VZCZCXRO1426
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0165/01 1421933
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221933Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4178
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4605

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MASERU 000165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S, DS/IP/AF, AND INR/AF 
CAPE TOWN FOR SEEKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ASEC LT
SUBJECT: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: MEDIA REVIEW 
 
REF: A) Maseru 158 and previous   B) Maseru 142  C) Maseru 123 
 
MASERU 00000165  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
------------- 
Summary 
------------- 
 
¶1.  In the May 14-20 issue of "The Monitor" weekly newspaper, a 
well-respected local columnist asks the question:  "Is Lesotho a 
fertile breeding ground for international terrorism?"  His 
points echo some of the Embassy's own concerns about security in 
the country, most forcefully brought to light by the involvement 
of foreigners in the recent attempted assassination of Prime 
Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.  Last week's "Lesotho Times" front 
page headlines stated:  "Mosisili Attack:  Two ABC supporters 
arrested".  This is just the latest of many articles over the 
past three weeks which have attempted to shed some light on the 
events that transpired during the early morning hours of April 
22, 2009, at the Prime Minister's residence.  While all 
newspapers, radio and television coverage have carried a similar 
version of the facts of the event, theories as to the 
perpetrators and possible suspects have been varied, and no one 
in the media seems to have any reliable source within the 
government of clear-cut information which could identify either 
culprit, motive, or opportunity. 
 
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Should we be worried about Al Qaeda in this tiny country? 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------ 
¶2.  Monday's article in "The Monitor" was written by one of 
Lesotho's most experienced columnists.  He is known to be an 
independent thinker, a staunch supporter of freedom of the 
press.  The article is an opinion piece, pointing out first that 
Lesotho has all the prerequisites for facilitating the growth of 
terrorist elements, such as "porous borders, corrupt, and easily 
bribed immigration officials, and a security/legal system with 
numerous loopholes."  He stresses that in this "post-Cold War 
world", anti-West and anti-capitalist entities such as Al Qaeda 
have focused their fight on the United States alone, 
concentrating their efforts against the world's "only 
superpower."  He insinuates that those involved in the attacks 
on the Prime Minister's residence might have a grudge against 
the government of Lesotho (GOL) because of their belief in a 
democratic system of government, and their status as a "lackey" 
of "their big brother America."  He states:  "Lesotho's 
receiving of the $2.5 (sic) billion aid package from the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) which is a body in the US 
that promotes democracy has not gone down well with some of 
these terrorist groupings."  (Note:  Lesotho is receiving MCC 
funding in the amount of $362.6 million and it appears likely 
that the newspaper's misinformation resulted from confusing the 
dollar amount and the rand amount.  End note.) 
 
¶3.  In answer to the title question of whether or not Lesotho is 
fertile breeding ground for terrorists, the author gives a 
resounding yes.  According to him, anyone can get in, and this 
is evidenced by the incursion - all the way up to the gates of 
the Prime Minister's residence - of South African and Mozambican 
"terrorists" on the night of April 22 (ref A).  He then mentions 
the fact that citizens of Lesotho and Swaziland can no longer 
travel freely to Britain, and asserts that the CIA, MI5, and 
others have found international terrorists and Al Qaeda 
operatives traveling under Lesotho passports.  He also mentioned 
that one Al Qaeda operative of Sudanese origin - associated with 
the 9/11 attacks, and eventually imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay - 
had worked for one of Lesotho's flying services as a pilot. 
According to the article, high ranking government officials are 
aware of passport and document fraud facilitated by bribery with 
the Home Affairs department, and Foreign Minister Tsekoa 
commented that both the GOL and the South African government are 
prioritizing these border problems and said that "very soon the 
whole cacophony of illicit crossing will come to an `ungentle' 
stop." 
 
¶4.  Finally, he blames a string of unsolved cases for damaging 
the credibility of Lesotho's judicial system, stating that one 
of those cases involved an American citizen.  (Note:  The 
murdered Clinton Foundation employee he referred to was not an 
American citizen.)  In regard to that death he says:  "When it 
comes to the death of their citizens Americans especially the 
CIA have a very long memory."  He says that when a terrorist 
finds out about Lesotho's flawed security and legal systems, and 
know that they can enter the country easily, they deduce that 
they can "come into the country, fulfill whatever nefarious 
mission they are on and walk away freely without apprehension." 
He doesn't think that the police would catch them, and if they 
did, he feels certain that the sentence would be light, if not 
non-existent.  He mentions a case of sedition where the 
defendant was sentenced to pay a $20 fine. 
 
