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Maseru (Agenzia Fides) - "Lesotho is not alone, the Bishops and the Catholic community are with you in this time of need", says Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town and President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC which gathers the Bishops of South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland), in a message issued after the meeting of the SACBC held in Mariannhill, South Africa.
"We have been following the events in your Country since the outbreak of violence in August 2014 with shock and dismay in particular the recent killing of the Lesotho Defence Force Commander, L.G. Maaparankoe Mahao on the 25th June 2015 (see Fides 07/07/2015)", says a statemnet sent to Agenzia Fides.
"We are shocked that such a horrendous act was done by some members of the Lesotho Defence Forces. This action reflects the predicament in which many Basotho people find themselves, that they are not safe in their own Country. It brings fear and threatens the foundations of human rights, especially the right to life, and throws out the democratic principles on which many Constitutions are founded".
"We are well aware that even last year some disturbances took place in Lesotho. We call upon leaders in Lesotho to come together to seek a lasting solution to the Lesotho problems. As leaders, we condemn any attack on any person".
The Bishops finally addressed an appeal to politicians in southern Africa to resolve the situation in Lesotho because "the instability of one country in southern Africa has an effect on all its neighbors". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/08/2015)
