TIP REPORT DISPUTE TAKES TOLL ON EMBASSY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000527

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, G/TIP
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL KMPI SMIG ELAB MU
SUBJECT: TIP REPORT DISPUTE TAKES TOLL ON EMBASSY
ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS

REF: A. MUSCAT 474

B. MUSCAT 464

C. MUSCAT 444

D. MUSCAT 425

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) The placement of Oman on Tier 3 of the 2008
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report has had significant
negative repercussions on the Embassy's relations with the
Omani government, as well as with non-governmental
organizations and certain private individuals. As reported
previously, the direct fallout from the dispute over Oman's
Tier 3 status includes:
-- Immediate suspension of government cooperation with the
U.S. on TIP and TIP-related issues (ref D);
-- Cancellation of the visit of a U.S. delegation led by
Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, Special Envoy for Nuclear
Nonproliferation, to discuss nuclear cooperation issues (ref
D);
-- Withdrawal by the Royal Omani Police of the Embassy's
"special access" to criminal statistics and law enforcement
information, which could severely compromise post's ability
to asses the security situation in Oman (ref A);
-- Cancellation of a MEPI-funded parliamentary exchange
program visit, implemented by the International Republican
Institute (IRI),by staffers of Oman's Majlis al-Shura to
Lithuania (ref A);
-- Indefinite postponement of all IRI-conducted training
previously scheduled for the Majlis al-Shura (ref A); and
-- A decision by the Oman Journalist Association to cancel
its application for a MEPI local grant to run a junior
journalist program (ref A).


2. (C) In addition to the concrete actions listed above, a
number of contacts, particularly those concerned with labor
issues, have stepped away from their previously close
cooperative ties with the Embassy. For example, the Director
General of Labor Care at the Ministry of Manpower, leaders of
Oman's General Federation of Omani Workers, and the head of
one of Oman's largest employer organizations have all been
unresponsive or curt in their dealings with the Embassy,
whereas prior to the TIP report they were very open and
forthcoming with information. Contacts at the embassies of
labor source countries are also more hesitant to discuss
TIP-related issues. (Note: The Pakistani and Bangladeshi
ambassadors in Muscat have recently stated to local press
that their nationals in Oman do not suffer from any
violations of their rights. End Note.)


3. (C) More negative ramifications from the Omani
government's hard-line stance on TIP may be forthcoming. The
languid pace of business in the hot summer months, and the
long vacations taken by many contacts, has so far limited the
full scope of potential ill effects of the TIP dispute. More
importantly, the Omani government is likely waiting for an
official U.S. response to its demand for a re-evaluation of
its Tier 3 status before taking further action. If it
considers our response to be inadequate, it will most
probably institute additional punitive measures as part of
its "fundamental reappraisal" of its relationship with the
U.S. Given the critical challenges that we face in the
Middle East, a loss or reduction of Omani cooperation on the
peace process, the situation in Iraq, Iran and other such
issues would be a significant blow.
GRAPPO