DONTVISITOMAN.COM OUTRAGES OMANIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001062 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI, CA/OCS/ACS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC EIND SOCI PREL MU SUBJECT: DONTVISITOMAN.COM OUTRAGES OMANIS REF: A. MUSCAT 553 ¶B. MUSCAT 789 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) An AmCit arrested in March and deported in May for illegally collecting meteorites has recounted his trying legal experience in Oman on a provocative website: dontvisitoman.com. The website has received widespread commentary from Omani citizens, who are stunned at its malicious characterization of the Sultanate and anxious to rebut its claims. Oman's Internet service provider is blocking local access to the site while the Ministry of Tourism allegedly weighs its legal options. End Summary. -------------- Digging in the Dirt -------------- ¶2. (SBU) AmCit John Carl Blennert was arrested on March 30, 2005, for illegally collecting meteor rocks as a member of a larger group of 7 Russians and 1 German. The Embassy was formally notified of Blennert,s arrest on April 2, 2005, and Blennert was subsequently released April 3 after a prison visit from the Conoff. ¶3. (SBU) While determining how to proceed with his case, Omani authorities retained Blennert's passport, preventing his departure from Oman for several weeks. The Embassy contacted the police on numerous occasions in an attempt to resolve Mr. Blennert's case and expedite his departure. Blennert's admission to having collected rocks and minerals in his last trip to Oman in October 2004, however, may have further complicated the issue. Informal contacts in the Omani government have suggested that the delay may also have been due to the fact that this was the first time the Omani government had tried to prosecute someone for illegally collecting rocks and minerals. ¶4. (SBU) The Embassy received initial indications that Blennert would have to stand trial in Oman, but was pleased to learn that the Omani Public Prosecution Office ultimately decided to deport Blennert and his colleagues without a trial. All nine of the individuals involved in this incident were deported in the early morning of May 10, 2005. ¶5. (SBU) On the day of Blennert,s deportation, the Embassy received a statement about the case from the Omani Public Prosecution Office via diplomatic note. The statement charged the defendants with the following crimes: theft, carrying out unauthorized and criminal exploration �0A;operations, and the unauthorized and criminal use of radio telecommunications. However, due to the relative unimportance of the case, lack of substantial evidence, and concern regarding the potential harm to Oman's tourism industry, the government decided not to prosecute. Upon deportation, however, all defendants were officially blacklisted from future entry into Oman and their materials (radios, laptops, etc.) remained in police custody. ¶6. (SBU) The Embassy subsequently received a diplomatic note on May 30, 2005, requesting the Embassy's assistance in facilitating the return of meteorites collected by Blennert in his previous visit. The note indicated that Blennert had made a promise to that effect before departing the Sultanate, though Blennert refuted that claim in a communication with our consular section. -------------- Tourist Posts Tirade at DontVisitOman.com -------------- ¶7. (U) Although Blennert's case was resolved without charge, Blennert has criticized the Department of State on his website for rendering inadequate assistance, and the Government of Oman for theft and unlawful detention. Blennert's allegations are carried on his website, dontvisitoman.com. News of the site has spread quickly within the Omani community, and the accusations of theft and hostility on the part of the Omani government have been met with stunned disbelief and indignation. ¶8. (U) Starting June 25, contributors began posting responses to the website's allegations on Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" (Omania.net). The majority of responses expressed outrage at the "lies and nonsense" mentioned in the website. While most members approved of the actions of the Royal Oman Police and Public Prosecutor regarding the arrest and subsequent release of Blennert and company, some even went so far as to praise Omantel for blocking access to the site. On June 29, after racking up over 2500 visitors, the posting channel was closed by the site administrators, arguably so that fewer people would visit the site. Some al-Sablah contributors, however, groused that blocking the website from Omanis makes no sense and, furthermore, prevents people from directly responding to the website's allegations. Those Omanis who have been able to circumvent Omantel's block have ridiculed the website, attributing Blennert's tirade to an unhappy, perhaps "crazy," tourist. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (U) At a time when the Omani government is actively pursuing growth in the tourism industry and basking in the afterglow of Oman's hugely successful Folklife Festival participation in Washington, D.C., some Omanis are worried that Blennert's website rant may dissuade potential visitors and harm tourism development projects. One contributor to al-Sablah mentioned that the Ministry of Tourism is aware of the website and may seek legal action against its webmaster host. BALTIMORE