A rare interview with His Majesty
The reports were not specific about when and where the interview was undertaken, although the text suggests a personal meeting, since His Majesty is supposed to have smiled on several occasions. Therefore, although His Majesty must have been briefed beforehand on the questions that would be asked, elements of his replies would be spontaneous.
References to the last 35 years of Oman’s history also could imply that the interview relates to the National Day celebrations of November 2005, covering the period that His Majesty has been in office.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos emphasised how his meetings with his people during his annual tours of the country, foster mutual loyalty and support. He said that his policy ‘is to preserve the dignity of every person and give each his/her right in terms of esteem.’ “During these tours, I meet people, listen to their requirements and they listen to my views.” He said that there was need for ‘discipline’, but that no leader could be a tyrant, or else he would find himself surrounded by hypocrites and deserted by reformers and advisors.
When he came to power in 1970, he was very concerned about preserving Oman’s heritage alongside the process of modernisation. He believed that Oman has been successful in that endeavour. It was very interesting that he gave focus to education, especially for women: “We began by educating women, constructing schools and we gently entered into the community,” although he was careful to add that ‘those who want to educate their daughters are welcome and those who want to stick to traditions are free to do so as well.’ Not much chance for the daughters of those who want to stick to tradition then?
His current campaign is to get Omanis into work, and to enable them to see that all jobs are worthwhile, ‘except those which violate morals.’ He pointed out that whereas it had once been newsworthy to announce that 10,000 Omanis were in the private sector work force, that number had now expanded to 100,000. He said that ‘the country progresses steadily and reliably.’
The rise in the oil price had enabled Oman to exploit heavy grades of oil which had been difficult to reach. His Majesty admitted that 15 years ago, when the oil price had been low, he was concerned that Oman would not have the funds to complete his plans for modernisation and infrastructure, but now the future seemed more assured particularly that reserves of gas were coming on-stream, along with development of chromate ore reserves, plaster and cement.
Fluctuating oil prices in the past have made His Majesty ultra-cautious about investing the country’s reserve fund. He said that Oman entered into risk-free investments (if there is such a thing), and that the country had received foreign investments from ‘Japan, US, South Korea, Germany and several Gulf states’, without specifically indicating where those investments were directed.
The press report did not quote His Majesty as mentioning either the Sohar Port industrial complex, or the Salalah container port.
His Majesty had an interesting take on tourism in Oman, consistent with his policy of preserving heritage. “Whatever comes easily goes easily. I don’t want openness to be easily introduced, to avoid its fruits disappearing,” he is reported to have said. You could say that this means that restricted access makes Oman more enticing as a tourist destination. On that basis, it could be some time before visa restrictions or the prices of holidays are eased.
What, perhaps, makes this interview notable, is that the reporter opted to ask His Majesty questions about the succession to the throne, national security, and personal security. There was even a suggestion that His Majesty devoted so much time to running Oman that he did not have space to think about regional, Arab, nor international affairs. To which His Majesty responded with a proverb: ‘May God have mercy upon him who realises his limits and sticks to them.’ He avowed that Oman was influenced by, and did influence foreign affairs, but did not elaborate.
On the succession, which has now been codified in the Basic Law of the State of 1996, His Majesty said: “The Royal Family in Oman has elected a Sultan who had neutral tendencies and since that day the ruling has been for all and binding upon all.” The reply camouflages the underlying multi-tribal nature of Omani society, typical of Gulf states as a whole, with its potentially conflicting claims to power.
His Majesty’s reply on national security was a mite curious. He affirmed that “Security prevails in Oman [ ] .Our national security has never been risked” which lies oddly with the known facts of the Dhofar Rebellion in the first five years of his reign and the failed insurrection of 1994, along with occasionally simmering discontent in the Imamate stronghold of the Interior. But on the whole, yes, Oman appears to be a pretty quiet place. The security apparatus ensures that it is so.
About personal security, he added: “As you see I do not surround myself with any extraordinary security precautions.” About his daily round, he was a little vague: “Usually I sleep after a busy day full of many tasks, I take decisions on urgent matters during the day. When decisions are awaited on any pending matters, I settle them in co-ordination with the authorities concerned.”
However, he was very specific about the threat of terrorism, when questioned about his address to the people in 1994 following the threat of an armed rising. “I warned our people against terrorism and the misuse of religious texts, saying the world currently suffers from terrorism, but thanks be to God, the good Omani soil has rejected such detestable and poisonous plants.
Some of the countries of the region were infected by this disease but with God’s will, they will defeat it by resorting to the tolerant religion (tolerance) and peaceful dialogue.”
His Majesty guardedly considered that the six states of the AGCC, which had much in common besides their wealth, would not “disagree in a time when globalisation sweeps the world.”
Finally, His Majesty said, “There are some who talk about affairs which are of no concern to them, but we in Oman do not follow this style as we have a lot of tasks which fill our time. [ ] We have many dreams to realise for our country.”
At which point, I had better conclude.
