who had gathered to meet the
two men, protested. The two men had posted bail of 5,000 Maluti
(approximate $715) with an additional 60,000 Maluti surety
(approximately $8,600) to secure their release. Major Ramabele
Mokhantso, a third soldier charged with high treason, remained
imprisoned as he was unable to post bail.



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South Africa Gets Rough With Asylees?

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3. (SBU) Embassy contacts and the local media claim that on July
28 individuals in South African National Defense Force (SANDF)
uniforms entered a residence near Johannesburg housing three of
the six Lesotho nationals reportedly granted asylum by the South
African government (ref A). According to these reports, these
alleged SANDF personnel assaulted Motlomelo Motlomelo, Pakiso
Semoli, and Khotso Lebakeng, demanding the location of the three
other asylees. The military personnel reportedly left after
South African Police Service (SAPS) officers arrived and took
the men into custody citing a request from the GOL. (NOTE: Our
contact at Lesotho's Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP) stated that no extradition charges against
the men were presented to the South African government, but
direct information passed between the Lesotho and South African
police organizations cannot be ruled out. END NOTE.)




4. (SBU) According to local media reports, the three Basotho men
are currently in police custody in Sebokeng (Gauteng Province,
South Africa),and are expected to appear in a Johannesburg
magistrate court on August 14. The whereabouts of the other
three Basotho men who fled to South Africa, Mokherane
Tsatsanyane, Makotoko Lerotholi and Thabo Thantsi are unknown.

SIPDIS
On July 31, South African Deputy High Commissioner in Maseru
told Poloff that he had not been officially informed of any of
these alleged events, but he had no reason to doubt that they
occurred.



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Media Against Opposition

Call for MCC Suspension

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MASERU 00000460 002.2 OF 002




6. (U) In an unsigned editorial in the July 27 issue of Public
Eye, the paper rebuked opposition leaders for a letter to the
U.S. Embassy asking for a suspension of Millennium Challenge
Corporation funding. According to the fiercely independent
paper, "The ruling party and the opposition must desist from
sabotaging each other's legitimate political activities. The
opposition's move to call for a suspension of Millennium
Challenge Corporation funding, for example, is not an
appropriate political weapon. Actions like this can only hurt
the ultimate beneficiaries, the country's poorest...
Politicians must not forget that those same people whom they are
hurting with their irresponsible or wishy-washy actions are the
ones who put them where they are in the first place."




7. (SBU) While stating that the opposition supported the
Millennium Challenge Corporation's support for Lesotho, Alliance
of Congress Parties Deputy Leader Dr. Ralitapole told Poloff on
July 31 that the opposition's main concern was its perception
that jobs created by MCC projects, especially in rural areas,
would be doled out according to governing political party
patronage networks without the knowledge of MCC. She also
reiterated the opposition's position that the nation's human
rights situation should be addressed by the MCC, and pointed to
a recent attempt by authorities to put a lean against her
personal property, to recover court costs associated with a
legal case her party recently lost, as an example of an
intimidation campaign against opposition leaders.



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More Questions Than Answers

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8. (SBU) COMMENT: The reports outlined above concerning the
treatment of three Basotho asylees by South African authorities
are not yet officially confirmed, and the lack of information
from the South African High Commission in Maseru and the GOL's
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is perplexing.
When asked about the seeming contradictions between the RSA's
apparent grant of asylum to these six men followed by their
alleged rough treatment and subsequent arrest, the South African
Deputy High Commissioner could only confirm that it was odd but
that he "wouldn't rule it out." END COMMENT.
MURPHY