… Ombudsman exposes the cost
A new report by the Ombudsman, Advocate Tlotliso Polaki, has revealed disturbing allegations of human rights violations committed by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) during operations.
The report, released this week, details accounts of torture, ill-treatment, and unlawful detention of civilians during Operations Fiela and Hard Fist. It paints a harrowing picture of brutality, with victims describing being subjected to beatings, forced to perform degrading exercises, and detained in inhumane conditions.
The findings come months after Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane and LDF Deputy Commander Major General Matela Matobakele made controversial statements that rights groups said emboldened security forces to act with impunity.
In August last year, the local human rights group, SECTION 2, strongly condemned the Prime Minister’s directive to the LDF, in which he urged them to adopt the same tactics used in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region to restore peace in Lesotho.
“Lesotho is not at war. There is no justification for employing counter-insurgency measures against its own citizens,” SECTION 2 said at the time, warning that such rhetoric could lead to severe human rights abuses.
Major General Matobakele also made alarming remarks, stating that the LDF would not “sit back while criminals terrorise the country,” a statement critics said signaled a green light for unchecked force.
The government dismissed them as alarmists. Now, Polaki’s report proves the critics right, and the cost is paid in broken bodies. The report details multiple incidents of civilians being brutalized by security forces under the guise of crime-fighting.
The Ombudsman indicated that the investigation, initiated following widespread media reports and public outcry over alleged abuses, sought to address concerns about the conduct of security forces in communities across the country.
The report highlights a pattern of misconduct, with numerous individuals alleging brutal treatment at the hands of LDF and LMPS officers.
It contains harrowing accounts from villagers who described being subjected to inhumane treatment. Victims reported being beaten with sticks and other objects, forced to perform degrading exercises, and subjected to torture methods such as asphyxiation.
One individual, whose identity is being withheld for their protection, described how army officers arrived at their house at 5:00AM, forced them outside, and made them take the officers to the headman’s house. The individual then detailed how villagers, including the elderly, women, and children, were forced to roll on the ground, and those who could not keep up were beaten.
Another villager from the same community reported being kicked in the testicles and forced to participate in grueling physical exercises. Disturbingly, this occurred on the day of a funeral for three victims of unknown gunmen, with army officers ordering villagers to abandon the burial proceedings.
In a particularly egregious case, a man from Leribe, Liteboho Mahloana, was arrested by the army and allegedly beaten so severely that both his legs and arms were broken. Mahloana claims he was subjected to brutal torture, including being beaten with a knobkerrie and sticks, and forced into various positions to facilitate the beatings. Despite the severity of his injuries, he has not been charged with any offence.
His wife, ‘Maleseli Mahloane, had to seek legal intervention to determine her husband’s whereabouts and ensure he received medical attention.
The Ombudsman’s report also raises serious concerns about the conditions under which individuals were detained.
Victims described being held in unsanitary cells with limited access to food and water. One individual reported being locked in a cell with a bucket filled with urine and faecal matter on the floor.
The report also highlights instances of individuals being detained without sufficient justification and some victims being held for extended periods without being charged.
According to the report, in response to the allegations, the LDF acknowledged the volatile security situation in the country, citing the prevalence of Famo gangsterism and illegal firearms as major concerns.
While the LDF maintained its operations are conducted within the law, the Ombudsman’s report raises serious concerns about the methods employed.
The report concludes that there is a need for urgent action to address the human rights violations and prevent future occurrences.
The Ombudsman has issued a series of recommendations to the relevant authorities, including that the LDF and LMPS should immediately revisit their operational procedures to ensure they comply with human rights standards and that the Ministry of Justice and Law should provide legal advice on permissible interrogation methods.
She also recommended that law enforcement personnel should receive training in international law, criminal law, and human rights law, parliament should establish an independent Office of the Military Ombudsman to investigate complaints against the military, and that internal investigations should be conducted by the LDF and LMPS to hold accountable officers who have breached regulations.
She further recommended that the government should consider providing compensation to victims of ill-treatment and that a Commission of Inquiry, headed by a judge, should be established to further investigate the matters arising from the report.
The Ombudsman stressed the importance of balancing the need to address crime and security challenges with the protection of fundamental human rights.
The report urges the government to implement the recommendations to restore public trust and ensure that law enforcement operations are conducted within the boundaries of the law.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
