OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000699 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 and private dailies continue commentary on the Arab-Israeli conflict, citing the recent Amnesty International report as confirmation of Israeli war crimes and supporting the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. TIP awareness received a substantial boost this week in a full-page column in state daily "Oman" by a prominent local writer. END SUMMARY. -------------- AMNESTY REPORT CONFIRMS ISRAELI "CRIMES" -------------- ¶2. Following the release of the Amnesty International condemning Israel of war crimes, the state Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) wrote on July 4 that the international community needs to acknowledge that "Israeli aggression on Gaza crossed all limits of human rights and norms." "Strategic War and Israeli Flimsy Excuses" opines: "[Amnesty International] confirmed that the crimes committed by the Israeli aggression on Gaza crossed all limits of human rights and norms. The Palestinians must unite for the success of the Palestinian dialogue, especially now that the international community [is] virtually unanimous in advocating for the Israelis to stop settlements and investigate the crimes committed in Gaza, along with other acts and practices on ground." -------------- THE RIGHT OF RETUN AND "ISRAELI GAMES" -------------- ¶3. In an editorial on July 6, private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) supports a stronger Arab position on Palestinian right of return in face of Israeli "importation" of citizens from other countries. "The Return of the Palestinian Refugees is an Important Issue" says: "The only solution for the political dilemma between Israel and the Palestinians on the issue of the return of refugees is for a strong and coherent Arab position regardless of Israeli statements on this matter. How is it that a state that imports its population from abroad denies the same rights to the Palestinians, the indigenous population of their land? The Israeli games are betting on the current rift between the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as they look to eradicate the issues of Palestinian refugees." -------------- FIGHTING CYBER-TRAFFICKING -------------- ¶4. On July 5, "Oman" published a full-page column on trafficking in persons by Dr. Husain bin Said al-Ghafri, Legal Advisor for the Sultanate's Information Technology Authority. He focused on the importance of fighting Internet-related TIP crimes, saying that new technology has contributed to an increase in online TIP activities. According to "Trafficking In Persons and the Internet": "Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a heinous crime, strictly forbidden by Islam and all international conventions and legislations. Advances in information and communication technologies have contributed greatly to an increase in online activities relating to trafficking in persons. Oman, as part of the international community, must take a firm legislative stand and review its regulations, specifically the Omani penal code and the trafficking law. That law must have a specific chapter that deals with combating cyber TIP-related crimes." HURTADO