NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS FIVE BNP MEMBERS
	Maseru, June O1 - The National Assembly has adopted the report of the Committee of Privileges to suspend five Basotho National Party (BNP) Members from the proceedings of the House, suspensions ranging from three months to ten months and without pay with effect from Wednesday. The motion to suspend the five BNP members in the National Assembly including its leader Major General Lekhanya was passed by the majority of the Members. Other members of the BNP who were suspended include; Mr. Moeketsi Hanyane as the leader of BNP Youth League, Mr. Ranthomeng Matete as the Secretary General of the Party, Mr. Seabata Thabisi as well as Morena Lekhooana Jonathan as executive members of the party in the House. They were charged based on the fact that they did to stop their youth from using party's documents and letter heads and stationery to write letters of intimidation to the Speaker of the National Assembly. The BNP leader has been suspended for ten months, half of which, will be without pay while other four members will only serve three months without their basic salary and the rest depending on their behaviour. The leader of the House and Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Lesao Lehohla said there are proper channels spelled out in the Constitution on how the Speaker should be approached, rather than interference by people who are not members of the House. He pointed out that the march by the BNP Youth League to the Parliament could not be taken lightly considering the 1998 political turmoil which also started as a peaceful demonstration but ended with riots. Mr. Lehohla suggested that strong action must be taken against the suspects as well as BNP representatives in the House as they were found to have contributed in one way or another, while the leader should shoulder the blame due to his position in the party. However, BNP leader Major General Lekhanya appealed that all the blame should be put on him as the leader of the party not on other four members. The motion to suspend five members of BNP was proposed by the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges after the party's Youth League sent a petition to the National Assembly claiming that the Speaker is interfering with their party's internal affairs. The BNP youth marched to the Parliament on October last year.
	Source: LENA