Daily Nation Newspaper

LESOTHO POLICE UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING, KILLING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING PROTEST

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MASERU - The Lesotho Mounted Police Service is under fire for allegedly shooting and killing two student activists who were part of a group protesting against the reduction of student grants at the National University of Lesotho last week.

The protest on June 16 was sparked after the National Manpower Developmen­t Secretaria­t cut students’ monthly stipends by more than 50 percent.

As a result, two students were shot and killed while numerous others were injured and arrested.

Advocate Mokitimi Ts’osane from the Human Rights and Access to Justice Department, Transforma­tion Resource

Centre said the actions by the police were in violation of the UN basic principles on the use of firearms by law enforcemen­t agents. “The police violated a clear UN principle that states that law enforcemen­t officials, in carrying out their duty, shall as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms,” he added.

Student activists said the police opened fire on them without warning.

Students usually receive about R1, 050 per month but for reasons not explained to them, they got about R500.

“We were not given a reason why the money was cut. It’s unfortunat­e because, as students, we have needs. We have to eat and buy other things that help us in our studies.

“What happened on that day was unfortunat­e for us as students. Such repression and violence from state actors have no place in a modern world,” said Student Union president Tumo Tsatsanyan­e.

Police called the incident “painful” and said they condemned what transpired and had instigated a full investigat­ion into the matter.

They also asked for forgivenes­s. “The police service consoles those affected by this incident and asks for forgivenes­s as what happened was not expected.” – NEWS24.

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