VZCZCXRO2875
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0339 1631456
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121456Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3040
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3412

UNCLAS MASERU 000339 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: RADIO STATION WINS CASE AGAINST GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: MASERU 258 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: Harvest FM, a popular local private anti-government 
radio station, won a last minute court case against the GOL on 
Saturday, June 9.  The outcome of the case overturned a Ministry 
of Tourism decision to deny the station the right to rent the 
National Convention Center to celebrate its four-year 
anniversary.  The tense situation which evolved on Saturday with 
Harvest FM supporters massing both at the Convention Center and 
at the High Court was peaceably resolved following the decision, 
but the strained relationship between the GOL and some of the 
more strident voices in Lesotho's private media will likely 
continue.  However, the swift and independent ruling by the High 
Court is a victory for the rule of law in the Mountain Kingdom. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
Whose Convention Center is it Anyway? 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2.  On Saturday, June 9, a conflict over rental of the National 
Convention Center between Lesotho's Ministry of Tourism and 
popular local anti-government radio station Harvest FM reached 
Lesotho's high court.  Harvest FM presenters reported that they 
follow all procedures to rent the auditorium for the station's 
fourth anniversary celebration and paid the required deposit. 
Midday on Saturday, Harvest FM management learned that the 
Ministry of Tourism, the government ministry with authority over 
the National Convention Center, had decided not to allow the 
radio station to use the facility. 
 
 
 
¶3.  Following the GOL decision, Harvest FM supports massed at 
both the National Convention Center and at the High Court, and 
callers to local radio discussion programs began to harshly 
criticize the Ministry of Tourism decision.  Representatives of 
Harvest FM quickly filed a legal case, which was reviewed almost 
immediately.  The court ruled in favor of Harvest FM at 8:00 pm, 
and the evening anniversary celebration went ahead as planned. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
Harvesting Judicial Independence? 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶4.  Since Lesotho's February 2007 National Assembly Elections, 
Harvest FM has increasingly solidified its position as the voice 
of the nation's political opposition and the GOL's most strident 
critic.  However, this position has come with a price.  After 
the elections, during which the station's presenters and callers 
harshly criticized the electoral process and the governing 
party, Harvest FM was taken off the air under mysterious 
circumstances only to reappear after twenty-four hours.  One of 
its most popular presenters, Pastor Adam Lekhoaba, was deported 
to South Africa after being declared an illegal alien.  (NOTE: 
Lekhoaba's case is under the court's consideration currently. 
END NOTE.) 
 
 
 
¶5.  COMMENT: The Ministry of Tourism's attempt to deny the radio 
station access to the National Convention Center will likely 
only make the station more popular with its politically-oriented 
listeners.  However, the court's swift decision in favor of the 
station does strike an increasingly positive chord to the tune 
of judicial independence in the Mountain Kingdom.  Although the 
political parties and the legislature are finding it difficult 
to achieve harmony and effective governance, the judiciary shows 
a growing adherence to and promulgation of the rule of law.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
MURPHY