123Orion May charity gig huge success (as usual!). Government patience snaps in Dhofar, everybody arrested

As the powers that be open up a giant can of military-backed wuppass on the peaceful demonstrators in Salalah, using a huge force of army troops + ROP & ISS + teargas, and switching off south Oman's entire mobile phone network and internet for 2 hours while doing so, it's good to know good folks have been keeping it real in Muscat.

123Orion's sell out charity gig in Muscat on May 5th raised 360 rials [US$900] for the Japanese Earthquake victims.

Photo" 123Orion rock the house for earthquake victims.

Well done JON G. Wish I could have been there.


Meanwhile in Salalah, things are going to get worse I suspect. Hopefully no-where near neighbouring Yemeni levels, but Dhofaris are not the sort to take being forced to shut up lying down. Keep checking Dhofari Gucci for latest news folks.

Sitting around in a roundabout calling for investigations into Ministerial corruption is, of course, extremely illegal in Oman.

Someone's patience has clearly expired.

PS
As posted in a comment on Muscat Mutterings, the Oman News Agency explained the situation quite clearly, here repeated in the Oman Observer (The Government owned newspaper):

Provocateurs held
Fri, 13 May 2011
MUSCAT — An official security source said security and military authorities yesterday arrested a number of provocateurs in Muscat Governorate and Wilayat of Salalah.
The source said deliberate inciting of rioting and public disorder by the detainees has reached a level that necessitated intervention to prevent them from continuing to break the law and stop their attempts to incite sedition, which has nothing to do with the public interest.

The source said security authorities commends citizens and those who co-operated for they know the real intentions of those persons who committed the unacceptable and who have no justification to continue gatherings and sit-ins. The authorities affirmed they will not hesitate to apply the law and protect the security of citizens and the nation.

Quite right. Sit-ins are very provocative.

Did you know there was supposed to be a new radio station in Oman: "Merge FM" tangled in red tape.

Photo from Muscat Daily: Appartently the infamous Dragon gang of Sohar (no relation). Update: These 3 are apparently principal bad boy Khalfan bin Said bin Mohammed al Muqbali's cohorts.


We all need a break from informal trade Union protests throughout the usually somnolent Sultanate, and news of evil Dragon Gangs plotting parties with cocktails a-la Molitov in Sohar. At least the press are now helpfully (if unusually) identifying with pictures and names in the Omani press.

This naming and shaming is very strange for the local main stream media, but perhaps the Omani Government is starting to get some help, me thinks, in how to handle propaganda in a more 21st century way. Give these violent miscreants a catchy name! "Dragon gangs"... Sounds terrible. Perhaps Oman's local media are doing what they are told once again.

If it wasn't for Dan in Sohar, we wouldn't really know what was going on at all. Well done and thank you Dan (& Jillian!).


Well, sticking with a media theme, have you heard the latest radio station in Oman on 104.8FM? They are targeting 'cool Omani youth'. Really! At least that's what my media friends in the UAE tell me. It's called "Merge FM".

Oman's new "Merge FM" and their cool new look stationary. Suoper hip and connected to the beat of Oman's young, just not actually broadcasting to Oman's youth right now. K?

You don't have to just believe me, here the new radio station (that doesn't yet exist) is described in 'media marketing creative award-speak' at Dubai Lynx:

Brief Explanation:
The Omani youth lives in a constant struggle to balance local customs with the ever growing western influence. Our goal was to tap into this cultural tension with a positive attitude, creating a brand that was both international and unmistakably Omani.

Describe the brief from the client:
Our client needed to brand their new venture, an English-language radio targeting young Omanis in Muscat.

Description of how you arrived at the final design:
We chose to embrace the change and celebrate the mix of cultures. "Merge" became not just our brand name, but a concept to guide our work. Every piece of design carried on the concept of “merging”, from the message to the way the paper was folded (please have a look at the stationery samples). 5 works of art that portray traditional local elements with a modern perspective were commissioned to renowned Arab artists. These were used as part of all designs to create a strong and lively identity.

Indication of how successful the outcome was in the market:
The radio station is still due to launch soon, but initial business to business activities saw a great response to the fresh new identity.

