OMAN ONLINE: FTA AND LABOR RIGHTS, OMANI REACTION TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000168 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD(CWHITTLESEY),NEA/P, IIP/G/NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SOCI MU SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: FTA AND LABOR RIGHTS, OMANI REACTION TO DANISH CARTOONS AND DAMASCUS PROTEST ¶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 focuses on the following topics: -- Reaction to Danish Cartoons -- Labor Rights and FTA End summary. -------------- Government Tightly Controls Cartoon Response -------------- ¶2. Offensive Danish cartoons continued to be the lead topic in al-Sablah, as participants called for demonstrations and discussions of the issue in Friday sermons. Members of the forum complained about government efforts to hamper such activities. As one participant wrote, "All we want to do is express our feelings about the Danish offense, and to defend the Prophet in a peaceful march." Participants expressed their disappointment and anger not only about the heavy hand of the security forces, but also the government ban on discussing the Danish issue in Friday sermons. An al-Sablah member wrote that "Most of the Friday speeches completely ignored the issue, although there were reports that some Imams mentioned it despite the government ban." Another member wrote that "All mosques should have talked about it, to spread awareness of the offense and of how to defend our religious figures and beliefs." The topic generated 2,301 hits and 68 responses. -------------- -------------- Call for a Demonstration at Sultan Qaboos University -------------- -------------- ¶3. A member reported that he received an SMS text message calling for a peaceful march at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), to denounce the Danish cartoons. Al-Sablah respondents believed that the march would not take place, and that trying to organize it was futile. One respondent wrote that "Once the security officials know about it and send some of their forces to the area, no one will show up for the march." Yet some respondents pledged to show up anyway, hoping that officials would allow the march. This topic generated 839 hits and 21 responses. -------------- Peaceful Rally at SQU -------------- ¶4. A peaceful protest march took place at SQU on February 4, 2006, and generated discussion in al-Sablah. Respondents claimed that 200 students participated, and wrote that they appreciated the peaceful nature of the protest, in contrast with the violence in Damascus. Some al-Sablah participants called for extending the boycott to France, Norway and Finland, but gave no reason for doing so. -------------- Demonstration by Female University Students -------------- ¶5. Al-Sablah carried news of a second peaceful demonstration against Danish cartoons by female students at Sultan Qaboos University on February 7, 2006. Respondents hailed "the Omani women's brave participation in supporting the cause of Muslims" and their "support of their brother Muslims." This topic generated 793 hits and 38 responses. -------------- - Reaction to Danish Embassy Burning in Damascus -------------- - ¶6. Most al-Sablah participants denounced the burning of the Danish embassy in Damascus, by demonstrators who were angry at Danish cartoons that offend Islam. Sixty percent of responses denounced violence and destruction of property as a way of expressing one's feelings, with one response calling it "a stupid act." One participant wrote, "Is this how we should express our opinion? Isn't this action distorting our image and reputation as Muslims and Arabs? What would we do if the Danes and Swedes decided to burn mosques and Qurans in their countries in revenge? Another participant stated, "The Syrians have reacted emotionally and this irresponsible act shouldn't have happened." Members appreciated the calm and civilized demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, and regarded them as an effective method of protest. However, a minority of al-Sablah members felt that the Syrians reacted naturally, and that the Danes and Swedes deserved such "a brave act that was meant to defend the Prophet." The topic generated 965 and 51 responses. -------------- Poll on Violent Anti-Danish Protests -------------- ¶7. An al-Sablah poll asked participants whether or not they supported the burning of the Danish Embassy in Damascus as a way of expressing anger against derogatory Danish cartoons. Out of 44 responses, 63 percent disagreed with this tactic, with one member writing that "These actions distort our image and give the impression to the world that we are lawless terrorists." Twenty- seven out of 44 respondents said that civilized forms of protest, not violent tactics, are the best way to realize the goals of Arabs and Muslims. This topic generated 1419 hits and 44 responses. -------------- FTA Support for Omani Labor Rights -------------- ¶8. Quoting heavily from a Washington File fact sheet on the FTA, participants in al-Sablah discussed U.S. support for Omani labor laws, including the right to form unions. Many participants wondered how committed the Omani government would be to such laws, and what strategies it would use to implement them. "Will we have labor representatives in our companies? What sort of authority will unions have, and will we be allowed to strike?" Another respondent stated that "This wave of change is being imposed from the outside; I wish it came from within." Another respondent wondered "if labor laws exist in Oman at present. If so, they are just ink on paper." This topic generated 570 hits and 16 responses. BALTIMORE