KING OF LESOTHO COULD LOSE THRONE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 11

KING OF LESOTHO COULD LOSE THRONE

IN.Z.P.A.Reuter—Copyright) MASERU (Lesotho), December 30. King Moshoeshoe 11, held prisoner in his palace in Maseru, could lose his throne at a meeting today with the Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, and the 22-strong College of Chiefs.

Chief Jonathan’s announcement yesterday said merely that the purpose of the meeting was to “discuss the situation in Lesotho,” formerly Basutoland.

The Prime Minister ordered the 29-year-old Oxfordeducated monarch into “protective detention” on Wednesday after accusing him and opposition leaders of plotting with foreign and undesirable elements to overthrow the Government.

This followed anti-Govern-ment riots in which eight people are officially reported to have died, during a rally the King was to have addressed on Tuesday.

There was speculation in Maseru that King Moshoeshoe might be asked to abdicate by the chiefs, most of whom support the Prime Minister and who have the right to de-

pose the Head of State in special circumstances.

There have been reports, however, that the Government would not seek to dethrone the King if he undertook to behave constitutionally and stopped what it considers to be interference in politics. Long Feud This week’s events climax a long feud between the Prime Minister and the King, who has been campaigning for wider powers, claiming he should control internal security, the army, and foreign affairs. He has described the role of the constitutional monarch, which he assumed when the former British colony attained independence in October, as a “rubber stamp.” In another move yesterday, the Government announced it

was deporting eight South Africans as a possible danger to peace, and two were later put across the border into South Africa.

They were Mr Tshepo Mohaleroe, legal adviser to the King, and Mr Robin Cranko, a white lawyer. Refugees

Four others were due to be expelled today. The remaining two, both lawyers banned in South Africa under the Suppression of Communism Act, were held in prison last night. They are political refugees, but a magistrate yesterday turned down an application that their deportation orders should be set aside.

It was claimed they would be charged with “alleged criminal charges of a political nature” if returned to South Africa.