US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT607

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000607 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/RA, G/TIP (FASSEFA), DRL (JDEMARIA) 
STATE PASS USTR (AROSENBERG) 
USDOL FOR B. CLATANOFF 
US MISSION GENEVA (NKYLOH) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ETRD, ELAB, PREL, KOCI, SCUL, MU, Trafficking in Persons/Camel Racing 
SUBJECT: OMAN SETS MINIMUM CAMEL RACING AGE AT 14 
 
REF: MUSCAT 591 
 
1. (U) In an unexpected turn of events April 11, the Chairman 
of the Oman Equestrian and Camel Association issued a 
decision mandating a minimum age of 14 years for camel racing 
jockeys.  His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq al-Said, head 
of Oman's camel racing association and first cousin of Sultan 
Qaboos, announced that the decision will be implemented with 
the start of the new racing season in September and will 
require participants to present a birth certificate prior to 
registration.  According to authorities, the decision "comes 
in line with international laws, following the Sultanate's 
endorsement of the convention on children's rights."  This is 
believed to be the first age limitation ever imposed on the 
sport in Oman. 
 
2. (SBU) The Muscat-based regional representative for the 
United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF), June 
Kunugi, said she believes that the government is making 
tremendous strides in proactively addressing camel racing in 
Oman.  Moreover, Kunugi was disappointed that she missed the 
opportunity to meet with anti-trafficking activist Ansar 
Burney in his impromptu visit April 8-9 (reftel).  The 
Embassy passed Burney's contact information to her and 
invited Kunugi to travel with PolOff to meet Burney in the 
border town of Buraimi, hopefully in the near future.  (Note: 
Kunugi reported having made previous visits to Buraimi 
without seeing any evidence of camel jockey camps or 
unchecked children crossing borders.  End note.)  Kunugi also 
said that she plans to visit Burney's child jockey 
rehabilitation center outside Abu Dhabi in the coming week. 
 
3. (U) COMMENT: While its decision does not carry the force 
of law, the Association is the sole governing body for formal 
camel races in Oman and should be in a position to enforce 
its rules.  Sayyid Asaad had previously forecast possible 
changes to address unspecified shortcomings in the sport, but 
this announcement nevertheless came as something of a 
surprise.  It likely reflects as much the recommendations of 
Oman's National Committee on the Rights of the Child as is 
does trends in camel racing regulations taking effect 
elsewhere in the Gulf. 
STEWART