were summoned to appear before Lesotho’s chief magistrate, Molefi Makara, in connection with an article published in the newspaper’s 18 to 24 March edition, entitled, “R350,000 [approx. US$56,600] seized at airport”. Thai and Sekoati appeared before Chief Magistrate Makara on March 21 March. Sekoati said the chief magistrate informed them that the article had “tarnished his image” and was “a product of individuals who were agitating for [his] downfall in the legal profession.” The magistrate also threatened to sue the newspaper in his personal capacity for allegedly “damaging his integrity,” Sekoati said. Chief Magistrate Makara has since recused himself from the case against Muhammad Sohail, who was implicated in the airport money seizure. The case will be heard before Magistrate Mojela Mothebe on May 9. · ALERT Date: February 25, 2005 Persons/Institutions: Francis Khoaripe Violation: Threatened On February 25, 2005, the editor of the weekly tabloid “Moeletsi oa Basotho”, Francis Khoaripe, was threatened by two officials of the Lesotho Catholic Bishop’s Conference (LCBC) for allegedly defaming them in an article published in that day’s edition of the paper. “I will beat you severely if I see you at any one of our forums under the guise of media coverage,” Booi Mohapi, the Secretary of the Commission for Social Concern of the LCBC, told Khoaripe. Mohapi’s colleague, Makhojane Mahlakeng, was also present during the exchange. She told Khoaripe, “Had we met you earlier, we would have sorted you out. You have defamed us.” In the February 25 edition of “Moeletsi oa Basotho”, Khoaripe reported on a women’s prayer session hosted by the LCBC in preparation for the upcoming Lesotho local government elections. In his report, Khoaripe alleged that the gathering had been used by members of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party to lobby women candidates to run in the local government elections. So This Is Democracy? 2005 -60- Media Institute of Southern Africa