I have just received this press statement. Having been in Lesotho earlier this year, I thought of sharing it with you. A number of Tweets this morning referred to the need of prayer for the Kingdom of Lesotho.
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JOINT
PRESS STATEMENT
Catholic Commission of Justice
and Peace (CCJP),
Lesotho Law Society and Transformation Resource Centre (TRC)
Lesotho Law Society and Transformation Resource Centre (TRC)
CALL FOR SPEEDY
INTERVENTION TO END TORTURE, INTIMIDATION, ASSAULT OF ARMY DETAINEES,
THEIR FAMILIES AND LAWYERS.
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Introduction
This communication is a follow-up on series of interventions,
investigations, statement in condemnation of the incidents of
unexplained disappearances of LDF personnel and their alleged torture
in the hands of elements of the same security agency; and in which we
called for the Government of Lesotho to
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Order an immediate end to the (then) unexplained disappearances of Army personnel
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Order the Army to stop the torture of detained soldiers
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Pronounce itself on the flight of opposition leaders, who had claimed death threats against them
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Address the nation on these developments
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Institute an inquiry that would establish the facts of the current situation and seek long-term solutions to the apparent divisions within the army
Subsequent to habeas corpus applications at High Court
of Lesotho Catholic Commission on Justice and Peace, Transformation
Resource Centre and Law Society of Lesotho collected and documented
the stories of families who reported the detention of their husbands,
sons or siblings about inhumane treatment that they are enduring.
This triangle partnership has further noted failure of military
authorities to give satisfactorily answers to families’ inquiries
with regard to torture observed and witnessed. There is trauma
suffered by children, parents and other relatives particularly caused
by what they had seen as fathers or sons were arrested.
( The full statement can be dowloaded by clicking HERE )
