A blogger posts about freedom
Two sources today have led me to a post by Sleepless in Muscat at Arabia Calling.
The post is entitled 'Freedom? What Freedom?'.
It relates how an Omani woman was taken in for questioning and made to sign a declaration that 'she had violated 'national security' over her remarks, and that she would not return to her previous action.'
Would this have been Taiba Al Mawali? Her case was described in detail in the Khaleej Times of 28th May 2006, where she was described as a fervent Islamist who had been a member of the Majlis ash'Shura from 1994 to 2000.
She had turned from political representation to contributing to an online discussion forum called Sablah. I don't know whether this was English Sablah , or another forum.
'Mawali claims the Omani authorities have changed “many things” in the teaching of Islam “in the cause of the Americans”.'
She was taken into custody and questioned for three days about her online contributions, and allegedly asked to sign a document of unstated significance. She claimed that because she refused to sign, she was given a six-month prison sentence.
Well that's not very encouraging but at least she didn't disappear for ever. However, she believes that she is watched permanently (highly probable) and spends her time evading the authorities.
By the way, don't believe that we're 'free' in UK. There are more CCTV cameras watching us Brits per head of population than anywhere else in the world.
Added 27th November 2006: Global Voices Online reported last Saturday's post by Muscati about Oman Sabla, the Arabic version. It has indeed been closed.
The post is entitled 'Freedom? What Freedom?'.
It relates how an Omani woman was taken in for questioning and made to sign a declaration that 'she had violated 'national security' over her remarks, and that she would not return to her previous action.'
Would this have been Taiba Al Mawali? Her case was described in detail in the Khaleej Times of 28th May 2006, where she was described as a fervent Islamist who had been a member of the Majlis ash'Shura from 1994 to 2000.
She had turned from political representation to contributing to an online discussion forum called Sablah. I don't know whether this was English Sablah , or another forum.
'Mawali claims the Omani authorities have changed “many things” in the teaching of Islam “in the cause of the Americans”.'
She was taken into custody and questioned for three days about her online contributions, and allegedly asked to sign a document of unstated significance. She claimed that because she refused to sign, she was given a six-month prison sentence.
Well that's not very encouraging but at least she didn't disappear for ever. However, she believes that she is watched permanently (highly probable) and spends her time evading the authorities.
By the way, don't believe that we're 'free' in UK. There are more CCTV cameras watching us Brits per head of population than anywhere else in the world.
Added 27th November 2006: Global Voices Online reported last Saturday's post by Muscati about Oman Sabla, the Arabic version. It has indeed been closed.
Salim and Salimah in Arabic - Oman road safety initiative
I wrote about the launch of Salim and Salimah - safe and sound back in March this year.
The Project Director has written to me to tell me that the Arabic version of the website was launched last Sunday. I quote the press release in full here.
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An Arabic version of Oman's first dedicated road safety website has been launched to mark the 2006 Global Remembrance Day for Road Crash victims last Sunday 20th November. This multimedia website, developed by non-profit organisation, Al Mustadaama (Sustainability) as part of its child restraint advocacy campaign Salim and Salimah, Safe and Sound, aims to reduce the toll of death and injury in road crashes by educating drivers on the risks of travelling with unsecured passengers.
Twenty percent of all child deaths in Oman result from car crashes. In 2005, 122 children less than 15 years died in crashes out of a total of 689 dead. 6658 people, including 968 under 15s, were injured, many disabled for life. This unacceptable toll of child deaths, from a total population of only 2.4 million, is 20% higher than 2004 (itself registered a 50% increase over 2003). At the end of 2005, Oman’s road traffic mortality was 28 per 100,000 population, far in excess of the global average of 19. These spiralling figures represent untold pain and suffering for the innocent victims and their families and impose a heavy burden on the health sector impacting upon society as a whole.
As 98% or more road crashes are entirely preventable, caused by negligence, these are lives unnecessarily and painfully squandered particularly as more than 7 in 10 of passengers could be saved by the use of a properly-fitted child safety seat for children and seatbelt for adults.
