Threading a path through political minefields
His first point pertaining to Iraq reveals, I think, a conflict of interests. Oman hosts US bases which serve the US army in Iraq. Oman's Renaissance Services did win a major contract in the country to provide accommodation, catering and other services to US forces. Condemning the situation in Iraq would sit uncomfortably with the Sultanate's friendly relations with the US, about to be reinforced by a visit from John Hillen, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, who last was on a round of trips in the Gulf in May this year.
Support for Lebanon and Hizbullah is unequivocal, but it is what is NOT said about Israel which is interesting. Oman has recently hit the radar of a group of analysts in the States, known as Stratfor. I did subscribe to Stratfor a few years ago, but found the posts to be long, involved, biased, built on conjecture (ed. I should talk!) with allusions to anonymous contacts in high places, alarmist, and sometimes downright wrong. However, Stratfor did report two or three weeks ago that Yusuf bin Alawi had had 'secret meetings' with the Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. This meeting was subsequently also reported in the Khaleej Times. The two foreign ministers were said to have discussed “ways of promoting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process,” while the Israeli foreign minister also updated Alawi about her meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on September 18 in New York.
There's nothing wrong in that, however much you may disapprove. It only goes to show that Oman's foreign policy masters believe in keeping lines of communication open in order to promote diplomatic discussion to resolve crises and differences.
In referring to the victory of Hamas in diplomatic elections, the use of the word 'astounding' is, I think, quite strong in diplomatic terms. Perhaps Oman expected the old guard, Fatah, which was the basis of the Palestinian Authority to win simply because it was an established government. Arab countries are organised on a hierarchical basis in which one strong man rules, in a dynastic line. So a departure from that, as shown in the Palestinian elections, must be seen as astounding from an Arab point of view. But Hamas is not succeeding in Palestine, because it is being starved of funds, by Western and Arab governments alike. And it will not succeed while it continues to call for the abolition of the state of Israel.
Note that Alawi proposed a return to an old Palestinian constitution that granted unlimited power to the president, a return to strong-man government in the more comfortably acceptable Arab style. Did Alawi tell the Israeli foreign minister that this is what Oman would like to see?
As for democracy, he is reported to have said that democracy has to be given 'a holiday'. Which can be interpreted as 'democracy is not suitable for countries in our region because the people do not understand what is required of government'.
Isn't that what the young person whose blog I reported on last week was told by speakers who came to address the student group?
How does that statement apply to Oman itself? Preparations are even now being made for elections to the Majlis ash'Shura, a council of candidates who are pre-approved by HM the Sultan, to put forward ideas and concerns from the people, and who are given the opportunity to question ministers about the performance of their ministries. I gather that a ministerial inquisition can be a tough experience. Everyone aged 21 and over is free to vote amongst a range of candidates. But that is not the same as allowing the free development of political thought.
I read in the Economist this week that several Middle Eastern countries, and I know that the UAE and Oman are among these, have banned VoIP not only because it undercuts their developing telecoms industries, but also because it makes it difficult for the authorities to tap telephone conversations.
The development of a sound economic platform on which the country can rely for its prosperity is underpinned by stringent security measures. Given the situation in the country some 50 to 30 years ago when government was threatened by rebellions in the Interior and then in Dhofar, it can hardly be surprising that the government has to tread a wary path between improving the lot of its people while thwarting moves of discontent.
The problem now is, how to promote systematic intellectual and political thought. It's doing what it can. People are sent overseas for education and training in the hope that it will broaden perspective. But it's a long job. And maybe some people won't want to wait. And maybe some others will want to return to the old certainties.
With respect to Iran, I think we should note the emphasis that Alawi lays on promoting mutual dialogue, along with other GCC states. I don't think Oman is going to stand out on a limb.
The freedom of the Palestinian people is not a dream, not impossible, but it is the demand must be achieved, whatever are the results, whatever the suffering of the Palestinian people, and this steadfastness that is represented by the Palestinian people is the stories of heroes’ sacrifice of their money, their children and their parents to defend their dear Palestine. Palestinians have become an example of the sincere love for the country.
On Friday where the population of all parts of Palestine meet in al aqsa mosque despite the difficulties they face, but since the receipt of the Sharon government of Israel preventing worshipers from the West Bank and Gaza Strip to attend to perform Friday prayers, diminishing numbers of worshipers, and in some days to prevent the congregation who are under the age of forty praying in alqsa mosque and forcing them to pray at the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem.
On the 15th of December, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque warned that, there are cracks in the southern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque result of the excavations carried out by Israeli authorities under the Aqsa Mosque the building of the Islamic Waqf, despite warning of the danger of these excavations, the Israeli authorities preventing the Islamic Waqf from reconstruction of the southern wall.
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