Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MASERU269
2009-08-05 08:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:
STAY AWAY CALLED OFF AS TALKS OPEN TODAY
how-toVZCZCXRO4998 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN DE RUEHMR #0269 2170836 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 050836Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY MASERU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4306 INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4735
UNCLAS MASERU 000269
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/AF, DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV LT
SUBJECT: STAY AWAY CALLED OFF AS TALKS OPEN TODAY
REF: Maseru 266
UNCLAS MASERU 000269
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/AF, DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV LT
SUBJECT: STAY AWAY CALLED OFF AS TALKS OPEN TODAY
REF: Maseru 266
1. (U) Tom Thabane, leader of Lesotho's largest opposition
party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC),announced on August 4
that the stay away called for by a group of opposition parties
had been called off. Thabane stated that the decision was made
to end the general strike in order to facilitate the talks
between all stakeholders in the 2007 election dispute and to
allow the Independent Election Commission (IEC) a chance to
respond appropriately to the opposition parties' complaints
about the allocation of proportional representation seats in
parliament. The governing Lesotho Congress for Democracy, the
ABC, the IEC, and representatives of the other opposition
parties will begin talks today in an attempt to defuse the
crisis. Thabane indicated that the opposition may return to the
strike or implement other measures if their grievances are not
addressed.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the talks had been announced to the
public on August 3, Thabane did not decide to call off the stay
away until August 4. It is more likely that this decision
resulted from the public's lackluster participation in the
strike than from a conviction to support the talks. With more
people worried about losing their jobs in a depressed economic
climate than about supporting the opposition, the strike was
poorly timed. Post will continue to report as the talks
progress.
POWER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S, INR/AF, DS/IP/AF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV LT
SUBJECT: STAY AWAY CALLED OFF AS TALKS OPEN TODAY
REF: Maseru 266
1. (U) Tom Thabane, leader of Lesotho's largest opposition
party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC),announced on August 4
that the stay away called for by a group of opposition parties
had been called off. Thabane stated that the decision was made
to end the general strike in order to facilitate the talks
between all stakeholders in the 2007 election dispute and to
allow the Independent Election Commission (IEC) a chance to
respond appropriately to the opposition parties' complaints
about the allocation of proportional representation seats in
parliament. The governing Lesotho Congress for Democracy, the
ABC, the IEC, and representatives of the other opposition
parties will begin talks today in an attempt to defuse the
crisis. Thabane indicated that the opposition may return to the
strike or implement other measures if their grievances are not
addressed.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the talks had been announced to the
public on August 3, Thabane did not decide to call off the stay
away until August 4. It is more likely that this decision
resulted from the public's lackluster participation in the
strike than from a conviction to support the talks. With more
people worried about losing their jobs in a depressed economic
climate than about supporting the opposition, the strike was
poorly timed. Post will continue to report as the talks
progress.
POWER