VZCZCXRO4898
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #0469/01 1731239
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211239Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9733
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0545
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0433

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000469 
 
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: MORE PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON TIP; 
INDIVIDUALS EXPRESS DISAGREEMENT 
 
REF: Muscat 454 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Press coverage of TIP continued at the same elevated 
level reported in reftel, with over a dozen articles appearing in 
English and Arabic since Monday, June 16.  On Tuesday, June 17, the 
Oman Journalist Association (OJA) issued a statement, carried in all 
dailies, in line with other official and semi-official statements 
issued to date.  Wednesday, the Secretary General of the GCC issued 
his own statement, saying, "The Sultanate's stand reflects its 
strong and clear vision... I call upon the U.S. State Department to 
review its unfriendly policies towards GCC countries."  Today, 
state-owned daily "Observer" and private daily "Times of Oman" ran 
articles interviewing south Asian and western expats, who add their 
voices of support to Oman's TIP rejection.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
OJA: "The Bright Record of the Sultanate" 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. On Tuesday, June 17, English and Arabic dailies all ran coverage 
of a statement issued by the Oman Journalist Association voicing its 
rejection of Oman's tier 3 TIP rating.  Private English language 
daily "The Tribune" (circulation 8,000) said in "Oman Journalists 
Association Assails US Report": 
 
"The Omani Journalists Association issued a statement 
condemning...the 'false allegation that the Sultanate is not taking 
enough measures to combat human trafficking.'  The statement said 
that the report did not reflect the bright record of the Sultanate 
that had been recognized by international prestigious organizations 
known for their credibility and being away from political 
blackmailing. The statement also said: 'The basic statue of the 
state secures dignity for locals as well as expatriates. While the 
reports are subjective and selective, they spoil the relations 
between countries do not serve communication and dialogue among 
cultures. They rather create animosity and hostility. The Omani 
Journalists Association, which is one of the Omani civil society 
organizations, renews its rejection and condemnation of such unfair 
report, especially when work is under way to create special 
legislation on human trafficking, which is an international 
phenomenon.'" 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Al Attiya: The Sultanate's "Strong and Clear Vision" 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶3.  On June 17, private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) 
and private English language daily "The Tribune" (circulation 8,000) 
published an exclusive statement by GCC Secretary General Abd 
al-Rahman bin Hamad al-'Attiya.  According to "GCC Backs Sultanates 
Rejection of US Report": 
 
"Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdulrahman Al Attiyah 
has supported the rejection letter handed by HE Sayyid Badr al 
Busaidi to the U.S. ambassador to the Sultanate.  In a statement to 
the Tribune, Attiyah said the GCC supports the Sultanate's rejection 
of the false allegations made in the report.  The Sultanate's stand 
reflects its strong and clear vision.  The unjustified reports have 
political motives.  I call on the US State Department to review its 
unfriendly practices towards GCC countries." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
"There is nothing like what is cited in the report" 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶4.  On Saturday, June 21, state-owned English language daily 
"Observer" (circulation 20,000) and private English language daily 
"Times of Oman" (circulation 25,000) ran articles based on 
interviews with south Asian and western expats stating satisfaction 
with life in Oman and disagreement over the TIP report.  Block 
quotes as follows: 
 
"It is almost 25 years since I first came to Oman.  Initial concern 
over living and working conditions quickly gave way to the 
realization that the local people are very warm and friendly, 
respectful to expatriates and have an excellent sense of 
hospitality." 
 
"The wave of resentment unleashed in the Sultanate over the recent 
US report on human trafficking seems to be strong, with even 
Americans in the country frowning at the report.  'Oman is a very 
tolerant country, with proper laws and measures in place to prevent 
human trafficking,' says an American who has been living in the 
Sultanate for the last seven years.  'I'm not sure how and why the 
U.S. has come up with such a report.'" 
 
MUSCAT 00000469  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
"'Oman is a very fair and free country.  There is nothing like what 
is cited in the report,' says an Indian expatriate who has been 
living in Muscat for the last 25 years.  'I am really amazed by the 
report.  I don't know what basis they are assessing all these 
things.  I would say this country is one of the most peaceful and 
tolerant in the world.'" 
 
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