OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000681

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


1. SUMMARY: State Arabic daily "Oman" criticized corrupt Omani
businessmen for their role in Oman's Tier 3 Trafficking in Persons
rating. Private daily "Al Shabiba" warned that a lack of true
freedom of expression was causing a backsliding to tribalism.
Another "Al Shabiba" editorial accused senior officials of using
their offices for personal gain, and called for a return to official
probity. END SUMMARY.

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"Failure to Correct Expatriate Labor Issues"
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2. On September 16, government-owned "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
published an editorial by its senior columnist, with the the
strongest criticism to date of trafficking in persons violations by
Omani nationals, saying "They are Worsening the Abuse":

"The failure to correct expatriate labor issues was behind the [Tier
3] listing of Oman in the Trafficking in Persons report. Omani
contractors bring in huge numbers of laborers, then illegally
transfer responsibilities to expatriate executives. These foreign
executives do not provide minimum standards of dignity, let alone
comfort, while Omani sponsors live comfortably off the commissions.
However, in the end, the Omani sponsor is the one responsible, as
his signature is on the documents. Is it not time for these so
called Omani businessmen and contractors to respect the laws of
their country and support workers' rights? Is it not time for these
criminals to stop subjecting our country to international
accusations?"

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Freedom of Expression "Almost Nonexistent"
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3. Muhammad al-Balushi wrote in the Arabic daily "Al Shabiba"
(circulation 20,000) on September 20 that true freedom of expression
is required for Oman to combat tribalism and sectarianism.
According to "Defending National Sovereignty is a Part of the Basic
Law":

"Most citizens do not understand the basic concepts of freedom
established by the Omani Basic Law. In the Basic Law, the
definition of liberty is always connected with social or religious
concepts such as "Halal" or "Haram". But, civil concepts of freedom
of expression and the right to criticize are almost nonexistent.
But how could we have freedom of expression and the right to
criticize when we are unable to openly discuss issues that affect
our society? Can we deny that tribalism, which is the source of
ignorance, is coming back into our society and that people are more
loyal to it than the country? How can we protect future generations
from ideological and social dangers if our educational system will
not confront these issues? This lack of understanding is the cause
of the negative tribalism and sectarianism hovering around us."

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"Spreading Corruption When They Should be Reforming"
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4. On September 21, "Al-Shabiba" editorialist Yusuf al-Bulushi,
accused "very senior officials" of corruption in an extremely rare
journalistic critique of the establishment. "Reformers or
Corruptors" said:

"Very senior officials in control of sovereign economic
establishments are taking advantage of their official positions for
personal benefit, spreading corruption when they should be
reforming. They manipulate the media to promote false messages of
their achievements and performance in office, instead of
concentrating on making improvements. Reformation only takes place
in a healthy work environment in which officials do not promote and
hire relatives or provide external services".

GRAPPO