VZCZCXRO7062
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0043 0441456
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131456Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3547
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3962

UNCLAS MASERU 000043 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S, AF/PD, R 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL KPAO PREL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENT WELL RECEIVED 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  On January 22, U.S. Embassy Maseru held a highly 
successful event commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr..  Ambassador Rob Nolan addressed some 125 
participants, including Lesotho's First Lady and numerous 
community leaders, with a message on the relevance of MLK's 
legacy in modern Lesotho.  The Ambassador presented awards to 
student MLK essay contest winners and introduced a brief film 
before inviting a prominent Basotho academic to deliver the 
keynote address.  The session's lively question and answer 
session and the positive feedback to Embassy officers 
demonstrated that this annual event once again helped draw 
attention to Dr. King's legacy and the example it offers a young 
nation seeking to develop and prosper.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Maseru Honors MLK 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  On January 22, U.S. Embassy Maseru conducted a highly 
successful annual event, hosted by Ambassador Rob Nolan, 
commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
 Among the 125 or so individuals present at the event were First 
Lady Ms. Mosisili (wife of the Prime Minister), diplomatic 
chiefs of mission, prominent academic Professor L.B.B.J. 
Machobane, and a number of other notable figures and community 
leaders.  Ambassador Nolan opened the event with an address 
highlighting Dr. King's legacy and its relevance to modern 
Lesotho.  He then called on citizens of Lesotho to dedicate 
themselves to transforming Lesotho in a positive manner, noting 
that "If you are a member of this effort, then I promise today 
that you have a friend in the United States Government and the 
American people." 
 
¶3.  Ambassador Nolan then introduced a 20-minute clip from the 
PA/OBS-supplied PBS film production "Citizen King."  After the 
film clip showing, the Ambassador presented awards to the top 
participants in the Embassy's 2007 MLK essay contest, the winner 
of which read her essay to the audience.  Keynote speaker Dr. 
Molisana Molisana, an acclaimed Basotho academic and research 
scientist, spoke of Dr. King's struggle and how his life 
exemplified the way political change can be achieved.  He 
compared Dr. Martin Luther King to the founder of the Basotho 
nation, King Moshoeshoe I, who had impressed upon his people the 
necessity of patience and forgiveness which ultimately brought 
about change during an era of war and hatred in Southern Africa. 
 
¶4.  The session ended with a vibrant discussion period during 
which members of the audience commented on Dr. King's legacy and 
the future of Lesotho.  Diplomats, academics, local opposition 
party figures, and members of the American community stood to 
express their thoughts on the day's proceedings eloquently and 
poignantly. 
 
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Audience Size and Press Coverage 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  The event was attended by approximately 125 individuals. 
Subsequent press coverage was provided through the Mololi 
newspaper and the state-owned Lesotho News Agency (LENA) wire 
service (LENA reports are typically read on air by local radio 
stations).  The press coverage was overwhelmingly positive. 
 
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Positive Feedback, American Values Shine 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  COMMENT:  Judging from the immediate feedback after the 
event, the annual MLK forum was once again very positively 
received.  Several of the guests (including the South African 
High Commissioner) were so taken with the film "Citizen King" 
that they asked the PAO for copies of the documentary.  Audience 
members left the event with a better understanding of American 
history, values, and principals.  We look forward to our annual 
MLK event to be a regular and anticipated touchstone of our 
mission's PD calendar.  END COMMENT. 
 
NOLAN