Lesotho: Human rights record (continued)

Freedom of speech and press

Freedom of speech and press are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Government generally respects these rights in practice. There were no reports of serious press freedom violations in 2000 and a number of high-profile discussions on a range of issues were undertaken including discussions on the role of the media in exposing corruption and on negative reporting. These provided firm evidence of the government's willingness to allow free-ranging discussion within Lesotho (International Press Institute 2001).

Despite serious damage to a number of news publications caused by September 1998 looting events, news organizations resumed publishing within months. There are several independent newspapers including one controlled by the Roman Catholic Church, one controlled by the Lesotho Evangelical Church, and four English-language weeklies critical of the Government. There is currently only one television broadcast station and 3 radio stations, of which one operating on short wave.

The official state-owned media consists of one one-hour daily newscast on a local television channel, and two weekly newspapers, which all faithfully reflect official positions of the ruling party. South African and global satellite television and radio broadcasts are also widely available.

In March 2000, opposition leaders took legal action to force the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy to provide them with access ahead of next year's elections. The court action received wide support from all of the opposition parties.

In 1998 the National Press Association objected to rules established by the Independent Electoral Commission, which barred reporters from entering polling stations on Election Day. Reportedly, several journalists were harassed and some wounded during the political crisis of September-October 1998.

Freedom of peaceful assembly and association

Freedom of peaceful assembly and association are provided for by the Constitution and the Government generally respects these rights in practice. Public meetings do not require prior authorisation or notification to relevant authorities and are unhindered by the Government. The Government however refused to approve commemorative celebrations of the 1998 crisis; as a result only selected events took place.

Protests at the failure to hold elections as determined by the Interim Political Authority led to threats by unidentified organisations against those who defied the calls to strike, but the protests were generally peaceful. From July to November 1998 several protesters and some policemen lost their lives following violent clashes in a series of vigils and protests outside the palace.

Social and cultural rights

The Constitution provides that all citizens have the freedom to practice (or not to practice a religion) and gives religious denominations the right to pursue their religious aims freely, while the Government generally respects these rights in practice. Relations between communities of different faiths are generally amicable (Committee on the Rights of the Child 2001).

Lesotho is not a country of great ethnic and social diversity. Sesothos or Basothos constitute the overwhelming majority of the population (99.7%) whilst Europeans and Asians make up the remaining 0.3%. The Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, birth, or other status, and the Government generally respected these prohibitions in practice. However, the Constitution also recognizes customary law as a parallel legal system and women's inheritance and property rights are restricted severely under the traditional chieftainship system (US Department of State 2000).

References

COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 2001 "Committee on the Rights of the Child Recommends, In Preliminary Remarks, that Lesotho Build Partnerships with International Organizations to Fight HIV/AIDS and Poverty", 26th Session, United Nations Press Release, 18 January 2001.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE 2001 "2001 World Press Freedom Review, Lesotho".

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE 2000 "Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Lesotho", Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, February 25.