 
MASERU 00000165  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶5.  Comment:  Post agrees with the journalist on many points. 
The borders are porous, documents are not secure, and the 
justice system is flawed.  However, facing an HIV/AIDS pandemic 
(the third highest infection rate in the world), unemployment of 
about 50%, and extreme poverty for much of the population, the 
GOL is strapped for money, and it is likely that the GOL would 
need help from other countries if it decided to really tackle 
the border issue and crack down on illegal entry.  End comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------------- 
A game of connect the dots:  Is this a repeat of 2007? 
--------------------------------------------- ------------------- 
 
¶6.  Some Embassy sources are concerned at what looks like a 
return to the apparently random searches of opposition leaders' 
homes that was a prevalent feature of police action in the 
aftermath of the 2007 elections in the kingdom.  The two ABC 
supporters mentioned in the Lesotho Times headline were arrested 
in their homes last Friday.  (Note: The All Basotho Convention 
(ABC) is the main opposition party in Lesotho, the only real 
contender against the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy 
(LCD) party.  End Note.)  According to the paper, Dan Masia was 
at his home at 6:30 am in the morning when six armed Special 
Support Unit (SSU) police officers arrived, wearing civilian 
clothes, saying that they were searching for illegal arms. 
Although they did not present a search warrant, Masia allowed 
them to search his home. 
 
¶7.  Six heavily armed officers had appeared earlier, at 4:45 am 
Friday morning, at the home of Katiso Phasumane.  This group of 
officers did have a search warrant.  Following the searches, 
both men were questioned as to their whereabouts leading up to 
the April 22 attacks, and officers insinuated that Phasumane and 
Masia might have been involved.  The SSU Station Commander 
responded to the paper's report by stating that "the two had 
been arrested because their names kept coming up during the 
interrogation of other suspects connected to the attack on the 
State House." 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
Some suggest that the ruling party is responsible for the attacks 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
 
¶8.  In a surprise move, Ratabane "Candy" Ramainoane, the 
editor-in-chief and sole proprietor of a local weekly 
Sesotho-language newspaper, "MoAfrika", argued that the 
responsibility for the April 22 attacks lies with Prime Minister 
Mosisili himself.  Ramainoane, a strong supporter of the LCD and 
known foe of opposition leader Tom Thabane, stated in 
"MoAfrika's" April 24 issue, "Mosisili o jeoa ke linta tsa kobo 
ea hae", directly translated:  "Mosisili is being bitten by lice 
from his own blanket".  In other words, "the Prime Minister has 
dug his own grave." 
 
¶9.  Ramainoane added that although Lesotho citizens have 
different theories about the April 22 attacks, the general 
feeling is that Mosisili invited the South African army to take 
charge of the country's security in 1998, and therefore, foreign 
troops got to know all the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) secrets, 
strategic bases, and what kind of weapons they carry.  According 
to Ramainoane, rumors are floating that Mosisili's ex-right hand 
man, who has since left the government, still has a loyal 
following in the security establishment.  (Comment: Ramainoane 
does not mention by name the "ex-right hand man", but the 
general public is aware that he is referring to opposition 
leader Thabane.  End comment.)  The editor further claims that 
the afore-mentioned individual has followers in the LDF, the 
Lesotho Mounted Police Service, the National Security Service, 
and others.  Ramainoane advises Mosisili that officers in the 
security service who are still close to Thabane, are telling the 
Prime Minister lies, and should be gotten rid of. 
 
¶10.  Comment:  By urging Mosisili to throw away his blanket, it 
seems that Ramainoane is advocating for a cabinet reshuffle and 
the appointment of new heads of the disciplined, security and 
correctional services, who would be loyal to the LCD and not to 
Thabane.  End Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Are old friends being used against the ABC? 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶11.  The Lesotho Monitor May 7 headline reads:  "Imigris 
renounce Tom Thabane."  Tom Thabane is the leader of the ABC 
party.  The three imigris mentioned in the headline used to work 
for him as bodyguards.  The trio fled Lesotho in 2007 in fear of 
retaliation for their alleged role in post-election violence, 
including attacks on ministers' homes, and they returned to 
 
MASERU 00000165  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
Lesotho just weeks before the April 22 attacks.  On May 4, the 
three men called a press conference to vent their frustration at 
not having received more support from Thabane during their exile 
(ref B).  The three men scoffed at the idea that Makotoko 
Lerotholi, one of the only publicly-named suspects in the April 
22 attacks, could have been involved.  According to them, 
Lerotholi was much too ill to take part in such a plot. 
 
¶12.  Comment: Rumors about Lerotholi's involvement in the 
assassination attempt appear to have been confirmed by his 
recent arrest in South Africa (ref A).  End Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
The Lesotho Monitor ponders attacks; urges government to act 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
 
¶13.  In other stories, the Monitor reported that the two 
suspects held in custody in Lesotho in connection with the April 
22 attacks have been remanded to custody until their cases are 
heard on May 18 by the Maseru Magistrate.  The two applied for 
bail, which was denied for reasons of national security.  The 
report indicates that investigations have still not revealed the 
exact number of arms and ammunition still missing from the LDF 
armory.  Army spokesmen say they are puzzled at how the 
attackers gained access to the armory, and investigations are 
still ongoing.  In reaction to the attacks and the arrest of the 
two suspects (one from Mozambique and the other from South 
Africa), Lesotho has welcomed police officers from both 
Mozambique and South Africa, as well as officers from the 
International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) based in 
France.  In a separate article, the High Commissioners from 
Mozambique and South Africa pledge that their countries are 
committed to assisting Lesotho with its investigations, saying 
that anyone who is involved with the attacks should be arrested. 
 
