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

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Summary
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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.

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Digging in the Dirt
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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
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.

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Tourist Posts Tirade at DontVisitOman.com
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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.

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COMMENT
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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