Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Documentation for Youth League

Dec. 13, 1984
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts

First mentioned: "Prime Minister said the Youth League of the Basotho National Party [BNP] which had organised the commemoration ceremony will continue to earn respect of the Basotho people throughout Lesotho for having honoured the 42 martyrs of freedom and human rights"

April 16, 1985
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts

Turning to the Youth League, XXX said the League must be found in all constituencies and all villages. He said a party without a strong League is finished.

Jan. 18, 1986
The Guardian

Youth League to support Prime Minister and fighting against military under their commander Lekhanya:"
But as Lesotho's representatives were negotiating an end of the South African siege, fighting flared between rival factions in the Lesotho Para-Military Force, and shots were still being exchanged last night. Lesotho's Information Minister, Mr Desmond Sixishe, denied that soldiers had clashed, but informed sources said that about 30 soldiers had revolted. It was not clear last night what prompted their action, but the rebels were not part of the force which surrounded the offices of the Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, on Wednesday. They mutinied while their commander, General Justin Lekhanya, was in South Africa. He led the forces which encircled Chief Jonathan's offices, and the rebels could be Jonathan loyalists objecting to the attempts by the military to restrict his power. The military is understood to oppose the fanatically pro-Jonathan stance of the Youth League of the ruling Basotho National Party."

Jan. 19, 1986
The New York Times

The state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation said 17 men had died in fighting between Lesotho's 1,500-member army, called the Paramilitary Force, and armed members of a North Korean-trained Youth League created by the ruling Basutho National Party of Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan...
Residents said fighting broke out Friday night at the Makoanyane barracks in Lithabaneng suburb, three miles south of Maseru

The crisis also seems to have highlighted rivalries between Lesotho's Paramilitary Force, led by Gen. Justin Lekhanya, and the youth wing of the Basutholand National Party.

Jan. 21, 1986
The New York Times

A military coup today ended two decades of increasingly autocratic rule by this tiny nation's Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan...
Much anger seemed reserved for the armed youth league, which was reportedly trained by North Korean advisers. Some analysts saw it as part of an effort by Chief Jonathan to crush opposition and form a single-party state.
''They tortured people for nothing,'' an 18-year-old woman said of the youth league...she had briefly joined the organization because ''that was the only way to get a job.''
..youth league had been used to intimidate opponents of Chief Jonathan's 19-year-old regime. It was composed, according to its critics, of loyalist thugs, and last year an election was canceled when opposition parties failed to register for the vote, citing what they said were threats of punishment from the youth league.

Jan. 22, 1986
The Guardian

came the growth of the Youth League of Chief Jonathan's ruling Basotho National Party. Trained and armed by the North Koreans, they quickly became a revolutionary guard, increasingly influential on the cabinet, and publicly derisive of the old establishment. They criticised the command of both the paramilitary force and the police and threatened the position of senior civil servants.

...a letter was delivered to the paramilitary force from the cabinet office - a letter which the Youth League was seen to have had a hand in composing - listing senior officers whose retirement was expected in the near future. The list included General Lekhanya.

On Wednesday the general acted with the occupation of Chief Jonathan's government offices which had become something of a Youth League stronghold. During this confrontation the general is believed to have demanded of Chief Jonathan the immediate disbandment of the Youth League - whose weapons his troops were busily seizing at the time - and the expulsion of the North Koreans.

Jan. 23, 1986
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts

The radio said that the Military Council had appealed for people to co-operate with the present government and to disregard people who claimed to be cabinet ministers or members of the youth league, because there were no longer any cabinet ministers and there was no youth league.