US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT2160

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 002160 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA/ARPI, DRL/CRA (DDOLAN), DRL/PHD, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, SOCI, AORC, PGOV, MU, Domestic Politics, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: CHALLENGE FOR NEW JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION: 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (U) The Ministry of Social Development has approved the 
registration of Oman's first journalism association.  Under 
the purview of the Ministry of Information (MOI), the 
association has been received with considerable skepticism by 
journalists.  Its purpose is to strengthen recognition and 
respect of Omani journalists abroad, as well as to provide 
training seminars and advocacy services at home.  The 
association will be formally launched in March by its new 
chairman and close MOI ally, Ali bin Khalfan al-Jabri.  End 
summary. 
 
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BIG HELP OR BIG BROTHER? 
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2. (U) On November 22, the Ministry of Social Development 
approved the registration application of Oman's first 
journalists' association.  The Omani Journalist Association 
(OJA), which took 2 years to win government approval, is 
currently headed by Ali bin Khalfan al-Jabri, a close friend 
and associate of Information Minister Hamad al-Rashdi.  In a 
meeting on December 6 with PAO and Poloff, al-Jabri said that 
the formation of the OJA is a necessary step to promote the 
professional recognition and integrity of Omani journalists 
abroad, as well as to advocate on behalf of journalists in 
Oman.  To illustrate his point, Al-Jabri said that the 
association had already been contacted about assisting an 
unnamed Omani journalist who was having problems with a local 
paper.  The 12 appointed members of the board of directors 
meet weekly to discuss the OJA's course of action now that it 
has been approved.  Issues include where to site its offices, 
establishing sustainable funding and membership, and 
publishing the OJA's mission and objectives. 
 
3. (U) Mr. al-Jabri, in conjunction with his Marketing 
Manager Al-Wadhah al-Mawali, said that there has been 
considerable interest in the development of the organization 
and that its activities are being closely watched by 
"others." The association has also received calls from 
journalists, students, and teachers interested in obtaining 
membership.  Al-Jabri said that while the details of 
membership costs and privileges are not yet determined, 
membership will be available to students, professors, and all 
journalists working in Oman.  With the grand launch in March, 
the OJA expects a significant increase from its current 
membership of fifty.  In an effort to grow regionally, 
al-Jabri said that the OJA hopes to work with Egyptian and 
Kuwaiti journalists' associations as well as reach out to 
membership in larger international journalists' organizations. 
 
4. (U) In an interview with a UAE newspaper, former IV 
participant and journalist Rafia Salman Al Talei opined that 
the association was "toothless" and charged that "none of the 
so-called NGOs here are working independently and the latest 
association will be another such institution. . . it has 
taken more than three years for the government to accept a 
request to register (it). . . it won't be an independent 
body." 
 
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COMMENT:  HORNS OF A DILEMMA 
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5. (SBU) The OJA faces the unenviable challenge of trying to 
fulfill two widely divergent aspirations.  To the government, 
and under Omani law, the association is supposed to 
facilitate communication between the Information Ministry and 
the journalistic profession (primarily from the former to the 
latter), and be a "non-governmental" representative of Oman 
at international fora.  Journalists, however, want an 
association that can win them greater independence.  The 
degree to which the OJA can appease both perspectives will 
likely determine how enduring and meaningful the association 
will be. 
 
6. (SBU) The appointment of al-Jabri, a well-known government 
newscaster and close, personal friend of the Minister of 
Information has gotten OJA off to bad start with journalists. 
 Several sources termed al-Jabri the Minister's "personal 
bidder."  Al-Jabri counters these criticisms by reminding 
journalists that a new board of directors will be elected by 
members next year. 
 
7. (SBU) Contributors to Oman's Internet message board 
Al-Sabla are also less than inspired by the association's 
promises, suggesting instead that the formation of the OJA is 
"just for show" as the Omani press attempts to counter recent 
complaints of censorship and journalist bans.  Journalists 
also argue that an association at the beck-and-call of the 
Ministry of Information is simply another mechanism of 
controlling the press, rather than advocating on its behalf. 
BALTIMORE