Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT444
2008-06-15 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMAN'S MAJLIS AL-SHURA CONDEMNS TIP REPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHMS #0444 1671229 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151229Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9703 INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000444
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU
SUBJECT: OMAN'S MAJLIS AL-SHURA CONDEMNS TIP REPORT
REF: A. MUSCAT 426
B. MUSCAT 425
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000444
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU
SUBJECT: OMAN'S MAJLIS AL-SHURA CONDEMNS TIP REPORT
REF: A. MUSCAT 426
B. MUSCAT 425
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (SBU) On June 14, the Majlis al-Shura, the elected lower
house of Oman's bicameral advisory body, issued a statement
condemning the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report,
specifically accusing the U.S. State Department of issuing
"false allegations" about Oman's record on TIP. The Shura's
statement linked Oman's Tier 3 ranking in the TIP report to
what it described as "failed" USG policies throughout the
region, and advised the USG to change its "foreign policies
and practices in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan before
accusing others" of not supporting human rights. Local press
gave broad coverage to the Shura's reaction, with the weekly
Arabic-language daily "Al-Zamn" placing its report under a
banner headline in red print, "National Unity Against U.S.
Report." The Shura's pronouncement also gained attention in
the regional press, which up to now has provided almost no
coverage of Oman's angry response to the report. The United
Arab Emirates (UAE) news service ran an Oman News Agency feed
on its official web site suggesting that the anti-U.S. tone
of the Majlis al-Shura, "the national platform that
represents the Omani society," had broad popular support.
2. (C) Comment: The statement by the Majlis al-Shura
represented an unprecedented foray by the chamber into
foreign affairs, which is normally the exclusive domain of
the Sultan and his ministers. Along with the speed that this
normally plodding body responded to our report, this
indicates that the Shura's actions were almost certainly
directed by the government in an attempt to caste its ire in
more populist terms. By including its only directly-elected
institution in the dispute over its Tier 3 ranking, Oman has
signaled its clear intent to continue the campaign against
the report. Moreover, it appears to be trying to frame this
issue as more than just a political argument between
governments, but one that strikes at the core of Oman's
national identity. End Comment.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU
SUBJECT: OMAN'S MAJLIS AL-SHURA CONDEMNS TIP REPORT
REF: A. MUSCAT 426
B. MUSCAT 425
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (SBU) On June 14, the Majlis al-Shura, the elected lower
house of Oman's bicameral advisory body, issued a statement
condemning the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report,
specifically accusing the U.S. State Department of issuing
"false allegations" about Oman's record on TIP. The Shura's
statement linked Oman's Tier 3 ranking in the TIP report to
what it described as "failed" USG policies throughout the
region, and advised the USG to change its "foreign policies
and practices in Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan before
accusing others" of not supporting human rights. Local press
gave broad coverage to the Shura's reaction, with the weekly
Arabic-language daily "Al-Zamn" placing its report under a
banner headline in red print, "National Unity Against U.S.
Report." The Shura's pronouncement also gained attention in
the regional press, which up to now has provided almost no
coverage of Oman's angry response to the report. The United
Arab Emirates (UAE) news service ran an Oman News Agency feed
on its official web site suggesting that the anti-U.S. tone
of the Majlis al-Shura, "the national platform that
represents the Omani society," had broad popular support.
2. (C) Comment: The statement by the Majlis al-Shura
represented an unprecedented foray by the chamber into
foreign affairs, which is normally the exclusive domain of
the Sultan and his ministers. Along with the speed that this
normally plodding body responded to our report, this
indicates that the Shura's actions were almost certainly
directed by the government in an attempt to caste its ire in
more populist terms. By including its only directly-elected
institution in the dispute over its Tier 3 ranking, Oman has
signaled its clear intent to continue the campaign against
the report. Moreover, it appears to be trying to frame this
issue as more than just a political argument between
governments, but one that strikes at the core of Oman's
national identity. End Comment.
GRAPPO