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P R 011119Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1853
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2106

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000059 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/1/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR LT
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON LESOTHO'S FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
REF: (A) STATE 15534  (B) MASERU 51 
 
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) 
 
 
 
¶1. (C) Information on the January 29 shooting of Foreign 
Minister of Lesotho, Monyane Moleleki, continues to develop. 
Drawing on our discussions with the Commander of the Lesotho 
Defense Force, the Minister of Finance and private individuals, 
the following information has been provided by government 
sources: 
 
(a) The FOMIN was discharged January 31 (PM).  (Note:  we 
confirmed his arrival home late Tuesday and noted his 2/1/06 
appearance at the opening of The High Court), 
(b) the injuries were determined by the military hospital to be 
superficial in nature and were removed from the right arm, 
(c) the weapons used projectiles that "fragmented" upon impact; 
type used by protective services, 
(d) the attack was well planned, 
(e) the FOMIN was driving his personal 4-wheel SUV, 
(f) senior patrol guards who were to have patrolled the house 
did not do so. 
 
¶2.  (C) The Defense Force Commander told us he has launched an 
internal Army investigation as he believes the assailants may be 
"renegade" or "insubordinate" members (or former members) of the 
LDF.  At the same time, he stated that the police investigation 
will go forward.  According to Finance Minister Thahane, the 
government decided not to go forward with a statement by the 
Deputy Prime Minsiter, but would await investigations' outcome. 
 
¶3.  (C) The Minister of Finance stated on February 1 that the 
situation did not necessarily mean political motivations were 
the cause; it "could be personal," he argued; the "political 
motivation," has not been established.  On the other hand, the 
FOMIN's sister-in-law; a prominent physician, (PROTECT: Dr. Mphu 
Ramatlapeng) found the attack "disturbing."  She elaborated on 
the country's welcome lack of violence, such as political 
shootings, since the 1998 disturbances.  She believed her 
brother-in-law's wounds were not deeply serious, but observed 
that her sister (Moleleki's wife) was now "nervous" in their 
hillside home.  Note:  The government has increased security at 
the homes of both the Foreign Minister and the Deputy Prime 
Minister. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Minister's family and a Cabinet colleague thanked 
Ambassador for Embassy's flowers and note as well as the 
gracious letter from the Assistant Secretary. 
 
Comment 
-------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) There are many unanswered questions surrounding this 
attack.  The GOL does not seem to want to "point fingers" at 
discontented elements within the ruling LCD party.  Yet, in our 
January 30 and 31 conversations with the DPM and the Minister of 
Finance, they both reflected on "party divisions as the possible 
root cause."  Our RSA counterpart has been in contact with his 
Foreign Minister and has described his country as "disturbed" by 
this incident. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) High 
Commissioner believes there is a political cause behind the 
attack coming as it did near the end of the divided party 
congress.  Moleleki is a perceived threat to the PM's popularity 
and is also a hurdle for Communications Minister Thabane should 
he wish to seek party leadership in the future.  The political 
situation seems calm in light of Sunday's incident, but the 
fissures that may have led to this situation are likely still in 
place, despite the LCD's unity message.  We are reinforcing the 
message of democratic processes with all stakeholders.  End 
Comment. 
 
PERRY