Visitors to the interactive site can access the latest road crash facts and statistics, GCC research, multi-media clips on how to keep children safe in cars and personal stories as well as download free educational materials. The site also profiles the high-impact, campaign film "Doesn't your child deserve a safe ride?" which highlights graphically, and in appropriate cultural idiom, typical crash scenarios, the dynamics of crashes and the often fatal consequences for unsecured children. The film is currently being distributed free of charge for screening in schools, colleges, mosques, clubs and women’s organisations.
The campaign, conceived and developed by 100% Omani-owned company, Al Mustadaama, in both English and Arabic and in a cultural idiom suited to Oman and Arabian Gulf societies, brings together a coalition of stakeholders including Petroleum Development Oman, the Oman Ministry of Education, Mothercare and the Occupational Driver Training Institute. Each partner contributed specific expertise and/or funded a campaign goal.
Internationally, the campaign has been recognised by the World Health Organisation, the lead agency in the battle to reduce the escalating toll of road crash death and injury worldwide. It is has also been accepted as signatory to the European Commission’s Road Safety Charter on the basis of its universal applicability and linked to the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s road transport site as well as road safety NGOs in Africa, India and the USA.
The intention of the Arabic website is to serve as a permanent, free resource and tool for educators delivering the critical safety messages to Arabic speakers in the Middle East and North Africa region as well as large Arabic-speaking communities in Europe, Australia and the USA.
For more information, please contact the Project Director.
The Project Director has written to me to tell me that the Arabic version of the website was launched last Sunday. I quote the press release in full here.
-----------------------
An Arabic version of Oman's first dedicated road safety website has been launched to mark the 2006 Global Remembrance Day for Road Crash victims last Sunday 20th November. This multimedia website, developed by non-profit organisation, Al Mustadaama (Sustainability) as part of its child restraint advocacy campaign Salim and Salimah, Safe and Sound, aims to reduce the toll of death and injury in road crashes by educating drivers on the risks of travelling with unsecured passengers.
Twenty percent of all child deaths in Oman result from car crashes. In 2005, 122 children less than 15 years died in crashes out of a total of 689 dead. 6658 people, including 968 under 15s, were injured, many disabled for life. This unacceptable toll of child deaths, from a total population of only 2.4 million, is 20% higher than 2004 (itself registered a 50% increase over 2003). At the end of 2005, Oman’s road traffic mortality was 28 per 100,000 population, far in excess of the global average of 19. These spiralling figures represent untold pain and suffering for the innocent victims and their families and impose a heavy burden on the health sector impacting upon society as a whole.
As 98% or more road crashes are entirely preventable, caused by negligence, these are lives unnecessarily and painfully squandered particularly as more than 7 in 10 of passengers could be saved by the use of a properly-fitted child safety seat for children and seatbelt for adults.
Visitors to the interactive site can access the latest road crash facts and statistics, GCC research, multi-media clips on how to keep children safe in cars and personal stories as well as download free educational materials. The site also profiles the high-impact, campaign film "Doesn't your child deserve a safe ride?" which highlights graphically, and in appropriate cultural idiom, typical crash scenarios, the dynamics of crashes and the often fatal consequences for unsecured children. The film is currently being distributed free of charge for screening in schools, colleges, mosques, clubs and women’s organisations.
The campaign, conceived and developed by 100% Omani-owned company, Al Mustadaama, in both English and Arabic and in a cultural idiom suited to Oman and Arabian Gulf societies, brings together a coalition of stakeholders including Petroleum Development Oman, the Oman Ministry of Education, Mothercare and the Occupational Driver Training Institute. Each partner contributed specific expertise and/or funded a campaign goal.
Internationally, the campaign has been recognised by the World Health Organisation, the lead agency in the battle to reduce the escalating toll of road crash death and injury worldwide. It is has also been accepted as signatory to the European Commission’s Road Safety Charter on the basis of its universal applicability and linked to the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s road transport site as well as road safety NGOs in Africa, India and the USA.
