OMAN ONLINE: AMENDING LAWS REGULATING FOREIGN WORKERS

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000113

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP (TROBERTS),NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),NEA/P
(FFINVER),IIP/G/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: AMENDING LAWS REGULATING FOREIGN WORKERS
AND FORCED ENTRY INTO PRIVATE HOMES



1. Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or
simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive
Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the
country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in
the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly
reflective of Omani public opinion, Al-Sablah nevertheless offers
a worthwhile window into the hot topics and unvarnished views of
the day. This edition of Oman Online contains the following
topics:

--- America demands that Gulf States amend laws relating to
foreign workers
--- Storming houses and arresting citizens

End summary.

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U.S. Criticism Spurs Public Outcry
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2. Al-Sablah members reacted strongly to recent comments
attributed to Catherine Novelli, Assistant U.S. Trade
Representative for Europe & the Mediterranean, stating, "Oman and
the UAE need to improve their laws concerning the expatriates
residing within their borders, if they desire to continue with
the Free Trade Agreements (FTA)." Several al-Sablah participants
wondered, "Why is she only focusing on the expatriates? There
are a lot of Omanis who suffer from the employment practices of
private companies in Oman who exclude Omanis to hire cheaper
expatriate labor. Where is the outcry on behalf of Omanis, there
are no laws protecting the Omani labor force either? How can she
make these accusations of Oman when the U.S. is no better at
protecting foreign workers in its territories and has more human
rights cases than Oman. I am growing weary of this never ending
American hypocrisy." Others members commented, "Why do Americans
continually interfere in the internal affairs of other countries?
Our labor issues are of no concern to America. Don't they see
that Oman is doing the best it can to accommodate international
employment law?" Another participant wrote, "For Ms. Novelli to
describe the expatriate employment law in Oman as `the worst
internationally' is unfair and completely untrue! However, we
deserve this criticism because we have opened the door for the
U.S. to meddle in our internal matters, by our willingness to
cooperate with them."

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Hauling in Imams
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3. Another topic discussed in al-Sablah recently refers to recent
reports of police raids on the private homes of religious
conservatives. One Sablah member commented, "God help this
country! How can our society have dissolved so far as to allow
these types of heinous acts to be perpetrated against our
sheiks?" Many participants speculated on the reasons for the
raids suggesting, "The recent events are because the Omani
special security forces that have discovered evidence of a
terrorist cells in one of the interior regions." Another member
in opposition to this claim stated, "These actions have no basis
in fact! They found no contraband, no arms, no drugs, they found
nothing! The security forces just wanted to scare our bearded
religious leaders." A large number of participants opined,
"These disgraceful acts only took place because of the Americans,
and the pressure they are exerting over other countries, in their
`war on terrorism'."

BALTIMORE