OMAN ONLINE: DEBATING THE TRIAL

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000698

SIPDIS

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

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



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 controversy over the detainee trial continues

End summary.

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WAS THERE A THREAT?
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2. Al-Sablah subscribers strongly condemned the ongoing trial of
those accused of belonging to a secret, illegal organization that
threatened Oman's national security. The trial was by far the
most discussed topic in al-Sablah this week. One participant
wrote, "Defense attorneys have been allowed to represent the
defendants, but the only evidence that they have are files
compiled by the prosecution. So, the defense attorneys' case
will be based on prosecution documents. How fair can the trial
be?"



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NOT BUYING THE GOVERNMENT LINE
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3. The publication in the principal dailies of photographs of
the weapons cache seized from defendants did little to change the
opinion of at least some al-Sablah subscribers. One commented,
"I do not understand why the government is so keen to enforce the
1990 weapons law (forbidding private ownership of virtually all
weapons) now. It has not been enforced before." Several
subscribers pointed out that owning guns is a part of Omani
culture. One stated, "You can purchase guns like those in any
Omani traditional market. You just have to visit Salalah to know
that. Besides, the defendants are accused of selling weapons.
If they were trying to overthrow the government, why would they
sell weapons? The logical thing would be for them to buy them."
Another participant asked ironically, "Can our Sultan who is
protected by an army of forty thousand men be ousted by a few men
with a few guns?" Another subscriber speculated, "Next Monday,
the court will issue a guilty verdict and sentence the men to
death. Then the Sultan will promptly pardon them. This will
ensure that the government can stay in place for a few more
years."

BALTIMORE