The intention of the Arabic website is to serve as a permanent, free resource and tool for educators delivering the critical safety messages to Arabic speakers in the Middle East and North Africa region as well as large Arabic-speaking communities in Europe, Australia and the USA.
For more information, please contact the Project Director.
Oman Vistas - conflicting identities
I have to admit to feeling a bit ruffled over the announcement of the publication of Oman Vistas.
It's not the content, which InteracOman have just launched , no, it's the use of the title, Oman Vistas.
I have used Oman Vistas as the name of a photo-website about Oman since July-August 2004. You'll see it in the copyright statement at the bottom of the page of the website, and I can provide documentary proof.
Was the founder of InteracOman aware that I had used this phrase? Possibly. We had corresponded very early in 2004, when he asked me if I would be prepared to author/edit some chapters for his other venture, Destination Oman.
However, the rate of pay was derisory, and there was no offer to pay a fare for me to provide on-site editing and coordination services. So we left it at that. Destination Oman, the book, was published later that year.
Given that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Maqbool Ali Sultan, spoke at the launch, I assume that this is a book prepared as a government briefing on ongoing development projects and issues, in much the same way that Destination Oman was intended to service tourism.
You'll find chapters online on the subjects of the seventh five-year plan, tourism, OCIPED, retailing, banking, Sohar, telecomms, real estate, healthcare, and even A'Saffa Poulty (sic) Farms. There's a picture of all those poor chickens bathed in what looks like ultraviolet light.
As for my own Oman Vistas, I was part sponsored in 2004 and needed to get photos online fast as a service to my sponsors. You could find all sorts of interesting things there, like a photo of how ladies must dress to visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Al Ghubrah and of the mosque itself, photos of Musandam, photos of the Iranian boat trade at Khasab, photos of Nakhl fort and springs of Muscat and so on. There's commentary too.
The advertising on the website contributes to its upkeep.
The photos do attract attention. One of the garden in the Grand Mosque has been used as an illustration in an educational media programme in UK, some are likely to be used in a desk calendar for 2007 and yet more have been used in a presentation prepared for tourists aboard the MV Spirit of Adventure about to visit Muscat.
How would the Minister of Commerce and Industry feel if he knew that the name of the publication and website he has just helped to launch could be the subject of a copyright issue?
It's not the content, which InteracOman have just launched , no, it's the use of the title, Oman Vistas.
I have used Oman Vistas as the name of a photo-website about Oman since July-August 2004. You'll see it in the copyright statement at the bottom of the page of the website, and I can provide documentary proof.
Was the founder of InteracOman aware that I had used this phrase? Possibly. We had corresponded very early in 2004, when he asked me if I would be prepared to author/edit some chapters for his other venture, Destination Oman.
However, the rate of pay was derisory, and there was no offer to pay a fare for me to provide on-site editing and coordination services. So we left it at that. Destination Oman, the book, was published later that year.
Given that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Maqbool Ali Sultan, spoke at the launch, I assume that this is a book prepared as a government briefing on ongoing development projects and issues, in much the same way that Destination Oman was intended to service tourism.
You'll find chapters online on the subjects of the seventh five-year plan, tourism, OCIPED, retailing, banking, Sohar, telecomms, real estate, healthcare, and even A'Saffa Poulty (sic) Farms. There's a picture of all those poor chickens bathed in what looks like ultraviolet light.
As for my own Oman Vistas, I was part sponsored in 2004 and needed to get photos online fast as a service to my sponsors. You could find all sorts of interesting things there, like a photo of how ladies must dress to visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Al Ghubrah and of the mosque itself, photos of Musandam, photos of the Iranian boat trade at Khasab, photos of Nakhl fort and springs of Muscat and so on. There's commentary too.
The advertising on the website contributes to its upkeep.
The photos do attract attention. One of the garden in the Grand Mosque has been used as an illustration in an educational media programme in UK, some are likely to be used in a desk calendar for 2007 and yet more have been used in a presentation prepared for tourists aboard the MV Spirit of Adventure about to visit Muscat.
How would the Minister of Commerce and Industry feel if he knew that the name of the publication and website he has just helped to launch could be the subject of a copyright issue?
