By James Tweedie

ACADEMICS in Lesotho have accused a military faction of abducting and wrongfully imprisoning political opponents.

In a letter sent to the government, African Union, the UK High Commission and embassies of major nations, the EU representative and various civil society organisations on Monday, the National University of Lesotho Community said that Basotho people “once again live in fear.”

It said the kidnappings were confirmed by local watchdog organisations.

Defence Minister Tseliso Mokhosi told parliament that the alleged abductions were lawful arrests, but the academics said the individuals were being denied their rights.

They said that prisoners were brought to court chained and blindfolded by masked guards brandishing automatic weapons, in such poor condition that judges ordered that they be given medical attention.

They further alleged that defendants were threatened with abuse in front of judges and that they were forced to confess at gunpoint. One prisoner is said to have died in custody.

The abductions followed the May 9 murder of leading businessman Thabiso Tsosane, a staunch supporter of the opposition All Basotho Convention (ABC) party. No-one has been arrested for the crime.

Lesotho, a small, impoverished mountain kingdom within the borders of South Africa, has suffered years of political instability.

The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) are each said to be split into two or more factions. The LCS has been on strike since December and LDF and LMPS personnel have been used as scabs.

Last August Prime Minister Tom Thabane of the ABC alleged a coup attempt had been made against him. Deputy PM Mothetjoa Metsing of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) assumed control of the government the next day.

Intervention by the South African Development Community led to a snap general election being called for February of this year.

The ABC party made major gains, increasing its share of seats from 30 to 46 at the expense of the LCD and the Democratic Congress (DC), which came first with 47 seats.

However, the ABC, which had been part of the previous governing coalition since 2012, was controversially excluded from the government formed by the DC, LCD and five smaller parties.