Reporter Mapamela Khanyela suffered minor injuries when police opened fire on protesting students at the National University of Lesotho.
(MISA/IFEX) – News reporter Mapamela Khanyela suffered minor injuries when police opened fire on striking students at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) on 22 October 2009.
Khanyela told MISA Lesotho that he went to cover the strike and was standing behind a group of students when police shot at them. Due to his injuries, Khanyela was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Roma and later discharged. Khanyela does not believe he was targeted by the police but that he became a victim when the police tried to defuse the situation which had gone out of control.
Students had barricaded the campus roads and were burning tires. The students went on strike after learning that their books, food and accommodation allowances had not reached their individual accounts from the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS), despite earlier promises made by the NMDS.
Campus security and police were called in to defuse the situation. Local media alleged that one student died in the process, while approximately 17 people were injured.
