Human rights in Lesotho

Human rights in Lesotho, a nation of 2,067,000 people completely surrounded by South Africa,[1] is a contentious issue.

[10] After clashes and bomb explosions in May 1979, the situation once again became tense between the BCP and the ruling Basotho National Party.

After cabinet minister Chief Lepatoa Mou was assassinated by insurgents, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU) began retaliatory attacks, assaulting and killing civilians in Butha-Buthe District.

In retaliation the PMU reportedly broke into the home of Benjamin Masilo, chair of the Christian Council of Lesotho.

The PMU then abducted and killed Edgar Motuba, an outspoken critic of the government and editor of the weekly Leselinyana la Lesotho newspaper.

[14] The government, concerned of potential further attacks by the South Africans, began air lifting refugees to Mozambique.

[16] After the 1998 parliamentary elections gave the Lesotho Congress for Democracy 79 out of 80 seats with just 60.5% percent of the vote, violent protests ensued and the Southern African Development Community intervened militarily.

[2] The Interim Political Authority was set up and introduced a system of mixed proportional representation which was first put into effect in the 2002 election.

Homosexuality is considered taboo, but an LGBT support group, "Matrix", reportedly freely operates throughout the country.

[2] The State shut down the transmissions of four private radio stations reporting on mass protests in August 2011; this was later blamed on a technical error.

On 3 March 2011 the wife of Tseliso Thatjane of Lithoteng, who allegedly stole a television and DVD player, was arrested and told she would only be released upon his surrender.

Prison rape by gangs is supposedly rife, and due to the high HIV/AIDS rate in the country, considered especially dangerous.