OMAN ONLINE: THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT AND THE FTA

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000428

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT AND THE FTA



1. Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al-
Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language
fora 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, these popular sites nevertheless offer a
worthwhile window into the hot topics and unvarnished views of
the day. This edition of Oman Online contains the following
topics:

-- The Human Rights Report: Need for Online Arabic Version
-- FTA and Israel
-- FTA And Jobs for Omanis

End summary.

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Human Rights Or Secret Agenda?
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2. Discussions in Al-Sablah continued to focus on the State
Department's Human Rights Report for Oman. One subscriber
expressed his negative response to the report writing, "America
writes these things to divide us, so that we will not join
together to protect our interests." Another participant
commented, "The report is meant to prepare the ground for
America's real objective which is to put pressure on the Gulf
after it has imposed its will on Damascus, Cairo, and Beirut."
In contrast, another subscriber gave credence to the report
stating, "The Omani government will embarrass itself
internationally if it continues to violate human rights." The
Human Rights report was also discussed in Al-Majarra. Many
subscribers in the chat room lamented that the State Department
website does not include an Arabic version of the report.

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FTA: The Israeli Connection
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3. Al-Sablah subscribers also discussed an Al-Arabia Satellite
Television report that the U.S. would demand that the UAE stop
boycotting Israeli products and end ties with countries that it
does not like as a condition to signing an FTA. Another opined
that the U.S. will "...use the FTA as a tool to protect Israeli
interests in the region and to oblige Arab countries to normalize
relations with the Jewish state." Several Al-Sablah subscribers
expressed skepticism about the FTA negotiations commenting, "Oman
will almost certainly accept these unreasonable U.S. conditions."

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FTA: US Investment = Jobs for Omanis
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4. A significant number of al-Sablah participants viewed the FTA
positively. One subscriber wrote, "We should be realistic and
begin encouraging foreign investment. It can only work to our
advantage." Another subscriber wrote, "More American companies
means more jobs and a higher standard of living for us." Al-
Sablah subscribers also speculated on whether an FTA would revive
Oman's stock market. However, many participants opined that it
would not improve the economy. One subscriber commented, "The
FTA will not benefit us. It will not create more jobs." Several
writers stated, "There are positive and negative aspects of such
agreements. The outcome will depend on how well Oman
negotiates." Another, subscriber wrote, "The FTA will almost
certainly create jobs and bring new life to the markets.
However, it will also bring a cultural invasion. The FTA is not
just about commercial agreements."

BALTIMORE