LESOTHO: COURT REINSTATES CITIZENSHIP OF GOL CRITIC

UNCLAS MASERU 000598 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/S; GABORONE FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ASEC LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: COURT REINSTATES CITIZENSHIP OF GOL CRITIC REF: A) MASERU 577; B) MASERU 500 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Lesotho's High Court, in a high-profile case which had become a cause celebre within opposition circles, has reversed a GOL decision to strip the citizenship of the Reverend Adam Lekhoaba, a controversial local radio presenter and harsh critic of the government. In addition to immediately resuming his radio broadcasts, Lekhoaba gave the opening prayer at a November 4 opposition rally -- an early sign that he'll likely remain a strong voice for the opposition, bolstered by his "persecuted" status. The High Court's surprising ruling continues to demonstrate judicial independence in the Mountain Kingdom. END SUMMARY. -------------- The Reverend Is A Mosotho Again -------------- ¶2. (U) On October 26, Lesotho's High Court found in favor of the Reverend Adam Lekhoaba, a controversial radio presenter, returning to him his Lesotho citizenship. Lekhoaba, whom security officials deported to South Africa in May 2007 after the Lesotho's Ministry of Home Affairs declared him to be an illegal alien (reftel A),immediately resumed his hosting of a popular morning talk show on opposition-oriented radio station Harvest FM. ¶3. (SBU) On October 30, Lekhoaba, during an unannounced visit to Embassy Maseru, made a calm but emotionally charged plea to Poloff to influence the GOL to drop high treason charges against several citizens of Lesotho (reftel B). He noted that the GOL had recovered all weapons stolen in July 2007 attacks on ministerial residences, and had not linked those weapons to the three men who are in self-imposed exile in South Africa. Lekhoaba also sought support for the replacement of the radio station's transmitter, originally donated by a U.S. religious group. ¶4. (U) Claiming his unofficial role as "minister to the opposition," Reverend Lekhoaba delivered an opening prayer to an opposition All Basotho Convention (ABC) rally on November 4. Even in prayer, Lekhoaba remained critical of the government and a firm supporter of the opposition cause. -------------- Judicial Independence Displayed Again -------------- ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Reverend Lekhoaba appears certain to remain a high profile mainstay of the opposition circuit for the immediate future. Born and raised in Lesotho, Lekhoaba's family relocated to South Africa during military rule in Lesotho -- the legal basis of the GOL's decision to deport him following his sharply critical broadcasts during a post-election political impasse. Lekhoaba's surprising court victory against the GOL to regain his citizenship is more evidence of the continued independence of Lesotho's judiciary. END COMMENT. NOLAN