Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MASERU43
2008-02-13 14:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

LESOTHO: ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENT WELL RECEIVED

Tags:  OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO PREL LT 
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VZCZCXRO7062
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0043 0441456
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131456Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3547
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3962
UNCLAS MASERU 000043 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/PD, R

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO PREL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENT WELL RECEIVED


UNCLAS MASERU 000043

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/PD, R

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO PREL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENT WELL RECEIVED



1. SUMMARY: On January 22, U.S. Embassy Maseru held a highly
successful event commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.. Ambassador Rob Nolan addressed some 125
participants, including Lesotho's First Lady and numerous
community leaders, with a message on the relevance of MLK's
legacy in modern Lesotho. The Ambassador presented awards to
student MLK essay contest winners and introduced a brief film
before inviting a prominent Basotho academic to deliver the
keynote address. The session's lively question and answer
session and the positive feedback to Embassy officers
demonstrated that this annual event once again helped draw
attention to Dr. King's legacy and the example it offers a young
nation seeking to develop and prosper. END SUMMARY.

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Maseru Honors MLK
--------------


2. On January 22, U.S. Embassy Maseru conducted a highly
successful annual event, hosted by Ambassador Rob Nolan,
commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Among the 125 or so individuals present at the event were First
Lady Ms. Mosisili (wife of the Prime Minister),diplomatic
chiefs of mission, prominent academic Professor L.B.B.J.
Machobane, and a number of other notable figures and community
leaders. Ambassador Nolan opened the event with an address
highlighting Dr. King's legacy and its relevance to modern
Lesotho. He then called on citizens of Lesotho to dedicate
themselves to transforming Lesotho in a positive manner, noting
that "If you are a member of this effort, then I promise today
that you have a friend in the United States Government and the
American people."


3. Ambassador Nolan then introduced a 20-minute clip from the
PA/OBS-supplied PBS film production "Citizen King." After the
film clip showing, the Ambassador presented awards to the top
participants in the Embassy's 2007 MLK essay contest, the winner
of which read her essay to the audience. Keynote speaker Dr.
Molisana Molisana, an acclaimed Basotho academic and research
scientist, spoke of Dr. King's struggle and how his life
exemplified the way political change can be achieved. He
compared Dr. Martin Luther King to the founder of the Basotho
nation, King Moshoeshoe I, who had impressed upon his people the
necessity of patience and forgiveness which ultimately brought
about change during an era of war and hatred in Southern Africa.


4. The session ended with a vibrant discussion period during
which members of the audience commented on Dr. King's legacy and
the future of Lesotho. Diplomats, academics, local opposition
party figures, and members of the American community stood to
express their thoughts on the day's proceedings eloquently and
poignantly.

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Audience Size and Press Coverage
--------------


5. The event was attended by approximately 125 individuals.
Subsequent press coverage was provided through the Mololi
newspaper and the state-owned Lesotho News Agency (LENA) wire
service (LENA reports are typically read on air by local radio
stations). The press coverage was overwhelmingly positive.

--------------
Positive Feedback, American Values Shine
--------------


6. COMMENT: Judging from the immediate feedback after the
event, the annual MLK forum was once again very positively
received. Several of the guests (including the South African
High Commissioner) were so taken with the film "Citizen King"
that they asked the PAO for copies of the documentary. Audience
members left the event with a better understanding of American
history, values, and principals. We look forward to our annual
MLK event to be a regular and anticipated touchstone of our
mission's PD calendar. END COMMENT.

NOLAN