VZCZCXRO2847
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0340 1631502
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121502Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3041
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3413

UNCLAS MASERU 000340 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ASEC LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: GUNMEN FORCIBLY DISARM MINISTERIAL GUARDS 
 
REF: A) MASERU 337; B) MASERU 94; C) MASERU 178 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On the night of June 10, unknown gunmen 
carrying automatic rifles attacked, disarmed, and kidnapped 
Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) guards at the residences of the 
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Motloheloa Phooko and 
the Minister of Trade and Industry Popane Lebesa.  No shots were 
fired, though at least one soldier sustained a minor head 
injury.  The army and police are investigating the matter.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) On the night of June 10, four to five gunmen attacked, 
disarmed, and kidnapped LDF guards at the residences of the 
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Motloheloa Phooko and 
the Minister of Trade and Industry Popane Lebesa.  The gunmen 
were reported to have taken four Israeli-made Galilee automatic 
rifles from the guards at both residences.  (NOTE: The Galilee 
rifle is a standard issue weapon for the Lesotho Defense Forces. 
 END NOTE.)  According to one report, the attackers stated that 
they had come to kill the ministers, but abandoned that plan 
once they were incorrectly told by the guards that the ministers 
were not at home.  It is still not clear how the attackers were 
able to carry out their attack without a single shot being 
fired.  At least one soldier is reported to have sustained a 
minor head injury after being struck by a rifle. 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) Post received a public statement from the Lesotho Defense 
Forces (LDF) Public Affairs Office on June 12 regarding the 
incidents at the homes of Minister Phooko and Minister Lebesa. 
The statement reads: 
 
 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
 
 
The Lesotho Defense Force Public Affairs Office (LDF-PAO) 
informs the public that on the night of 10th June 2007, soldiers 
on guard at the Honorable Ministers' homes were attacked.  They 
were at the residences of the Honorable Minister of Trade and 
Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing, Mr. Popane Lebesa, and the 
Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. 
Motloheloa Phooko. 
 
 
 
No lives were lost at these attacks but some soldiers sustained 
minor injuries.  Investigations regarding these incidents are in 
progress, but for security reasons, reports in full details will 
be issued when the investigations are completed. 
 
 
 
For more information contact:  LDF Public Affairs Officer + 
(266) 22-320-404 
 
 
 
END TEXT. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) COMMENT:  According to sources, four to five gunmen 
took part in these attacks.  Understandably, this incident has 
embarrassed members of the security establishment and shocked 
the public at large.  A source at the LDF Commander's Office 
told Emboff that the gunmen, after seizing the LDF guards' 
rifles by force, marched the soldiers outside the residences and 
warned them to stop working as guards for ministers.  The 
attackers also stated to the guards that they were not targets 
of the attack.  Local speculation has centered on the 
supposition that only individuals with military experience could 
carry out such an attack.  Although motives for these attacks 
are unknown, they are eerily similar to assaults in 2006 and 
earlier in 2007 against residences owned by other members of the 
GOL cabinet (reftels).  END COMMENT. 
 
MURPHY