Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MASERU382
2009-10-27 13:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO RESUME CLASSES NEXT WEEK

Tags:  ASEC PGOV CASC LT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1218
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0382 3001329
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271329Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4448
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4882
UNCLAS MASERU 000382 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC LT
SUBJECT: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO RESUME CLASSES NEXT WEEK

REF: Maseru 378

UNCLAS MASERU 000382

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC LT
SUBJECT: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO RESUME CLASSES NEXT WEEK

REF: Maseru 378


1. SUMMARY: Following Thursday's riots at National University of
Lesotho (NUL),the atmosphere around the city of Roma and on
campus is now calm and quiet. Students were evacuated from
campus over the weekend and those reported injured have since
been released from the hospital. End Summary.


2. The press conference that was set to take place on Friday,
October 23, 2009, by the Principal Secretary of Finance and
Development Planning, was instead held by the Director of
National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS),who clarified
issues leading to the riots. The Director indicated that the
funds which had not been transferred were accommodation expenses
for off-campus students only. Meanwhile, the All Basotho
Convention Youth League continues to criticize the Ministers of
Finance and Education for failing to address NMDS inefficiencies
and mismanagement. It has been reported that students from five
different institutions have experienced similar situations where
payment of allowances has been delayed.


3. Local media and post sources at NUL confirm one death
occurred as a result of the riot. The acting Vice Chancellor
visited all injured students in the hospital, all of whom have
since been released. All students were evacuated from campus on
Friday, October 23, and over the weekend, Botswana sent buses to
collect students funded by the government of Botswana and return
them home, due to the uncertainty over the university's security
situation. The campus has been calm since Friday, and classes
are expected to resume on Monday, November 2.

NOLAN