US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1277

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001277 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, DRL, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI 
STATE PASS USTR (AROSENBERG) 
USDOL FOR B. CLATANOFF 
US MISSION GENEVA FOR N. KYLOH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ELAB, KOCI, SCUL, ETRD, PREL, MU, Human Rights (General) 
SUBJECT: ILO, UNICEF KUDOS FOR OMANI CAMEL RACING REFORM 
 
REF: MUSCAT 1237 AND PREVIOUS 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) The regional directors for UNICEF and the ILO met on 
August 14 with Sports Minister Ali al-Sunaidi to discuss 
Omani camel racing reforms.  The government is not only 
gradually raising jockey age limits from 14 to 18 years, but 
is also setting minimum age standards for camels because 
mature animals are capable of bearing heavier jockeys.  The 
UNICEF and ILO representatives said they are impressed by 
Oman's reform.  The ILO representative considers camel racing 
in Oman to be in compliance with ILO Convention 182.  End 
summary. 
 
---------------------------- 
Holistic Approach to Reform 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) UNICEF's Muscat-based regional representative June 
Kunugi briefed P/E Chief on August 15 on discussions she had 
the previous day with visiting ILO Middle East Director Talib 
Rifai and Minister of Sport Ali al-Sunaidi. 
Kunugi said the Minister was deeply engaged and highly 
conversant regarding his ministry's efforts to reform the 
sport.  Al-Sunaidi told the visitors of a top-down review 
that was intended to address all aspects of the need to 
improve conditions for jockeys.  The minister explained that 
bedouin families depend on the income derived from breeding 
and selling camels.  To lower the costs of raising the them, 
the owners had an economic incentive to exploit them at the 
youngest possible age.  But, by racing adolescent camels, the 
owners also had to use the lightest possible jockeys, such as 
bedouin children. 
 
3. (SBU) When the Ministry established the minimum jockey age 
for the coming racing season at 14 (raised annually by one 
year until reaching the mandated minimum age of 18 by 2009), 
the Ministry also had to establish a minimum age for camels, 
as well as regulate the maximum race distance per camel age 
group, and set the maximum allowable weight on camels at 52 
kg.  The Ministry will also roll out a public awareness 
campaign as the racing season approaches, focusing less on 
owners and camels and more on jockeys. 
 
-------------------------- 
Selling it to the Breeders 
-------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Kunugi told P/E Chief that breeders have strongly 
criticized al-Sunaidi for the reforms, because caring and 
feeding camels for additional years before they can race cuts 
substantially into their profits.  The Ministry's rejoinder, 
she explained, has been to point out that racing immature 
camels is harmful to them, and injuries also cut deeply into 
breeders' profits.  Moreover, the government announced a $2.6 
million gift from the Sultan to "support the sport," which 
Kunugi said is essentially a subsidy to the camel breeders to 
offset the losses from the new reforms.  Breeders feared that 
the government sought to kill the sport under "foreign 
pressure," but the Sultan's gift helped the Ministry reassure 
the bedouin that the reforms will help preserve this vital 
element of Omani traditional culture.  Of all the Gulf states 
raising jockey age limits, Kunugi said Oman was the only one 
of which she is aware that had the foresight to offer this 
supplement. 
 
---------------------------- 
ILO Convention 182-Compliant 
---------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) According to Kunugi, ILO Regional Director Rifai and 
she are pleased with Oman's progress toward establishing the 
18-year age limit.  She said ILO Convention 182 deems camel 
racing a hazardous endeavor, and 18 should therefore be the 
minimum age for jockeys.  Given the fact that Oman is moving 
toward that standard, Kunugi said that Rifai considers Oman 
in compliance with Convention 182. 
 
-------------------------- 
No Foreign Jockeys, But... 
-------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) Kunugi reiterated her certainty that, unlike some 
other Gulf neighbors, camel racing in Oman does not involve 
foreign jockeys.  That said, she noted that UAE authorities 
recently sent six Omani jockeys back to the Sultanate.  She 
added that they did not appear to have been abused, as 
sometimes occurred with other foreign jockeys. 
BALTIMORE