Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1468
2006-10-11 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN MOVES EARLY TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION

Tags:  PGOV KDEM KMPI MU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5656
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHMS #1468/01 2841245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111245Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7271
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001468 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KMPI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MOVES EARLY TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION


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SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001468

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KMPI MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MOVES EARLY TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION


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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) The Omani government has started an early media
campaign to increase voter registration. In addition to
placing announcements on the radio and in newspapers, the
Minister of Interior held an unprecedented question-and-
answer session at a gathering of the Oman Journalists
Association to discuss the 2007 elections to the Majlis
al-Shura. End Summary.

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HITTING THE AIRWAVES AND THE PRESS
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2. (U) Beginning in early September, Omani radio stations
began airing announcements - in both English and Arabic -
urging Omani citizens to register to vote in their home
district (wilayat) for the 2007 elections to the Majlis
al-Shura, the lower house of Oman's bicameral consultative
body. The radio spots, replayed several times a day before
and after news bulletins, reminded Omanis that it is "their
right" to take part in the Majlis elections. Print notices
of the announcements concurrently appeared in local papers.


3. (U) One of the radio announcements specifically targeted
Omani women. These broadcasts, and corresponding newspaper
notice, stated: "Omani women have proved to be a real and
effective partner in the development of the Omani (Majlis
al-Shura). Omani sisters, please register your name in the
elections register for the Shura elections in 2007."

-------------- -
A FIRST: MINISTER ADDRESSES JOURNALISTS' GROUP
-------------- -


4. (SBU) The seriousness of official outreach regarding the
Majlis elections was demonstrated by the October 2 speech of
Minister of the Interior Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim al-Busaidi
to the fledgling Oman Journalists Association (OJA). The
event marked the first time that a ranking official spoke to
this group, as well as the first time that any sitting
minister engaged in a public dialogue with an Omani private
association. As such, the evening was a rare opportunity for
an audience to hear not only directly from a minister, but to
question him. The resulting give-and-take was, by local
standards, surprisingly lively.


5. (SBU) The special Ramadan program, organized by the OJA,
was attended by a primarily young, mostly male audience of
about 80 journalists, professionals, and members of the

diplomatic corps. Al-Busaidi opened with prepared remarks in
which he outlined his Ministry's accomplishments in the 2003
elections for the current session of the Majlis al-Shura:
convening an election commission, setting up polling
stations, providing a legal framework by issuing decree 620
(which enumerates voter rights and establishes the voting
process),registering voters, and supervising the vote.
Al-Busaidi explained that the Ministry of the Interior will
continue these efforts for the 2007 elections, along with new
initiatives including on-line voter information (part of
wider Omani e-government efforts) and visits to Oman's
embassies abroad that will host voting centers.


6. (SBU) By participating in the last Majlis elections, the
Minister said, "citizens had shared in the decisions of their
country, and in democracy." He continued that the government
hoped to "spread the culture of elections" in Omani society.
Al-Busaidi added that the Ministry of Interior valued the
participation of non-governmental organizations and
associations, such as the OJA, in raising awareness of the
importance of elections.


7. (SBU) More interesting than the Minister's speech was the
hour-long Q&A session that followed. Opportunities for
public interaction at such a senior level are virtually
unheard of in Oman, and questioners were relatively
forthright, particularly on tribalism and its role in Omani
elections. The Minister attempted to deflect these concerns,
saying there is only "positive" tribalism in Oman, and that
the only meaningful tribal divisions in Oman are on paper.
Following up, one journalist - an Egyptian expatriate -
disagreed and asserted that the issue was and would remain a
factor in Omani politics (and that the Minister's predecessor
had said so.) The Minister laughed, saying that tribalism
"is only a problem in your mind." Frustrated, albeit
good-naturedly, the questioner sat down, muttering that
discussion on the subject was of no use. Despite the
challenging questions, the mood of the session was not
acrimonious, and the evening was punctuated with laughter.


MUSCAT 00001468 002 OF 002


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COMMENT
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8. (SBU) The government's early efforts to increase voter
registration and stir up interest in next year's elections
likely reflects a firm desire to raise the relatively low
number of participants in the 2003 Majlis contest. (Note:
Only 262,000 of an estimated 821,000 eligible Omanis
registered to vote for the 2003 elections. End Note.) That
a cabinet minister would tackle unscripted questions on the
subject of elections demonstrates the government's resolve to
make the elections a focus of public interest. Given Oman's
very reserved public discourse, reflected in the usual
timidity of its press, the questions asked of the Interior
Minister and the critical thinking they reflect are
indicative that at least some Omanis are looking outside
accepted comfort zones in examining their society and are
increasingly willing to express their thoughts in a public
forum.
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