OMAN: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001144 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT: RHONDA SHORE, AND NCTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC MU SUBJECT: OMAN: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM REF: (A) STATE 109980; (B) STATE 122733 ¶1. (U) The following is the proposed text for the 2009 Country Report on Terrorism for Oman per ref A and B guidance. Oman continued to be proactive in implementing counterterrorism strategies and cooperating with neighboring countries to prevent terrorists from entering or moving freely throughout the Arabian Peninsula, yet remained sometimes resistant to bilateral sharing of specifics regarding information and efforts in this field. The Omani government opposed the spread of extremist ideology by promoting religious moderation and tolerance. To better coordinate efforts to prevent terrorist-related activities, the government continued development of a national terrorism operations and analysis center. Oman is not a major financial center and did not have a significant money laundering problem. There were no terrorist attacks in 2009 and Oman is not a safe haven for terrorists. In this regard, the Indian press reported in May that an Omani businessman, Ali Abdul Aziz al Hooti (whose mother was Indian) was arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment in Oman for helping to fund Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as well as helping plan terrorist attacks in Oman. At the same time, al Hooti's Indian-born expat accomplice, Sarfraz Nawaz, was returned to India where, the Indian press reports, he is also serving a life term. Oman's long coastline and relatively porous borders remained vulnerable to illegal transit by migrant workers, smugglers, terrorists, and individuals involved in the traffic and sale of illegal drugs. The government was concerned about the steady flow of illegal immigrants attempting to enter Oman often in transit to other destinations in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the United Arab Emirates. The majority of the illegal immigrants apprehended were from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Somalis continued to attempt to cross the border illegally into Oman from Yemen. The Omani government actively sought training and equipment through the U.S. and other militaries and relevant commercial entities, to support its efforts to control its land and maritime borders through the continued conceptual development of joint operations centers to be staffed and equipped from relevant ministries. Oman used United States security assistance to enhance nighttime operational capabilities on its maritime and land borders. ¶2. (U) Embassy Muscat POC for this report is Pol/Econ Chief John Clarkson, clarksonjc@state.gov. Schmierer