QABOOS PARDONS HUNDREDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001159 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2015 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS KISL PINS MU SUBJECT: QABOOS PARDONS HUNDREDS REF: A. MUSCAT 931 ¶B. MUSCAT 1132 ¶C. MUSCAT 1109 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree that pardoned hundreds of prisoners, allegedly including military officers, who were recently sentenced for their involvement in a secret and illegal Ibadhi organization. The announcement of the royal pardons neither specifically referred to the military detainees, nor has the government ever publicly acknowledged their arrests. End summary. -------------- -------------- Royal Pardons Believed to Include Military Officers -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Sultan Qaboos' July 18 decree pardoned 369 prisoners in the runup to the July 23 celebrations of his accession to power. According to Omani sources and internet chatrooms, about fifty convicted military officers were among those released. According to these reports, the most prominent defendants were Air Commodore Mohammed al-Ismaily, commander of Royal Flight (responsible for the Sultan's air transportation),and Colonel Said al-Kindy, director general for passports and residence at the Royal Oman Police. -------------- Security Chief Reminder -------------- ¶3. (SBU) General Ali Majid al-Maamari, the powerful Minister of the Royal Office and Oman's top security maven, released a statement carried in local newspapers July 19 reminding citizens of the Sultan's tolerance and closeness with the people, but underscoring that "freedom of expression does not mean defaming individuals or offending society." Without referring to the military detainees explicitly, he urged every citizen to consider Oman's security as their responsibility, while reassuring that "personnel of security bodies are nationals who are keen to protect their homeland." He likewise called on the public to turn a deaf ear to "rumors and lies." -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) While the pardon of the civilians in June (ref A) came as little surprise, there had been considerably less optimism that the military officers would meet such a benign fate. Military personnel are generally held to a higher standard of loyalty. The pardons will probably earn the Sultan popular praise. Notwithstanding Ali Majid's remarks, the pardons may also support future calls for the speedy release of other critics who may run afoul of the authorities. BALTIMORE