MASERU - Local civil society organisations and movements are already contemplating and looking into an option of shadowing government’s coordination efforts in the fight against COVID-19 in Lesotho.
news
April 8, 2020
STAFF REPORTER
3 min read
NGOs contemplate own command centre
DPE director Sofonea Shale
This has emerged following attempts by the NGO’s lead groups in Lesotho to address human rights violations since lock down and the declaration by Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane of a state of emergency in the country, effecting a 21-day halting of general business and calling off assembly of persons in all sectors.
Human rights violations, according to Development for Peace Education (DPE) director Sofonea Shale, one of the NGOs dealing with the current problem, include violence and excessive force by members of the security agencies on the members of the public as well as misinformed decisions made against the wishes of the public members.
“We are not only looking at physical torture, but also denial of services by relevant departments to the public,” explained Shale.
He said it has also come to their notice that in some instances where people have been beaten or tortured by members of the army or police, such victims are even denied issuance of medical forms in order to legally report their ordeals.
He said what even makes matters worse is that currently, health workers have embarked on a slow down or in some cases completely downing tools, which means victims of army and police brutality may not be fully served.
“Let me explain that we have already met the relevant security institutions to discuss this and we hope to work together to clear all this. I also want to show clearly that our aim is not litigation, but where the victims are not satisfied with how their issues have been handled, it does not mean they will not be afforded that route,” Shale expanded.
He said there are many incidences which need to be addressed and their hope is that both the army and the police will be open enough for such cases to be fully and satisfactorily addressed.
Currently the civil society, led by the Lesotho Council of NGOs, is reviewing cases reported to the organisations and discussing remedial methods that can be applied as well as mitigation that may be needed.
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Shale said they still receive reports and have already commissioned NGO personnel based at various localised areas to assist for such reports to be channelled to the coordinating offices.
“I can say we already have more than ten cases of substance that we are working on and these are mainly from the lowlands, but we know there are more case reports that will follow. Generally these are cases where people were beaten by members of the security forces with some sustaining serious injuries,” he said, adding that some of the cases could be of serious consequences.
Shale concluded by saying the need for an NGO steered command centre is even becoming more urgent with cases of human rights violations increasing each day.
He said it is not only the issue of people being beaten, but even actions by government to change rules and regulations of the lock down as and when it wishes, without consulting or at least informing concerned and relevant stakeholders.
Since the government enforced the lock down on mid-night Sunday March 29, several video and pictures have swamped the social media of people being beaten by members of the police and army in different areas in the country, especially in the capital, Maseru.
Many callers have also informed local radio talk shows and current affairs programmes of acts of brutality on citizens.
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