¶14.  Three op-ed pieces in the same edition condemn the attacks, 
bemoaning the ease with which residents and non-residents of the 
Kingdom have recently taken up guns to try to settle some sort 
of score.  One editorial insinuates that a politician must be 
behind the April 22 attacks.  It also refers to the subsequent 
and unrelated killing of Member of Parliament and political 
party leader Motikoe (ref C), stating that:  "However one may be 
aggrieved or feel wronged, it is always better to pause and act 
from logic and not too much emotion.  It is difficult to do so, 
but life is too precious to erase it on the spur of the moment." 
 Another editorial lists several high-profile unsolved murder 
and attempted murder cases and express regret that Lesotho 
rarely solves these politically-motivated crimes.  The author 
states that Lesotho is "becoming a mafia kingdom with godfathers 
and what have you."  They encourage the government to redouble 
their efforts to identify and punish perpetrators. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
--------------------------------- 
Popular paper covers imigris and the "attack" on Lesotho High 
Commission 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶15.  The most widely-read and distributed local paper, "Public 
Eye", published a story on May 8 about the imigris' return.  In 
it, Tom Thabane, the ABC leader, refuses to respond to the 
trio's accusations.  He says:  "It only shows to what extent we 
have come as a nation in terms of moral degeneration."  The 
article recalls the reasons that lead up to the groups' 
self-imposed exile, and mentioned that though they have never 
been charged with a crime, they are required to report to the 
police daily.  According to the paper, the Assistant 
Commissioner of police requested this condition for the imigris 
own safety.  A comic in the May 8 edition depicts two of the 
imigris holding a press conference.  One says:  "It's so nice to 
be back home."  The other:  "Life in exile was a nightmare!" 
Beside them is the Police Headquarters and a member of the 
Lesotho Mounted Police Service saying:  "We have never been 
interested in you."  An accompanying editorial encourages the 
government to charge the men or leave them alone. 
 
¶16.  Another article in the paper reported the Foreign 
Minister's account of an attack against the Lesotho High 
Commission Residence in Pretoria.  (Note: Embassy Maseru had 
learned days prior to the May 8 edition of the paper that in 
fact, no attack had happened.  Embassy sources revealed that a 
guard at the residence had injured himself when he accidentally 
discharged his weapon.  End Note.)  Other articles in the paper 
covered the aftermath of the April 22 attacks on the Prime 
Minister.  In one, the LCD National Executive Committee said 
that the attacks were an attempt to "eliminate our leader and to 
plunge the country into bloody instability."  The article also 
 
MASERU 00000165  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
repeated the governments' claim that the attacks are likely the 
acts of the same people who attacked ministers' residences in 
¶2007.  The LCD National Committee thanked "all who clamped down 
on the malicious attempt, including the army, the police and the 
intelligence officers."  Another article carried a large photo 
of the bullet-ridden taxi which had been hijacked by the 
attackers.  It recapped the events of April 22 and reviewed the 
two suspects' first appearance in court. 
 
¶17.  The May 8th edition of "Public Eye" carried a two-page 
center spread entitled:  "Govt's coup claims leave many 
questions unanswered."  The paper, often openly critical of the 
ruling party, derides the government's theories on the attack 
and its choice of suspects.  It states that in the case of prime 
suspect Lerotholi, "the police have still not given identity of 
informants who allegedly sighted" him, "nor are they making any 
claim of first-hand sighting of the man by their own 
operatives."  They end the article by returning to the sticky 
issue of negotiations following the 2007 elections, stating 
that, "We now know that the Masire process was subverted by the 
ruling party and government telling the mediator that he was no 
longer welcome to convene a final all-party workshop on the 
seats controversy."  The paper invites the public to "judge for 
themselves" the government's motivation in inviting the media to 
defend democracy and kick-starting a series of nationwide 
rallies about the subject. 
 
¶18.  Finally, a letter to the editor by a local citizen gets 
right to the point that the Embassy has also been asking itself. 
 Entitled "Who would benefit if Mosisili dies?" the letter makes 
the point that:  "Only a fool can believe that Lesotho's 
opposition, or any opposition anywhere in this world would 
benefit anything from the assassination of the Prime Minister. 
In fact, they would be the most stupid opposition to ever harbor 
such thinking.  Opposition can only benefit from a fully-fledged 
coup that replaces the cabinet, not a single member of the 
cabinet since they can only replace the government and not an 
individual.  If a prime minister dies today, only members of his 
party would benefit as he would be replaced by a member of the 
party, not anybody from the opposition. 
NOLAN