Social Distortion - a reader complaint

I thought I'd share an interesting email from a reader about a recent post I made, the one highlighting a big story in the UK media about a British MP and the many times he has stayed in Oman.

I think the comment highlights a real problem in Oman, one that also relates to the big, big problems many in this culture seem to have with the very concept of free speech. The issues (see below) some people might have with the article (and my subsequently bringing this overseas story to your attention) are real, and strongly felt. Some might even feel insulted, angry, and/or confused as to why anyone would even think to say such things, and even worse, to act upon such thoughts and publish them.

Fair enough.

But.... Free Speech quintessentially implies sometimes listening to other people when they say things you disagree with. Perhaps strongly. And perhaps even worse, seeing or reading or hearing things that occasionally one might find exceptionally offensive.

As its often said, Stalin was a great fan of free speech, as long as you only said what he agreed with.

How does Oman address this problem, while the Government are attempting to expose more and more of the population to the outside world, tourists, the Internet, and many Omani experience a severe reaction to many of the things they - as a result - see and hear?

(to Undercover Dragon)

This piece of news is in bad taste. Politicians come go and it is in the Arab tradition to offer them a gift at the end of their visit. Why single out this homosexual? The article in Daily mail dismayed many here in the Sultanate by associating an openly gay individual to our nation. Furthermore it is an insult to us seeing the individual's photo in the same page as MAWALANA The SULTAN who almost all Omanis revere. UD has hit all Oman below the belt by coming up with such a trash.

Take note almost all Omanis are dismayed by UD's action

Dragon Responds:
Omanis deserve to know what is being published elsewhere, about their country and HM, don't they? Simply pretending there is no outside world, like some kind of cultural and intellectual ostrich, is stupid and childish.

Grow up.

I did not publish such photos (as were published in the UK) partially for some of the reasons you mention.

That this British Member of Parliament came here, stayed here, and was a guest of HM is fact. That the man came here with his (now) partner is fact. That Alan Duncan is homosexual is (as far as anyone knows) a fact. That he remains a member of her Majesty's loyal opposition, and remains a member of Parliament, is a fact.

That this story was in the UK media, and discussed Oman and HM, is a fact.

That you choose to dislike that these things are facts, fair enough. And I can understand.

BUT, are you really that naive? How old are you?

Welcome to the world [identity withheld]. Not everyone gives a second thought about your concerns, or even agrees with them, you know?

Regards,
Dragon

OK Readers. There it is. Thought you'd be interested.
Opinions?

Blogging in the Gulf and Oman Media restrictions reported in the UAE press

Nice article in the UAE based paper the Khaleej Times by Oman Reporter Saleh al-Shaibany on media restrictions in Oman and the wider region. The article quotes as a source an un-named 'ex-editor' from the Omani and GCC press.

Saleh noted how the absence of a free press, and extremely vague and restrictive laws related to media and internet, are increasingly being used to protect senior Government Officials from any accountability for their performance, and indeed to shield them from possible discussion of corruption. As a result, bloggers and web-based discussion fora are the only place such things can be placed in the public domain. However, new laws are now being used to muzzle these internet voices too.

Certainly in Oman, the draconian Article 61 (especially clauses 61.3 and 61.4) was only recently put on the books, and prescribes up to 1 year in prison for a wide range of 'offences', the definition of which is untested by legal precedent, or even simple common sense:

"publishing anything deemed...contrary to public order and morality".




And that's in addition to the already rather nasty criminal law rule 74 and the already extremely broad (and criminal, not civil) Omani defamation laws. (For more detail comparing Omani and British law on this topic, see a post by the well known BlueChi.)

The recent arrest, detention and trial of Omani journalist and Forum Moderator Ali al-Zwaidi even prompted a joint letter by Reporters Without Borders and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, written to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, in protest at his arrest under Article 61. In the end, Ali was found not guilty of the Art.61 charge, but he was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment on a second charge of releasing confidential government documents, most of which he served before trial. It is strongly thought by many in the Omani bloggosphere that his conviction was mainly meant 'pour encourager les autres'.

