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A week or so ago, two men wearing Omani dishdasha, speaking Arabic, and carrying pistols, were said to have robbed the Purshottam Kanji Money Exchange on the corniche at Mutrah of RO15,000. The sole press report appeared in Gulf News on 30th December. I thought I could detect exasperation in the write-up since neither the Royal Oman Police, nor the manager of the exchange would provide details to the journalist. As a result, it is impossible to assert that the intruders were actually Omani.

We don't know if they did it for fun, or because they were short of cash, or they were bored, or unemployed, or had a hang-up about Asian expats being in charge of money although it was the Omani lady cashier who was forced to part with the money. Or whether there had been collusion with anyone in the business, or whether they were arrested and are awaiting trial, or whether they knew somebody influential who had a quiet word with the authorities.

It was a bit odd really, because the Omani press has been ready in the past to publish such information, albeit only very occasionally. Perhaps reporters were distracted by the Christmas season. And maybe there will be more information in the future, should the thieves be brought to trial and convicted.

Although I suppose it might not have been deemed appropriate to publicise an armed robbery which happened so close to Mutrah Souq, one of Muscat's most noted tourist attractions. Staff from the exchange were said to have pursued the robbers through the narrow lanes of the old market. Images of the thieves had been 'captured' on CCTV and they had 'left their fingerprints all over the place'.

Fortunately for all concerned, the pistols, assuming they were real, did not appear to have been used.

What I found most intriguing was the comment by the manager of the exchange, Ramesh Shah, who is reported to have said, "This is Oman, we cannot talk about such things, please, if you need details get it from the police."

I was puzzled as to what Mr Shah thought would happen if he did say something. Did he think that he risked going to prison and/or deportation for outlining the incident to the press?

Would his business suddenly find itself without official backing? Would his sponsor be watched and interrogated, or spoken to about the need to find a new manager?

Were the perpetrators known to the manager, and did he fear that they, or their companions, might come back?

Just see how speculation runs away with itself in the absence of full, factual reporting.

There's no doubt that there is a mindset in Oman which makes you look over your shoulder, or keep quiet when the internal situation is discussed. It's something you would be wary of doing in private, and certainly not in public. It can't be said that it's a matter of differing political views, since political parties aren't permitted. The State knows best. And expatriates in tune with the need to survive find it best to stay positive, be inoffensive, and 'go with the flow'.

On the occasion of the 35th National Day in November 2005, Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al Salmy, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, said, "The Sultanate refuses all forms of fanaticism and extremism and always calls for mutual understanding and freedom of thought and religion ( ). The basic law of the state provides for personal freedoms ..." His Excellency the minister had been referring specifically to freedom to worship. Land was set aside long ago for followers of other religions to practise their faith in a way that would not offend Omani tradition.

Presumably you can have a personal, political view, providing you don't express it. That surely has to be a personal freedom. Street demonstrations have been permitted, notably at the time of the second Gulf War, when Oman's public, official policy was against the invasion of Iraq. But unruly behaviour and disorder is most unseemly as well as being a threat to the perception of the State as the beneficent, wise guide on the path to progress and development.

There's only one problem with this, and you can spot it if your analogy is the growth of the individual within the family. When the family is young, Father knows best (you hope), but as the family grows up, someone is bound to rebel against the strictures, especially when the certainties break down.

For the time being though, Oman is a very nice place to be. So why rock the boat?

By the way, Michele Alliot-Marie, the French defence minister, has just wound up a visit to Oman. She brought a letter from President Chirac of France which she presented to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said at Bait al Barakah. It's interesting to note the protocol attached to such meetings. Ms Alliot-Marie was seated on a couch some 3 metres from His Majesty, whereas US vice-president Dick Cheney and Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, who visited last week, were allowed to sit at just over one metre's distance.