VZCZCXRO8174
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0378/01 2961107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231107Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4441
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4875

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000378 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S, CA/ACS/OCS/AF, AND INR/AF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV CASC LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: UNIVERSITY STRIKE LEAVES SEVERAL STUDENTS INJURED 
AND TWO REPORTED DEAD 
 
MASERU 00000378  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  According to Embassy sources and local media, National 
University of Lesotho (NUL) students rioted on Thursday, October 
22, damaging university property; burning tires; and putting up 
barricades at campus gates. The riots occurred after students 
learned that allowances for books, food, and accommodation had 
still not been deposited to their individual bank accounts 
although courses began in August 2009. Campus security and 
police were called in to defuse the situation. Press reported 
two fatalities and an estimated 16 students injured. Post 
sources within the security establishment confirm the report of 
two fatalities. Post sources indicated that the Principal 
Secretary of Finance and Development Planning (the Ministry 
which oversees NMDS) will hold a press conference on Friday, 
October 23, to provide an explanation to the media and the 
public at large.  A warden message was released to the local 
American citizen community. 
 
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NMDS defers blame to NUL 
------------------------ 
 
¶2.  On Wednesday, October 22, students marched to the NMDS 
offices in Maseru to protest and register complaints about the 
delayed payment of food, book, and accommodation allowances. The 
NMDS told students to go back to Roma, because the allowances 
"had already been processed and would soon reach their 
individual accounts." (Note: NUL is situated in Roma, a small 
town about 35 km from the capital Maseru. End note). Intelserv 
reported that the Director of NMDS, Dr Letholetseng Ntsike, had 
earlier refused to address students, saying that all allowances 
for NUL students had been paid and it was "up to the banks to 
finalize the deposits." After some persuasion, students returned 
to campus with the understanding that funds would be reflected 
in their accounts the next day. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
Students - fed up by delays in delivery of funds - take action 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
¶3.  On Thursday, October 22, students assembled in front of the 
University Administration Building after learning that the 
promised funds had still not reached their individual bank 
accounts. Students then requested the university's 
administration to speak to them about the matter. Post sources 
indicate that when the students did not get a satisfactory 
answer, the situation erupted into a riot and students began 
damaging university property: hurling rocks at the University 
Bursar's Office and the campus security office; and attempting 
to set the University Hall on fire. Campus security was called 
in to diffuse the situation, later receiving reinforcement from 
Roma police. Clashes between the students and the security 
forces (including police) subsequently ensued, resulting in the 
two alleged fatalities and a number of injuries. 
 
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Current status 
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¶4.  NUL was closed indefinitely on Friday morning as protests 
continued. All students were ordered to vacate the campus by 11 
a.m. local time until further notice by the police and 
university administration. Embassy contacts in the Lesotho 
Mounted Police Service (LMPS) were not available. Post sources 
at NUL claimed that police had used live rounds to disperse the 
crowds. Rumors circulating in town suggest that police used both 
live rounds and rubber bullets. Unconfirmed reports say some 
students have been taken into custody and their colleagues have 
threatened to go to Roma Police Station today to demand their 
release. Harvest FM reported that NMDS officials have changed 
their initial explanation regarding the payment of allowances, 
further information will be revealed at the Friday afternoon 
press conference. 
 
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Comment 
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¶5.  There is no indication that further violence is expected, 
but post's Regional Security Officer and political specialist 
are keeping a close eye on the situation; a warden message was 
cleared by AF and CA and released to the American citizen 
community. The fact that students were killed by the police is 
shocking to everyone, particularly since one of the deceased is 
reported to be the daughter of the Commissioner of Prisons in 
Lesotho. These reported deaths have forced the government to 
take an extremely serious view of the situation.  The evacuation 
 
MASERU 00000378  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
of the students, the press conference by the Ministry, and the 
amended statements by the LMPS are expected to diffuse the 
situation rapidly, although there is concern that if students 
have been incarcerated in relation to the riots, fellow students 
may not let the matter go easily and will not expected to return 
to NUL until their colleagues are freed from jail. Post will 
provide updates as the situation develops. 
NOLAN