It's certainly something many of us think about.

A good example of the sort of attitude common in the Gulf is the punishment meted out to a Bahraini student for being critical of the University administration.

Female Bahraini Youth Activist Punished

13 September 2009 MANAMA — A female youth activist has to repeat a semester of five courses as a punishment for distributing a statement criticising situations at the only government university — the University of Bahrain (UoB).

Noor Hussain, 22, who is also a member of the students’ councils at the UoB, distributed the printed statement on Bahraini Student Day, marked on February 25, 2009. The punishment was decided last week.

“She wasn’t the only one who distributed the statement that criticised some educational practices at the UoB, but she was the only one who received such tough punishment,” ....

In fact, it has reached the point where the best place to obtain stories about things happening in one's home country is in the newspapers of one's neigbouring countries in the GCC (one of the reasons so many issues discussed here at Muscat Confidential are based on reports from the UAE press).

Oman's print press is well known to be plagued by extreme self censorship, under-reporting, and a total unwillingness to threaten in any way the establishment or Government Authorities. (see Essa's volte face earlier this week, and this from a newspaper that is more full of Government propaganda and flattery than any I've ever seen.) The Week, a free weekly ad sheet in the capital, pat themselves on the back for reporting a few minor instances of uncollected rubbish or a nonsensical local dog ordinance.

So, well done Saleh. And with the by-line and Omani resident too - very brave, esp. considering what happened to Arun Solomon (allegedly). I wonder if you will now be asked to have a quiet chat with ISS or the Ministry of Information?


Saleh's full story:

Bloggers Carry the Torch Saleh al-Shaibany
12 September 2009, Khaleej Times

How many times have we talked about freedom of speech but still face the problem? In Oman and the rest of the Gulf, journalists still face harassment with authorities when they attempt to pour out their grievances on the way officials conduct themselves.

Journalists can be detained and questioned over reports they wrote in the local newspapers. Publishers who are bold enough to print such news can face threats of closure of their publications. But officials still deny that the region is suppressing the media when the grip is tightening all the time.

For example, murders and rapes in Oman are rarely reported but you do find relatives of the victims talk about it. Doctors, too, who treat victims, obviously pass over the information to reporters who cannot get their publications to print.

A former newspaper editor in Muscat, an expatriate, said that unwritten rules from the information ministry to newspapers restrict editors what they accept and publish from their journalists. Editors will rarely publish a piece that criticises a cabinet minister or grievances from members of public made towards a government office.

The former editor said the problem is not confined to just Oman. He came across the same with his editing spells elsewhere in the region.

The Gulf is fast becoming a society where senior government officials are above the law of punishment and shaming them in the press is unacceptable.

But one glimmer of light is shining bright over the dark secrets shrouding the corridors of power. We see Internet bloggers, mostly young Gulf nationals, battling the suppression of freedom of expression in the media.

Websites become more vocal and in turn popular by reporting things mainstream media cannot dare report.

There are blogs and forums that explicitly publish leaked government documents and shame officials, yet the government in most cases uses legal methods to prosecute authors if they are residents in the country by quoting laws in the legislation that are widely seen erected to protect bureaucrats.

It is said these documents are obtained by insiders, working with corrupt officials, within the civil service. Then they are handed over to bloggers as proof. But media experts say that there is always a threat hanging over website discussions with the government tracing the IP addresses of moderators and contributors.

They track you down the way they did with a website moderator and a whistle blower of a telecom company. The website moderator, an Arabic journalist, after receiving leaked government 
papers splashed the evidence in his 
blog and was sentenced to one year imprisonment.

The message is that if the media will only carry the carefully designed propaganda initiated from high places then the public will have no choice but to turn to blogs and websites to get to know more about their countries. And so it is left to bloggers to report the truth about corruption, though attempts are sometimes made to block them. The success of the blogs will be tested in the next few years to see whether the attempt to force changes in the local media will be successful or not.

If authorities choose to continue with their control over media, then it will be safe to assume that a bigger number of journalists will go underground to report and write what they want to.

