Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT493
2008-07-01 09:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE TIP COVERAGE
how-toVZCZCXRO7092 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0493 1830916 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 010916Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9758 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0549 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0437
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000493
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE TIP COVERAGE
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000493
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE TIP COVERAGE
1. SUMMARY: TIP media coverage has abated slightly, but still
remains a focus of media attention. Last week saw only one
additional formal statement by an Omani official or institution, the
State Council, whose statement did not mention TIP directly. A news
report by Arabic daily "As Shabiba" linked a prostitution arrest to
TIP efforts. In a commentary on June 30, "As Shabiba" called for
Omanis to simply disregard the TIP report. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --
Principles that Secure Human Dignity and Rights
-------------- --
2. On June 25, all English and Arabic dailies carried an Oman News
Agency article of an official statement by the State Council (Majlis
A'Dawla) Chairman, Dr. Yahiya al-Manthari, relating to the TIP
report. The article did not directly mention TIP, the Department of
State, or the U.S. "Dignity and Rights of Omanis and Expatriates
are Secure in the Sultanate" said:
"Both citizens and expatriates benefit from the development in the
Sultanate in the prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, whose
rule is based on principles that secure human dignity and rights.
The Sultanate has been committed to respecting international and
regional charters and conventions, as well as established
international laws...[Oman's] principles, laws and procedures secure
the rights of all residents, maintain their dignity, and provide
them with security and stability, ensuring that they live in harmony
with the Omani people. Reports on Oman, including the one by the
World Bank on growth and development, ranked the Sultanate among the
best 13 emerging nations in the world. The common features covered
in the report include availability of a system that preserves
people's rights. This is further evidence of Oman's good reputation
and the international respect for its principles based on justice,
equality, respect for regional and international conventions, as
well as non-interference in the affairs of others."
--------------
Prostitution Conviction Linked to TIP
--------------
3. On June 28, private Arabic daily "As Shabiba" (circulation
20,000) reported the conviction of an Asian national for running a
prostitution ring, associating the bust with TIP in the article's
title. Analysis will be reported Septel. According to "The Omani
Judiciary Faces Trafficking in Persons":
"Seeb court convicted an Asian national for running a prostitution
ring and sharing the profits with the prostitutes. He was sentenced
to four months in prison and a 20 rial fine, in addition to another
month for violating the labor law and foreign residency law. He
will be expelled from the country after serving his sentence. His
female accomplices were convicted of prostitution and sentenced to
four months in prison, in addition to another month in prison for
violating the labor law and foreign residency law. They will also
be expelled after serving their sentence. The Omani Police received
a tip about illegal activities and presented the findings to the
Public Prosecutor, who issued the warrant and made the arrests."
--------------
A Weight That it Doesn't Deserve
--------------
4. On June 30, Arabic daily "Al Shabibah" (circulation 20,000)
commented that readers should ignore the TIP report. "Why Should We
Be Outraged by the U.S. Report?" said:
"If we have confidence in ourselves and trust our courts and
judicial system, why we are so angry [at the report], giving it a
weight that it doesn't deserve? That report, given its origin, does
not deserve our attention at all, and we should not give it more.
Some believe that the public and official responses sent the correct
message to the U.S., which sees itself as the policeman of the
world. We should consider such reports as "remarks" rather than
truths. We can study these remarks and consider reforms to achieve
goals that are far more noble than the goals of the report
writers."
FONTENEAU
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE TIP COVERAGE
1. SUMMARY: TIP media coverage has abated slightly, but still
remains a focus of media attention. Last week saw only one
additional formal statement by an Omani official or institution, the
State Council, whose statement did not mention TIP directly. A news
report by Arabic daily "As Shabiba" linked a prostitution arrest to
TIP efforts. In a commentary on June 30, "As Shabiba" called for
Omanis to simply disregard the TIP report. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --
Principles that Secure Human Dignity and Rights
-------------- --
2. On June 25, all English and Arabic dailies carried an Oman News
Agency article of an official statement by the State Council (Majlis
A'Dawla) Chairman, Dr. Yahiya al-Manthari, relating to the TIP
report. The article did not directly mention TIP, the Department of
State, or the U.S. "Dignity and Rights of Omanis and Expatriates
are Secure in the Sultanate" said:
"Both citizens and expatriates benefit from the development in the
Sultanate in the prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, whose
rule is based on principles that secure human dignity and rights.
The Sultanate has been committed to respecting international and
regional charters and conventions, as well as established
international laws...[Oman's] principles, laws and procedures secure
the rights of all residents, maintain their dignity, and provide
them with security and stability, ensuring that they live in harmony
with the Omani people. Reports on Oman, including the one by the
World Bank on growth and development, ranked the Sultanate among the
best 13 emerging nations in the world. The common features covered
in the report include availability of a system that preserves
people's rights. This is further evidence of Oman's good reputation
and the international respect for its principles based on justice,
equality, respect for regional and international conventions, as
well as non-interference in the affairs of others."
--------------
Prostitution Conviction Linked to TIP
--------------
3. On June 28, private Arabic daily "As Shabiba" (circulation
20,000) reported the conviction of an Asian national for running a
prostitution ring, associating the bust with TIP in the article's
title. Analysis will be reported Septel. According to "The Omani
Judiciary Faces Trafficking in Persons":
"Seeb court convicted an Asian national for running a prostitution
ring and sharing the profits with the prostitutes. He was sentenced
to four months in prison and a 20 rial fine, in addition to another
month for violating the labor law and foreign residency law. He
will be expelled from the country after serving his sentence. His
female accomplices were convicted of prostitution and sentenced to
four months in prison, in addition to another month in prison for
violating the labor law and foreign residency law. They will also
be expelled after serving their sentence. The Omani Police received
a tip about illegal activities and presented the findings to the
Public Prosecutor, who issued the warrant and made the arrests."
--------------
A Weight That it Doesn't Deserve
--------------
4. On June 30, Arabic daily "Al Shabibah" (circulation 20,000)
commented that readers should ignore the TIP report. "Why Should We
Be Outraged by the U.S. Report?" said:
"If we have confidence in ourselves and trust our courts and
judicial system, why we are so angry [at the report], giving it a
weight that it doesn't deserve? That report, given its origin, does
not deserve our attention at all, and we should not give it more.
Some believe that the public and official responses sent the correct
message to the U.S., which sees itself as the policeman of the
world. We should consider such reports as "remarks" rather than
truths. We can study these remarks and consider reforms to achieve
goals that are far more noble than the goals of the report
writers."
FONTENEAU