Staff Reporter
The suspension of Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) officers following the tragic deaths of Lejone Mapoko and Nnete Lesoana Masupha is a step in the right direction.
However, it is far from enough to address the deep wounds inflicted on the families and communities affected by these killings. No suspension or disciplinary action can bring back the lives lost, and no act of accountability can undo the trauma suffered by Chief Lesaoana Masupha, who remains in critical condition following the brutal assault.
What makes this situation even more troubling is the chilling revelation that these killings occurred during an operation, ominously named “Operation Hard Fist”, designed to combat terrorism.
It is hard to ignore the irony that in the name of protecting the nation, the army unleashed terror of its own on innocent civilians. The LDF’s duty is to safeguard the nation, but in this case, it overstepped its bounds in the most tragic way imaginable.
While it is understandable that the military is called to intervene in times of crisis, this does not give them carte blanche to act with impunity. The LDF is not above the law, and certainly, the threat of terrorism does not grant them a passport to torture and kill civilians.
Gestapo-style tactics, where the army takes the law into its own hands and employs brutal force against its own people, have no place in a democratic society.
Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela’s admission that the deaths were not part of the plan should ring alarm bells for all of us. The military should not be involved in law enforcement if it lacks the training or authority to carry out such operations without violating the rights of civilians.
The admission that the army has no powers to arrest civilians but continues to detain people under the guise of “questioning” further exposes the chaotic and unlawful nature of these operations.
We cannot ignore the persistent allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings that have marred the LDF’s recent operations. Amnesty International has already raised the alarm, and it is clear that independent investigations are urgently needed.
Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held accountable, not only to the victims’ families but to the nation as a whole.
The suspension of the officers involved is merely the beginning.
The rule of law must prevail, and justice must be served. More importantly, the LDF must immediately reconsider its approach to civilian matters. The protection of human rights and national security is not an either/or proposition. Both must coexist, and no operation, however justified in its aims, should come at the expense of innocent lives.
We stand with the families of those killed, knowing that no amount of action will restore what they have lost.
Their pain must be a reminder to us all: no nation is truly secure if its citizens live in fear of those meant to protect them.
The elephant in the room remains Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s infamous directive to the soldiers to “do whatever” it takes to restore peace.
Such reckless utterances were, and continue to be, deeply problematic, as they give dangerous carte blanche to the military and fuel the kind of unchecked aggression witnessed during ‘Operation Hard Fist’.
It is time for the Prime Minister to swallow his pride and issue a profound apology, not only to the grieving families of the victims but also to the nation as a whole.
Leadership requires accountability, and only through sincere contrition and meaningful reform can the government begin to heal the deep wounds inflicted on our society.
