VZCZCXRO9091
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #1639/01 3311350
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271350Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7462
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0460
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0352
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR 
STATE PASS USTR FOR N. MOORJANI, J. BUNTIN 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: GEMAYEL ASSASSINATION, IRAQI SECTARIAN 
CONFLICT, PRESS FREEDOM IN OMAN 
 
REF:  MUSCAT 1627 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: State daily "Oman" blames Israel's Lebanon policy for 
precipitating the Gemayel assassination; private paper "Al-Watan" 
says "foreign powers" are hindering solutions to Iraq's bloodshed; 
an "Al-Watan" columnist wants more "constructive criticism" in local 
media; Omani government shuts down popular Internet discussion forum 
"Al-Sablah."  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------- 
COVERAGE 
-------- 
 
¶2.  Some Omani dailies have begun flatly describing the situation in 
Iraq as "civil war," as in a November 25 front page headline in 
government-owned, Arabic language "Oman".  The term previously 
appeared only in commentaries and editorial columns. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
ISRAEL'S LEBANON POLICY AND GEMAYEL ASSASSINATION 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶3.  On November 25 "Oman" (circulation 38,000) highlighted the 
recent assassination of the Lebanese minister of industry under the 
headline "Lebanon Heading into the Unknown": 
 
"For more than half a century Israel has employed a divide-and-rule 
strategy to create civil conflict in Lebanon and other Arab states, 
one that has prevented Arabs from cooperating to solve their 
problems.  The latest political collapse and the assassination of 
the Lebanese minister of industry does nothing to further the 
process of national reconciliation or Lebanon's efforts to solve its 
political dilemmas.  Since the Israeli attack and the victory of the 
Lebanese resistance, the political situation in Lebanon has been 
going through a critical and complicated phase, because the various 
Lebanese political powers never reached a compromise.  Everyone 
needs to think wisely to keep Lebanon from repeating its history." 
 
 
------------------------ 
IRAQI SECTARIAN CONFLICT 
------------------------ 
 
¶4.  On November 25, "Al-Watan" commented on Iraqi sectarian conflict 
in "God Protect Iraq": 
 
"The continuing violence and bloodshed in Iraq brings sorrow and 
pain not only to Iraqis but to all Arabs, Muslims, and the 
international community.  We have warned about the dangers of 
following the whims of sectarian, regional, and civil fights.  Yet 
it seems there are greater powers involved who have a tremendous 
ability to impact events in Iraq.  These powers prohibit the 
application of reason and logic towards finding solutions in Iraq. 
Everyone knows there are foreign hands that want to ensure 
continuous bloodshed in Iraq.  They are the ones who are playing 
with its security in addition to the invaders who are provoking 
Iraqis' hatred." 
 
--------------------------------- 
A CAUTIOUS CALL FOR PRESS FREEDOM 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Against the background of official support for free expression 
offset by setbacks for online criticism reported reftel, a columnist 
in "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) eschewed specifics and emphasized 
the role of constructive criticism, but even so mildly pushed the 
envelope, in writing a November 26 commentary on "Press Freedom and 
the Missing Role": 
 
"Constructive criticism is fundamental to the development of 
societies in several respects.  What we are witnessing today is that 
there are wide, unused spaces of criticism.  The call to activate 
constructive criticism is a mere diagnosis of the state's 
backwardness.  The media is merely making this diagnosis and is 
failing to use constructive criticism effectively.  Journalists must 
stop practicing unnecessary self-censorship and defending certain 
entities.  They must freely express themselves and criticize 
constructively.  Officials in various institutions should understand 
the importance of criticism and not hinder others from doing their 
jobs.  They should understand that criticism is not directed at them 
personally.  They should not consider the institutions they are 
running as private property that should be saved from any 
 
MUSCAT 00001639  002 OF 002 
 
 
criticism." 
 
GRAPPO