Maseru, Sep. 08 — The alleged abduction and assault of media personnel and human rights activist Mr. Kananelo Boloetse continues to trigger outrage both locally and internationally, with organisations raising concerns over the safety of journalists and human rights defenders in Lesotho.
DW Akademie has condemned the incident, saying the alleged abduction and torture of Boloetse have heightened concerns about the safety of journalists in Lesotho, as well as the growing risks faced by individuals who speak out on issues of accountability, transparency and good governance.
The Media Women Association of Lesotho (MWALes) has also strongly condemned the alleged abduction, torture and assault of Boloetse.
MWALes said abductions and intimidation are not new in Lesotho and warned that such acts are intended to instil fear and silence individuals who speak out against corruption, abuse of power and other forms of wrongdoing.
Both organisations have called for a full, independent and transparent investigation into the alleged abduction and assault of Boloetse.
Meanwhile, the Southern Africa Alliance on Youth Employment (SAAYE) – Lesotho Chapter has warned that democracy cannot be considered safe when citizens are afraid to speak freely.
In a statement, SAAYE said the strength of a democracy should not be measured solely by a government’s ability to complete its constitutional term, but also by whether citizens can exercise their fundamental freedoms safely, openly and without fear of intimidation, violence or unlawful retaliation.
SAAYE has called on a number of regional and international human rights bodies to take note of the matter, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee Against Torture, the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, and the ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. It also urged relevant ACHPR mechanisms dealing with extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances, among others, to intervene.
Boloetse was reportedly abducted from his home in Katlehong, Maseru, on Saturday by three unidentified men. The men allegedly assaulted him before abandoning him at Thaba-Bosiu.
The attackers reportedly threatened to kill Boloetse if he disclosed details of the alleged kidnapping publicly.
The incident has renewed calls for authorities to ensure the protection of journalists, human rights defenders and other citizens who exercise their right to freedom of expression and demand accountability.
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