VZCZCXRO7092
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #0493 1830916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010916Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9758
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0549
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0437

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000493 
 
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 TIP COVERAGE 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  TIP media coverage has abated slightly, but still 
remains a focus of media attention.  Last week saw only one 
additional formal statement by an Omani official or institution, the 
State Council, whose statement did not mention TIP directly.  A news 
report by Arabic daily "As Shabiba" linked a prostitution arrest to 
TIP efforts.  In a commentary on June 30, "As Shabiba" called for 
Omanis to simply disregard the TIP report.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Principles that Secure Human Dignity and Rights 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. On June 25, all English and Arabic dailies carried an Oman News 
Agency article of an official statement by the State Council (Majlis 
A'Dawla) Chairman, Dr. Yahiya al-Manthari, relating to the TIP 
report.  The article did not directly mention TIP, the Department of 
State, or the U.S.  "Dignity and Rights of Omanis and Expatriates 
are Secure in the Sultanate" said: 
"Both citizens and expatriates benefit from the development in the 
Sultanate in the prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, whose 
rule is based on principles that secure human dignity and rights. 
The Sultanate has been committed to respecting international and 
regional charters and conventions, as well as established 
international laws...[Oman's] principles, laws and procedures secure 
the rights of all residents, maintain their dignity, and provide 
them with security and stability, ensuring that they live in harmony 
with the Omani people.  Reports on Oman, including the one by the 
World Bank on growth and development, ranked the Sultanate among the 
best 13 emerging nations in the world.  The common features covered 
in the report include availability of a system that preserves 
people's rights.  This is further evidence of Oman's good reputation 
and the international respect for its principles based on justice, 
equality, respect for regional and international conventions, as 
well as non-interference in the affairs of others." 
------------------------------------- 
Prostitution Conviction Linked to TIP 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. On June 28, private Arabic daily "As Shabiba" (circulation 
20,000) reported the conviction of an Asian national for running a 
prostitution ring, associating the bust with TIP in the article's 
title.  Analysis will be reported Septel.  According to "The Omani 
Judiciary Faces Trafficking in Persons": 
 
"Seeb court convicted an Asian national for running a prostitution 
ring and sharing the profits with the prostitutes.  He was sentenced 
to four months in prison and a 20 rial fine, in addition to another 
month for violating the labor law and foreign residency law.  He 
will be expelled from the country after serving his sentence.  His 
female accomplices were convicted of prostitution and sentenced to 
four months in prison, in addition to another month in prison for 
violating the labor law and foreign residency law.  They will also 
be expelled after serving their sentence.  The Omani Police received 
a tip about illegal activities and presented the findings to the 
Public Prosecutor, who issued the warrant and made the arrests." 
 
-------------------------------- 
A Weight That it Doesn't Deserve 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  On June 30, Arabic daily "Al Shabibah" (circulation 20,000) 
commented that readers should ignore the TIP report.  "Why Should We 
Be Outraged by the U.S. Report?" said: 
"If we have confidence in ourselves and trust our courts and 
judicial system, why we are so angry [at the report], giving it a 
weight that it doesn't deserve?  That report, given its origin, does 
not deserve our attention at all, and we should not give it more. 
Some believe that the public and official responses sent the correct 
message to the U.S., which sees itself as the policeman of the 
world.  We should consider such reports as "remarks" rather than 
truths.  We can study these remarks and consider reforms to achieve 
goals that are far more noble than the goals of the report 
writers." 
FONTENEAU