OMAN ONLINE: ELECTRIFYING THE SULTANATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001643

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, IIP/G/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: ELECTRIFYING THE SULTANATE


1. Summary: The Omani Internet message board "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, this popular site nevertheless offers a worthwhile
window into the hot topics and unvarnished views of the day.
This edition of Oman Online contains the following topics:

-- Corruption Scandal Involving The National Electric Company
-- Comments By Iran's President
-- Arab Rulers As Puppets
-- Opening Of An Omani Consulate In Melbourne
-- Alleged Demonstration By Physically Disabled In Saham

End summary.

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A Current Affair
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2. With a record number of hits (16,832) and responses (174),the
conviction and sentencing of 31 individuals involved in a
bribery/corruption scandal at the National Electricity Company
was a major topic of discussion among al-Sablah members. The
story was all the more sensational given the high level of some
of the defendants, including a former undersecretary at the
Ministry of Electricity and Water and Oman's former ambassador to
the United Kingdom. Most al-Sablah respondents hailed the trial,
with one calling it "a victory for transparency." Others took
the opportunity to vent against official corruption: "These
sentences will set a precedent that will force others to think
twice before exploiting their positions." Added another
contributor, "This unfortunately is not the only breach of trust
that has occurred in our beloved country, but we hope that
government officials will learn from the mistakes of the
convicted."


3. The issue of how the crimes were actually discovered -- by an
international auditing firm rather than a local entity -- touched
off another round of comments. "The State Financial Audit
Authority proved its ineffectiveness, and we had to rely on
outsiders to expose the mess," criticized one author. Another
wrote, "An international auditing company can find examples of
fraud and cheating from thousands of miles away, but our own
agencies can't detect it? How embarrassing." Still others
worried about the broader implications of the sentencing: "Was
our Ambassador to the UK honest when he was representing Oman in
London? Or was he working to get better deals for British
companies?

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Cartography, Iranian-Style
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4. Recent inflammatory comments by Iran's president received
broad support among al-Sablah's readers. Out of 1,200 hits and
48 responses, most participants agreed with President
Ahmedinejad's call to "wipe Israel off the map." "I wish I were
an Iranian," commented one author, "because none of the Arab
leaders would dare to say what the Iranian president did."
Continued another, "God bless Iran's president for vocalizing
what we all are thinking. If only Arab leaders were so bold."
One respondent, however, urged caution, saying "The Iranian
president may be betting on the losing horse in this instance."

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Made in America
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5. One forum member aired his opinions about Washington's
ostensible control over Arab leaders: "There is a new trend in
American policy now, to try and identify future Arab leaders in
order to influence them. In the past, America simply used bribes
or other means to put Arab leaders in its pocket, but now they
are looking more and more at young people."


6. 237 individuals viewed the topic, and 17 responded - mostly
agreeing with the author. "Arab leaders are always trying to
please their American masters, as we have seen," claimed one
respondent. Another wrote, "It seems the Bush administration is
fed up with simply giving orders to Arab leaders, and now wants
to `educate' and `prepare' our rulers for us." Still another
observed, "The problem for the Americans is that the Arab
educational system does not create puppets. Therefore, the
Americans are trying to influence the upbringing of future
leaders, in an effort to make them traitors to their own
countries."

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The Sultanate In Sydney
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7. The news that Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree establishing
an Omani consulate in Melbourne, Australia was welcomed by al-
Sablah readers (with 124 hits and 7 responses). One participant
noted, "In view of the increasing number of Omani students who
are choosing to attend universities in Australia and New Zealand,
opening this consulate is a good idea." Remarked another, "For a
long time, Omani students in Australia and even Malaysia needed
to rely on Oman's embassy in London for services and formalities.
This new consulate will certainly make it easier for students."

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Stirrings In Saham?
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8. In a posting that received 287 hits but virtually no
responses, one forum member reported on an alleged demonstration
by physically disabled Omanis in Saham (near the city of Sohar,
northwest of Muscat). This reporter claimed to see "a group of
disabled persons, mostly men, gathering on their wheelchairs near
the Royal Camp in Saham, demanding to meet the Sultan. They were
asking for more job opportunities for the handicapped in both the
public and private sectors. A security officer in charge of the
site denied them access to His Majesty."

BALTIMORE