EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/18/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000110 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/18/2005 REF: MUSCAT 0084 Classified By: DCM William R. Stewart. Reason: 1.4(c). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 18 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the Eid al Adha holiday. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON remain appropriate. End Summary. -------------- Local Security and Holiday Vigilance -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) On January 18, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the Eid al Adha holiday. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local and regional security situations; the EAC continued to characterize the former as stable, noting no new threat reporting specific to Oman or the Eid holiday. RMAS corroborated rumors circulating on local internet discussion sites that the Omani security apparatus recently arrested a group of Ibadi (the majority Islamic sect in Oman) extremists. RMAS explained that the extremists were identified as being members of a secret religious organization - strictly prohibited in Oman. RMAS further explained that the organization has no/no apparent links to terrorism, domestic or international, and maintains no/no apparent anti-American/Western agenda. It is noted that the arrests reflect the Omani government's firm commitment to combating extremism. ¶3. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated that members of the EAC must continue reinforcing the need for sustained vigilance regarding all aspects of personal security. RSO asked members of the EAC to convey this necessity to both their staffs and family members - particularly during the Eid holiday, when it is common for large groups of adolescents to congregate at public venues, some of which are frequented by Embassy personnel. Likewise, RSO re-emphasized the importance of immediately reporting all suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the local security environment since the last meeting held on January 16 (reftel),and that the Embassy's FPCON and already heightened security posture remain appropriate. Nonetheless, the EAC remains acutely aware of the need to monitor both the regional and local security and threat environments, and is prepared to take the necessary countermeasures should changes to either occur. AMB, DCM, RSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, MGT, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. BALTIMORE