My friends in Dubai say it has indeed won some awards for ... er... outstanding stationary. And the DJs (imported from the UK and bored out of their brains) have been ready for months, but so far all they've been allowed to broadcast is test tapes due to... red tape.

Given the recent disruptions in Oman's Government and how busy the (not replaced) Minister of Information has been explaining the new policy on what the media should be reporting (ie the Government's POV), who can blame a few hold ups in permits allowing a new Omani radio station, especially one aiming to focus on 'The Omani youth living in constant struggle to balance local customs with the ever growing western influence'. Indeed.

It's all apparently very early days, not to be talked about, hush hush, confidential etc. But perhaps Merge 104.8 FM will one day hum not to the sounds of static, but to the 2 imported* UK DJs who have already been here for 3 months. Watch out Darren Short!!!

Yes, the frustrated unemployed Omani youth is a great media market. Those Kias kitted out with woofers boasting more horse-power than the car's engine need feeding with hip-hop, as the boys endlessly circle the Sohar and Shatti Al Qurm roundabouts, looking for employment attention from girls.

Guys, instead of doing Dragon-gang violence shit, how about protesting that your own home-boy radio station is being blocked from even broadcasting by 'the man'?


*Now, why can't the DJs be Omani DJs, man?

Breaking news: Reports that Omani Police clear Sohar roundabout during night

Update: Clearing of Sohar by Army - and not just the roundabout - now confirmed by ONA, AFP and our reporters on the scene Dan & Jillian.

Photo: Omani Army checkpoints now firmly in charge at Sohar. Great pic ripped from Dan & Jillian's blog (more pics after the jump)

Oman's Public Prosecution office issued the following statement of explaination:

A Statement issued by the Public Prosecution

Muscat, March 29 (ONA)--- The Public Prosecution issued the following statement;

"Out of the royal approach of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said represented in the wise policy of self control, not to use of power by the military and security apparatuses - which oversee the developments to preserve the achievements of this country,

Despite the acts committed by some people are criminalized by the law, and the consecutive statements issued by the Council of Ministers, the State Council, Majlis A'Shura, the National Commission for Human Rights and the office of the Grand Mufti,

Out of the responsibilities, obligations and powers of the Public Prosecution, as stipulated in the Basic Law of the State and the respective laws which ensure the enforcement of the penal law, chasing criminals and take over the public claims in the name of the society as it has the power to initiate such claim before the competent court,

Based on the complaints and notifications made by adversely affected citizens from the acts of the irresponsible group which banned the existing authorities from carrying out their functions, rioting with intent of violence, disruption of public order, destructing and vandalizing the public and private utilities, prejudicing the public comfort or tranquility, blocking public roads leading to banning traffic movement or causing difficulty in traffic flow and assault on the security personnel

The Public Prosecution has issued orders to the respective departments to chase doers of such acts, arrest and place them under custody for investigation The respective departments and security apparatuses arrested the wanted vandals in the wilayat of Sohar. The outcome of investigation and its results will be unveiled later and those convicted will be referred to the competent court.

The Public Prosecution affirms that doing such acts is a crime penalized by the Omani Penal Law and other laws in force. Such acts held the doers liable before the law.

The Public Prosecution calls up on all citizens to cooperation and not to be hesitant in notifying the respective authority of any acts that jeopardize Law and order to risk.

May Allah safeguard Oman and His Majesty the Sultan and the Omani people wellbeing.

----Ends/MS/FS

Photo: Where it all started - the Globe roundabout several weeks ago

Breaking news

I'm told that the ROP last night forceably cleared the Sohar roundabout of protesters. Not a lot of details, but talk of multiple arrests.

The protests in Oman continue to get international news coverage, especially the focus on corruption.

This may indicate that there is an urge in the leadership to start drawing the line at what has, in many places, seemed to become effectively mob rule. Any updates from readers?

Meanwhile, there are various groups organising for all sorts of things, from free phones to nationalisation of Petroleum Development Oman.

More on that soon.

PS In support of His Majesty someone just uploaded this clip of HM firing a rifle in celebration at a previous rally. As a soldier, he knows how to handle a weapon.