Monday, May 9, 2011

War veterans upset over compensation

Original story is from Public Eye News

A group of former Lesotho Liberation Army members are planning to express their anger to King Letsie III as they fight for compensation from the government. 

The veterans have accused the Maseru government of neglecting them despite their huge role in helping end the illegal Basotho National Party rule. The LLA- a military sector of the the Basotho Congress Party- took up arms in 1970.

The former soldiers are now demanding the state compensates them for their contribution to the rise to power of the Congress parties, and have since formed an umbrella body called the Liberation Army Veterans Association (LAVETA)- which seeks to lobby for stakeholders support and government recognition.

On April 30th, the former soldiers met at Sefrika High School and agreed to take their case to the King, insisting since 1993- when they came back into the country from exile- they had been battling to get some form of compensation but to no success.

The veterans allege after the BCP government came into power in 1993, it had only managed to employ 115 of the LLA members, leaving 196 without jobs.

Though the former fighters could not decide when they would be visiting King Letsie III, the Deputy President of LAVETA, Mohloka Koki told Public Eye they intended to talk to the Prime Minister again before taking the matter to the king.

"The Prime Minister was the one who first said we should draft the policy document. We feel it is only fair that we make him aware that nothing is happening, before we take our grievances to the king. DPM Lehohla will be visited again for the last time to check how far he is with the matter."

Efforts to get a comment from government spokesperson, Mothejoa Metsing were not successful.

No comments:

Post a Comment