US embassy cable - 05MASERU222

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, ASEC, LT 
SUBJECT: 48 HOURS AND COUNTING - GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS SECURITY, 
OPPOSITION LEADERS DROP OUT 
 
REF: MASERU 215 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Deputy Prime Minister/Home Affairs Minister Lehohla met 
April 28 with diplomatic corps and donor representatives 48 
hours before local government elections.  He accepted a list of 
recent security incidents from the diplomatic corps and cited 
GOL needs for resources to battle criminal gangs.  Addressing 
international community safety concerns on the April 30 polling 
day, the DPM confirmed the GOL had coordinated its security 
forces and was prepared to handle any potential incidents.  He 
characterized the country's mood as one of "anticipation" and 
"healthy tension."  While envoys were pleased to hear his 
reassurances, they remained both concerned about the capacity of 
the police and army to respond calmly and hopeful that events 
would proceed smoothly.  The GOL appeared to feel in control of 
the situation despite the continuing public airing of grievances 
expressed by the opposition.  Two days following a late April 26 
meeting with the Diplomatic Corps, opposition party leaders have 
declared their members are free to vote, but they themselves 
will not participate.  Limited though it may be, this is a good 
sign that donor pressure for the democratic process appears to 
have yielded results.  End Summary 
 
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Diplomats Concerns 
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2.  (C) At the request of the Diplomatic and donor communities, 
the DPM, who is also Minister of Home Affairs, received envoys 
April 28.  Attendees were the U.S. and EU Ambassadors, the 
U.K.'s High Commissioner, the Irish Consul and the UNDP Resident 
Representative as well as the South African Mission's Counselor 
and the U.K.'s Deputy High Commissioner.  The U.K.'s 
Commissioner, Frank Martin, speaking as Dean, presented a list 
of nine major life-threatening gang attacks on donor countries' 
personnel, including the vicious April 1 attack on an American 
citizen and similar attacks on German and Indian citizens as 
well as muggings of British citizens.  The UN Resident 
Representative advised new security procedures at UN House and 
residences had been taken.  The group queried the DPM about the 
effectiveness (or lack thereof) of Lesotho's police force to 
handle these attacks and the electoral crowds expected around 
the country on April 30. 
 
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Home Affairs' Limitations 
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3.  (C) Concerning the capabilities of the local forces, the 
Minister acknowledged serious deficiencies in both rapid 
reaction and investigatory techniques.  He pleaded for donor 
assistance.  Both we and the British reminded the GOL of our 
successful law enforcement education programs (specifically 
ILEA)  which had helped to professionalize Basotho officers.  On 
the issue of peacefully handling any election related protests, 
the DPM said the Lesotho Defense Force, National Police and 
Intelligence personnel would effectively intervene should there 
be any disruptions.  He went so far as to say potentially 
difficult opposition members who had called for postponement of 
the elections would be followed, if necessary; Lesotho did not 
want "another 1998" period of violence.  (Note:  We obtained a 
copy of the Prime Minister's letter to the opposition dated 
April 28 refusing postponement of elections which would be an 
impediment to "deepening democracy.") 
 
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Opposition Pulls Back, Gives Okay to Members 
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MASERU 00000222  002 OF 002 
 
 
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4.  (C) The GOL's security task has become, we believe, somewhat 
less daunting.  After much prodding by the diplomatic corps and 
other donors (including during a rather contentious late April 
26 meeting), the major 11 opposition leaders (of the 24 parties) 
held an April 28 press conference giving their party members 
"permission" to vote on Saturday.  However, they stated they 
themselves would not participate.  The continued to air 
grievances primarily about the demarcation and other matters 
(see septel) but backed off their earlier calls for total 
boycott and postponement. 
 
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Atmospherics and Comment 
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5.  (C) Toward the end of our discussion, Ambassador asked the 
DPM how he would characterize the country's mood.  After 
reflection, he called it "one of anticipation" and "healthy 
tension."  We were reminded of comments by several small, 
grassroots rural party leaders who have told us their people 
want "freedom" and for "the elections to be done."  Informal 
polling of citizens in the capital suggests some degree of 
apathy by under 30 voters who say they prefer "music stations" 
to call-in election radio debates.  Thus, turnout level 
predictions very widely. 
 
6.  (C) The Opposition's grudging acceptance of the fact that 
the train has left the station at least sets the stage for one 
more step in the institutionalization of democracy, albeit not 
perfect.  End Comment.