Checking out some figures for Buraimi
I had one or two thoughts subsequent to posting about the elevation of Al Buraimi to governorate status yesterday.
Rummaging for a few facts and figures, I came across an excellent website hosted by the Ministry of National Economy which provides summaries of the census data for both censuses of 1993 and 2003. It's possible to view figures down to each wilayat in the Sultanate, showing the divisions between Omani and expatriate, male and female, and population by age, plus many other indicators. I recommend it as a source, particularly as the counter at the bottom said that it had received only 462 visitors.
I was interested in the population of Al Buraimi, and noted that the population rose overall by 6% between 1993 and 2003, whereas the population of Ibri, which is the major town in the region of Ad Dahirah region, to which Al Buraimi belonged until its elevation to governorate status on 16th October, declined by 4%. This doesn't mean that people moved from Ibri. In fact, the total population of Ibri increased from approximately 93,512 in 1993 to 97,504 in 2003. But the proportional rate of increase is much greater in Al Buraimi. Significantly, the rate of increase of the expatriate population in Ad Dahirah as a whole increased from 12.8% in 1993 to 16.2% in the less than 15 years age group, while it decreased for the same age group in the Omani population.
The percentage population in Mahdah dropped by just 0.3% in the same period, relative to Ad Dahirah, although the overall numbers had gone up by just under 600.
This suggests an insurge of population to the border town of Al Buraimi, where trade with UAE is likely to stimulate the economy. Some expatriates who work in UAE choose to live just over the border in Oman where rents are cheaper, and some expatriate residents of Oman prefer to send their children to school in Al Ain. At least, I recall hearing that.
The new governorate of Al Buraimi should enjoy more autonomy in organising its affairs but it will also come under more direct scrutiny from the Ministry of the Interior.
I'm also curious as to how these changes might impact on the Supreme Committee for Town Planning. After all, if the governor of Dhofar and the president of Muscat Municipality are members, why not the governor of Al Buraimi? I note that the governor of Musandam is not on the committee, but then most of mountainous Musandam would probably be classified as rural.
The creation of the wilayats of Al Sinainah and of Al Mazyounah in Dhofar will affect the constitution of the Majlis ash Shura, for which elections are in preparation for next year.
Rummaging for a few facts and figures, I came across an excellent website hosted by the Ministry of National Economy which provides summaries of the census data for both censuses of 1993 and 2003. It's possible to view figures down to each wilayat in the Sultanate, showing the divisions between Omani and expatriate, male and female, and population by age, plus many other indicators. I recommend it as a source, particularly as the counter at the bottom said that it had received only 462 visitors.
I was interested in the population of Al Buraimi, and noted that the population rose overall by 6% between 1993 and 2003, whereas the population of Ibri, which is the major town in the region of Ad Dahirah region, to which Al Buraimi belonged until its elevation to governorate status on 16th October, declined by 4%. This doesn't mean that people moved from Ibri. In fact, the total population of Ibri increased from approximately 93,512 in 1993 to 97,504 in 2003. But the proportional rate of increase is much greater in Al Buraimi. Significantly, the rate of increase of the expatriate population in Ad Dahirah as a whole increased from 12.8% in 1993 to 16.2% in the less than 15 years age group, while it decreased for the same age group in the Omani population.
The percentage population in Mahdah dropped by just 0.3% in the same period, relative to Ad Dahirah, although the overall numbers had gone up by just under 600.
This suggests an insurge of population to the border town of Al Buraimi, where trade with UAE is likely to stimulate the economy. Some expatriates who work in UAE choose to live just over the border in Oman where rents are cheaper, and some expatriate residents of Oman prefer to send their children to school in Al Ain. At least, I recall hearing that.
The new governorate of Al Buraimi should enjoy more autonomy in organising its affairs but it will also come under more direct scrutiny from the Ministry of the Interior.
I'm also curious as to how these changes might impact on the Supreme Committee for Town Planning. After all, if the governor of Dhofar and the president of Muscat Municipality are members, why not the governor of Al Buraimi? I note that the governor of Musandam is not on the committee, but then most of mountainous Musandam would probably be classified as rural.
