…NGO piles pressure after torture of soldiers and death of escapee
Sekete Lesaoana
MASERU, Lesotho – A local non-governmental organisation, Section 2 – The Advocates for the Supremacy of the Constitution, has called for enquiry on the alleged torture of incarcerated Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) officers on 22 December 2023 by the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS).
The LDF officers are on trial for the 2017 abduction and murder of three civilians whose bodies they later dumped in the Katse dam.
And the NGO, which advocates for the rule of law, said in a statement this week that it stood against the violation of human rights. The organisation said the acts of torture undermined the principles of human dignity and fundamental rights. Torture was a contravention of international treaties to which Lesotho is a signatory, therefore, action must be taken.
Soldiers show up in court with torture injuries
The call comes after nine LDF officers were allegedly tortured by LCS earlier this month. The LDF officers showed up in the High Court with stitched wounds, bandages while others had broken limbs. According to the solders’ lawyers, their relatives were denied access to see them after the incident of 22 December.
The torture also followed the escape of six inmates from the Maseru correctional services after which one died while he was being apprehended. Unconfirmed reports allege that the said inmate died due to torture at the hands of LCS officers.
Torture an affront to the core values upheld by international community
In its Tuesday statement, the organisation said the LCS, as a custodian of justice and the well-being of its inmates, “must be held accountable for these condemnable actions”. Torture was an affront to the core values that the international community strives to uphold, and Lesotho, being a responsible member, was duty-bound to ensure the protection of human rights as enshrined in various international treaties.
“The country, having ratified crucial international agreements such as the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), is obliged to adhere to the principles outlined in these accords. The Convention, which Lesotho is a party to, explicitly prohibits torture and imposes an obligation on state parties to prevent and punish such acts,” Section 2 said.
“The Constitution, a document that serves as the supreme law of the land, expressly guarantees the protection of human dignity and the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The violation of these constitutional provisions not only undermines the rule of law but also erodes the very foundation upon which a just and humane society is built. It is imperative that government takes swift and decisive action to investigate the allegations of torture within the LCS.”
Inquiry must identify those responsible for the torture
Therefore, a transparent and impartial inquiry must be conducted to identify those responsible and hold them accountable for their actions, failing to address these serious allegations promptly tarnishes the country’s international reputation and also jeopardises the trust and confidence that the citizens place in their justice system.
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Section 2 also called on the international community and other stakeholders to closely monitor the situation.
“In light of these distressing revelations, we call upon the international community, human rights organisations, and relevant stakeholders to closely monitor the situation. The collective pressure must be exerted to ensure that the government takes immediate steps to rectify these violations, uphold its international commitments, and restore the dignity and rights of all individuals within the confines of the LCS. The time for accountability is now, and Lesotho must demonstrate its unwavering commitment to human rights and justice, both domestically and on the international stage,” Section 2 said.
Section 2; Maseru Correctional Facility; Lesotho Correctional Service; Maseru; Lesotho; Bokang Ramotena; LDF;
