REACTIONS TO UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR'S REPORT,

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000235 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),DS/IP/ITA STATE ALSO FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/OSAC, AND DS/DSS/CC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC KPAO IZ MU SUBJECT: REACTIONS TO UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR'S REPORT, DETAINEE PHOTOS REF: A. SECSTATE 22932 ¶B. SECSTATE 24924 ¶C. SECSTATE 26147 ¶1. (SBU) In a February 18 call on MFA Chief of International Organizations Ambassador Talib bin Miran al-Raisi, P/E Chief took the opportunity to register USG objections to the UN Special Rapporteur's Report on detainee conditions in Guantanamo Bay (ref A),as well as to use talking points (refs B, C) emphasizing the USG's condemnation of all instances of abuse against detainees, as recently depicted in photos in the international and Omani press. Ambassador al-Raisi was familiar with the UN Rapporteur's report and the fact that the UN team turned down USG requests to visit detention facilities in person before publishing its report. He was pleased to note the USG's denunciation of torture and mistreatment, taking note of the punishments meted out thus far to guilty parties. ¶2. (SBU) Oman's print media gave prominent attention to the latest detainee abuse photos in February 16 and 17 editions. The government-owned Arabic language daily "Oman" was the only one of Oman's two Arabic and three English daily newspapers not to publish the story or photos on the front page on February 16, while February 17 editions of several newspapers gave front-page attention to the Iraqi government's reactions. The February 16 headline in the privately owned Arabic daily "Al Watan" was "Freedom plus Democracy equals Sadism." Outrage over the photos was also the leading topic in the local Internet message board "al-Sablah." Labeled as "new photos of American freedom," the topic was viewed over 2,000 times and generated three dozen responses. There have been no demonstrations, however, or other public manifestations of protest. Reactions may have been muted somewhat by the fact that most media coverage took place over the local weekend. BALTIMORE