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dam-l Lesotho dam affected harrassed by police/LS
This was sent to us by the Lesotho NGO Transformation Resource Centre.
Security Agents Harass Lesotho Man Who Attended Dam-Affected Peoples Conference
Police Confiscate Documents Belonging to LHWP Critic
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 08, 2000
Contact: Mothusi Seqhee or Motseoa Senyane-Makatjane
Transformation Resource Centre
+266 314463 or email: centre@lesoff.co.ls
Maseru¾ Three agents of Lesotho's National Security Service (NSS) have
repeatedly harassed Mr. Benedict Leuta in recent months. Leuta is a
resident of the Lesotho Highlands who lost land to the recently constructed
Katse Dam. On their first visit to him on 19 November, the NSS seized
documents from Leuta's home in the village of Ha Nkokana (Thaba-Tseka
District). Leuta had just returned from a meeting in Cape Town sponsored by
several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) during which he presented a
paper on the effects of Katse Dam's construction on his community. The
meeting gathered testimony for the World Commission on Dams from people
affected by large dams. The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA),
the parastatal organisation in charge of building Katse Dam, and other dams
in the massive scheme, was represented at the meeting. All of the documents
seized from Mr. Leuta pertained to his participation in this meeting.
"My hands were shaking because I was so frightened" Leuta said, "I didn't
know what they wanted." The agents asked him what he spoke about in Cape
Town, and who sponsored his travel there. They also demanded minutes of the
meeting. When he asked them why they were interrogating him, they replied
that all citizens of Lesotho must report to NSS agents after they return
from trips outside the country - a blatant falsehood. They then confiscated
a copy of his presentation, a meeting participant list, and other
documents. They returned all of the documents the following week without
any explanation.
Since then, the NSS has repeatedly visited Mr. Leuta. The most recent visit
occurred on 16 February. During these meetings, the agents asked him what
his opinions are on certain policies and procedures of the LHDA. The visits
appear to be an attempt by NSS and the LHDA to anticipate dissatisfaction
with certain aspects of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) and to
intimidate community leaders who may criticise the dam. Other community
leaders report similar harassment in the years during Katse Dam's
construction. Several highland residents, who asked not to be named, have
alleged that security agents would frequently interrogate them after they
attended meetings of local advocacy NGOs.
On 4 February, the organisers of the Cape Town meeting wrote a letter to
Mr. Makase Marumo, the chief executive of LHDA, on Mr. Leuta's behalf. The
letter requested official clarification from LHDA as to whether it was
responsible for the meetings and asked that it use its "significant
influence to stop these visits from taking place in the future." Marumo and
the LHDA have declined to comment on the matter to date. Police officials
in Maseru have denied all knowledge of the incidents. World Commission on
Dams Chairperson Kader Asmal expressed regret at hearing of Mr. Leuta's
"difficulties" but declined to use his influence to assist him. In a March
6 letter, Asmal wrote, "I regret to have to inform you that I cannot
intervene directly as the NGO consultations/hearings were not organised by
the Commission but by the Southern African NGOs." In fact, the NGOs
organised the hearings because the WCD has said it was unable to hold a
Southern African hearing due to budgetary constraints. Asmal was, until the
recent elections, South Africa's Water Minister, and his department was
actively involved in the LHWP.
The Transformation Resource Centre believes that these visits can be
construed as nothing less than intimidation and a violation of Leuta's
human rights. TRC Coordinator Ms. Motseoa Senyane-Makatjane said, "It is
deeply disturbing that the LHDA would use the nation's police services in
this way. Given the circumstances and the LHDA's silence on the issue, we
can only assume that the harassment is at the very least condoned and
perhaps encouraged by LHWP authorities. We demand that the visits stop and
that the LHDA officially explain its involvement in the incidents. We are
also very disappointed with the WCD. People participated in their meeting
with the understanding that it would be a safe and open process. If WCD
stakeholders like the LHDA act in bad faith, how can affected people
express their concerns freely? The Commission's process may be irreparably
corrupted here in Lesotho."
end
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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