The creation of the wilayats of Al Sinainah and of Al Mazyounah in Dhofar will affect the constitution of the Majlis ash Shura, for which elections are in preparation for next year.
Supreme Committee for Town Planning - and the new governorate of Buraimi
Another snippet that Stratfor picked up recently about Oman was the restructuring of the Supreme Committee for Town Planning by Royal Decree 102/2006 in early October.
The Supreme Committee for Town Planning was established by Royal Decree 27/85 in 1985, to draw up general town planning policies in the light of the country’s development plans.
According to the Ministry of Information's website, "[the committee] is responsible for following up the implementation and development of approved planning programmes, devising criteria for valuing properties which have been compulsorily purchased for public utilities under the law, and removing any material or financial obstacles to the implementation of plans which have been approved."
That page still states that the committee is chaired by His Excellency Malik bin Suleiman al Ma’amari, Minister of Transport and Housing, although he is now Inspector-General of Police and Customs. Royal Decree 27/85 was superceded by Royal Decree 31/2005 issued in March 2005, which appointed the Minister of National Economy to be chairman. The Ministry of National Economy has responsibility for overall financial macro-planning at the national level.
Members of the committee included the respective ministers of housing, electricity and water (vice-chairman), the interior, the Inspector-general of police and customs, the Minister of state and governor of Dhofar and the President of Muscat Municipality. Undersecretaries of the ministries of regional municipalities, environment and water resources (MRMEWR), tourism and transport and communications were also declared members.
A technical secretariat was created to administer the committee's functions, which was to be affiliated to the Ministry of National Economy. Presumably this was not sufficiently effective because royal decree 24/2006 dated 29th March 2006 established a Secretariat-General of the Supreme Committee for Town Planning and appointed its secretary-general, presumably intending to render it independent of administrative control from the structure of the Ministry of National Economy.
And finally, royal decree 102/2006 of October 3rd restructured the committee yet again, cancelling the decree of 2005. Two elements are particularly noteworthy. The Undersecretaries of the ministries that had been designated as members were to be replaced by the ministers themselves, and it was spelt out that the Minister of National Economy was to issue the "regulations of the general-secretariat and employees affairs at the committee without abiding by government’s rules and regulation," which suggests that the secretariat-general had not been free from administrative interference.
I would guess that there was a recognition of the need to coordinate government planning and decisions regarding urban development by bringing together representatives from several ministries, particularly as there had been a spate of decrees declaring the allocation of land for public utilities. It is almost a truism in Oman that nothing much can be done or takes too long to be done unless the process is approved at ministerial level.
But there must be more to it than that given the spotlight that shone on Buraimi and Madha at the very beginning of October.
The Supreme Committee for Town Planning was established by Royal Decree 27/85 in 1985, to draw up general town planning policies in the light of the country’s development plans.
According to the Ministry of Information's website, "[the committee] is responsible for following up the implementation and development of approved planning programmes, devising criteria for valuing properties which have been compulsorily purchased for public utilities under the law, and removing any material or financial obstacles to the implementation of plans which have been approved."
That page still states that the committee is chaired by His Excellency Malik bin Suleiman al Ma’amari, Minister of Transport and Housing, although he is now Inspector-General of Police and Customs. Royal Decree 27/85 was superceded by Royal Decree 31/2005 issued in March 2005, which appointed the Minister of National Economy to be chairman. The Ministry of National Economy has responsibility for overall financial macro-planning at the national level.
Members of the committee included the respective ministers of housing, electricity and water (vice-chairman), the interior, the Inspector-general of police and customs, the Minister of state and governor of Dhofar and the President of Muscat Municipality. Undersecretaries of the ministries of regional municipalities, environment and water resources (MRMEWR), tourism and transport and communications were also declared members.
