US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT676

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000676 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS), NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY), NEA/P 
(FFINVER), IIP/G/NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, OIIP, SOCI, SCUL, MU, Human Rights (General), Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: ARRESTEE TRIAL AND AL-HURRAH INTERVIEW WITH 
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST 
 
 
1. Summary:  The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- 
Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language 
fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching 
on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional 
media.  While not totally free, nor wholly reflective of Omani 
public opinion, these popular sites nevertheless offer a 
worthwhile window into the hot topics and unvarnished views of 
the day.  This edition of Oman Online contains the following 
topics: 
 
-- Media reports on the trial 
-- Abdullah Al-Riyami interviewed by Al-Hurrah television 
 
End summary. 
 
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The Media Reports 
----------------- 
 
2. Commenting on press coverage of the trial of the security 
arrestees, one al-Sablah subscriber wrote, "The newspapers are 
exaggerating the issue.  They want to convict the scholars.  This 
is a surprise to no one.  We all know that the trial is a farce." 
Another member stated, "I will tell you some of the unpublished 
facts from the trial that anyone who attended it can confirm. 
The organization that is alleged to be illegal was actually 
approved by the Sultan in 1982.  It is not political in nature, 
but merely an academic and Islamic committee.  Also, the issue of 
weapons seems to be exaggerated.  The only weapons seized were 
traditional ones that several of the scholars are known to have 
bought and sold in the local souqs." 
 
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Trumped Up Charges? 
------------------- 
 
3.  Many al-Sablah participants speculated, "The possibility that 
40 people with one traditional hunting pistol and three 
Kalashnikovs would really overthrow the government is 
ridiculous."  Another member added, "If this were the case, we 
could have annihilated Israel 50 years ago."  Other subscribers 
remarked, "The government dictates to the newspapers what they 
should write.  Nobody should trust them."  Another participant 
asked, "Why didn't any of the papers report that one of the 
defendants said that he was forced to stand for twelve hours 
until he agreed to sign a false confession?"  Several subscribers 
claimed, "The organization was created to protect Ibadhism, not 
to overthrow the government." 
 
------------------ 
Al-Hurra Interview 
------------------ 
 
4. Al-Sablah discussed Omani human rights activist Abdullah al- 
Riyami's recent interview on al-Hurra television.  One al-Sablah 
participant stated, "I agree with Abdullah al-Riyami, the trial 
of the Omani detainees will not be fair because there is too much 
secrecy surrounding it, and the Attorney General has banned their 
lawyers from discussing the details of the case."  Many 
subscribers praised Mr. Al-Riyami.  One member stated, "He dared 
to speak out on sensitive issues when no one else would.  I 
support him all the way.  I only wish more people would publicly 
defend the detainees." 
 
BALTIMORE