US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT770

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000770 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, IIP/G/NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, SOCI, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: OMAN ONLINE: SHINAS SHOOTING, EQUALITY, AND ARRESTS 
 
REF: MUSCAT 743 AND PREVIOUS 
 
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: 
 
-- Young Omani Allegedly Killed By Police In Shinas 
-- Signing of CEDAW 
-- More Arrests? 
 
End summary. 
 
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Police Shooting In Shinas 
------------------------- 
 
2. Al-Sablah participants reported an unsubstantiated story out 
of Shinas, a port city about 300 km. northwest of Muscat.  Local 
police allegedly shot a young Omani male, suspected of smuggling, 
who had refused to stop for a car inspection.  Though the story 
has not been independently corroborated, al-Sablah subscribers 
reacted strongly: "How can the police shoot a person who is not 
carrying a weapon and did not attack them?"  Others reported 
that, "The tribe of the young man later raided the police station 
and beat up the officers," and "The police have orders to arrest 
anybody who protests this incident."  Another respondent offered, 
"The police refused to hand over the dead body to the family, and 
the policeman who shot the boy was transferred by helicopter to 
Muscat for security reasons."  Tensions in the area were reported 
to be high; one writer said, "The police and the government are 
in chaos, and they don't know what they are doing." 
 
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Reverse Discrimination? 
----------------------- 
 
3. A royal decree announcing the signing of the Convention on the 
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) triggered a 
discussion on gender equality in the online forum.  One 
contributor wondered, "Will this mean that there will be equal 
opportunities for university enrollment between men and women? 
Because everybody knows that females take more university seats 
than males."  Another claimed, "Women have already taken 
opportunities away from men, yet men have more responsibilities 
than women."  One subscriber warned, "I am scared by the 
consequences of signing this convention." 
 
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Talk Continues 
-------------- 
 
4. Participants continue to discuss the demonstrations and 
arrests (reftel); recent postings are dominated by requests for 
information.  Some subscribers did identify four military 
officers by name -- including a colonel - that had allegedly been 
arrested in connection with the demonstrations.  Another member 
confided, "The police are ready to arrest certain secondary 
school teachers as well, but they are waiting for the end of the 
school year." 
 
BALTIMORE