A technical secretariat was created to administer the committee's functions, which was to be affiliated to the Ministry of National Economy. Presumably this was not sufficiently effective because royal decree 24/2006 dated 29th March 2006 established a Secretariat-General of the Supreme Committee for Town Planning and appointed its secretary-general, presumably intending to render it independent of administrative control from the structure of the Ministry of National Economy.
And finally, royal decree 102/2006 of October 3rd restructured the committee yet again, cancelling the decree of 2005. Two elements are particularly noteworthy. The Undersecretaries of the ministries that had been designated as members were to be replaced by the ministers themselves, and it was spelt out that the Minister of National Economy was to issue the "regulations of the general-secretariat and employees affairs at the committee without abiding by government’s rules and regulation," which suggests that the secretariat-general had not been free from administrative interference.
I would guess that there was a recognition of the need to coordinate government planning and decisions regarding urban development by bringing together representatives from several ministries, particularly as there had been a spate of decrees declaring the allocation of land for public utilities. It is almost a truism in Oman that nothing much can be done or takes too long to be done unless the process is approved at ministerial level.
But there must be more to it than that given the spotlight that shone on Buraimi and Madha at the very beginning of October.
Where to find the tourist map of Oman, and an off-road guide
From time to time, people write to me to ask where they can buy maps of Oman. Well, you can now buy online from well-established companies such as Stanfords in London.
I'm giving a plug on behalf of a lady who I have known for a long time. She has worked very hard not only to produce the small-scale tourist map but also the gazetteers of Muscat and Salalah, on which I am sure so much online road mapping must be based.
The 1:1,300,000 tourist maps are "on sale in Dubai, especially at Magrudy's and at the airport. They're on sale everywhere in Oman at Family Bookshop, Turtles (a chain set up by Ajit Khimji with 4 shops alone at the airport and in almost every hotel), Al Batra Bookshops and others."
If you're looking online, buy the map here. It is published under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and sponsored by the National Bank of Oman, which is why you will see icons on the map showing where you can find branches.
On another note, she tells me that the Muscat Gold Souq in Ruwi has quietly closed its doors.
Another publication that I've seen announced today is the new Oman Off-road Explorer, published by Explorer Publishing of UAE and sponsored by Volkswagen. This will undoubtedly be the guide for tourists wanting to explore the wadis, deserts and mountains of Oman, with 26 routes supported by geographic co-ordinates to read in conjunction with a GPS device, satellite imagery and step-by-step instructions. The book also describes the closest First Aid centres and lists a complete directory of useful numbers and experienced warnings, according to the press release.
I've bought my copy for £13.20 at Amazon.co.uk, although it won't arrive for another 4 - 6 weeks. With 10,000 copies apparently on offer, I'm sure that you will find it in Dubai and at bookshops in Oman.
I'm giving a plug on behalf of a lady who I have known for a long time. She has worked very hard not only to produce the small-scale tourist map but also the gazetteers of Muscat and Salalah, on which I am sure so much online road mapping must be based.
The 1:1,300,000 tourist maps are "on sale in Dubai, especially at Magrudy's and at the airport. They're on sale everywhere in Oman at Family Bookshop, Turtles (a chain set up by Ajit Khimji with 4 shops alone at the airport and in almost every hotel), Al Batra Bookshops and others."
If you're looking online, buy the map here. It is published under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and sponsored by the National Bank of Oman, which is why you will see icons on the map showing where you can find branches.
On another note, she tells me that the Muscat Gold Souq in Ruwi has quietly closed its doors.
Another publication that I've seen announced today is the new Oman Off-road Explorer, published by Explorer Publishing of UAE and sponsored by Volkswagen. This will undoubtedly be the guide for tourists wanting to explore the wadis, deserts and mountains of Oman, with 26 routes supported by geographic co-ordinates to read in conjunction with a GPS device, satellite imagery and step-by-step instructions. The book also describes the closest First Aid centres and lists a complete directory of useful numbers and experienced warnings, according to the press release.
I've bought my copy for £13.20 at Amazon.co.uk, although it won't arrive for another 4 - 6 weeks. With 10,000 copies apparently on offer, I'm sure that you will find it in Dubai and at bookshops in Oman.