Saleh Al Shaibany is an Oman-based
 writer

Oman and HM in the British Press over controversial UK member of Parliament Alan Duncan

Interesting article published yesterday in the low-brow UK Tabloid the Daily Mail, about the UK Member of Parliament (and ex-oil trader) Alan Duncan, and his frequent holidays in Oman as a guest of His Majesty.

Alan is in a spot of bother over the UK's MP Expenses scandal, and the comment he made to a hidden camera complaining about the low 65k salary he gets as an MP. (Personally I think he's right, it's not exactly a huge salary, even for a part-time job).

But as a part of the debacle and his recent (slight) demotion in the Tory party, the UK press are delving into his many free holidays here in the Sultanate as a guest of HM. The gifts he received were, I'm sure, just the standard xmas cracker trinkets HM regularly provides his guests as a good host, but to the average reader of the Daily Mail - who probably wouldn't know what a French Cuff was in the first place - its all shocking, absolutely shocking.

The article also has some miscellaneous photo's of HM that really have nothing to do with the story at all, and you can follow the link to read the whole thing.

I think it's cute that Alan proposed to his partner while here on Valentines Day.

It would be nice if we could get the world press to stop referring to us 'Oil rich Middle Eastern country etc'. Its not really the association we want. Suggestions:
- Beautiful and peaceful Indian Ocean country, famed for its world class beaches and exotic holiday destinations.
- Oldest independent Middle Eastern nation, with a stable enlightened Government and a rich tradition of tolerance and friendliness.

Other suggestions readers?

Whining Tory Alan Duncan's £1m Gulf War oil 'rations' and glittering gifts from Sultan of Oman

Daily Mail 11th September 2009

...

In the past decade he has spent a staggering 99 days living it up in luxury in Oman - the tab picked up by the Sultan's government. Gifts from the same source include five watches, three sets of cufflinks, and a 'traditional Omani coffee pot and incense burner'.

He even had his appendix removed for free while on holiday there. No chance then, at least, of the 'rations' causing any problems as they work their way through Mr Duncan's system.


Photo: Alan Duncan (left) proposed to his partner James Dunseath (right) on Valentine's Day while in Oman

...

Having become the first Tory MP to come out as gay in 2002, last year he entered a civil partnership with his partner, 40-year-old, James Dunseath, a press officer in the City.

Mr Duncan proposed to Mr Dunseath on Valentine's Day while in Oman - a place that the politician knows particularly well. His links with the oil-rich Middle-Eastern country stem from his work, but as a politician he has been a regular visitor. Indeed, almost without fail he spends New Year there as a guest of the Sultanate and rarely returns without a valuable trinket or two. When struck down with appendicitis during a visit there in 2000, he was treated for free in the Royal Hospital.

While denying suggestions that there is anything improper in his relationship with the Omani regime, his outside business interests have caused problems.
...

Spin by ONA, and a telling off for Essa!

Regular readers of the scintillating Times of Oman were treated to a special mid-week 'Viewpoint' OpEd piece from Chief Editor Essa Al Zedjali yesterday (Essa normally fills the front page with his thoughts on a Sunday). Earlier this week, indeed, Essa had expressed concern that the Omani Ministry of Health wouldn't be able to handle the costs and emergency care requirements of H1N1.

On reading his new piece, it seems the next day he was called up the Minister and told in no uncertain terms that everything totally under control and to stop criticising the Government. LOL.

Laudable govt efforts to reassure citizens
Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:09:34 AM Oman Time

IN my Viewpoint column titled “Combating H1N1 requires huge funding” published last Sunday, I said that the “capabilities of the Ministry of Health for making available efficient treatment and extending all types of health facilities to citizens as well as residents to help them combat the disease effectively or extirpate it altogether do not seem sufficient as it requires huge funding for the medications, especially the vaccines and the establishment of new laboratories”.

...

In fact, I was glad to have a telephone conversation with Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, minister of health, on Monday morning, during which I enquired as to how we source additional funds for combating the H1N1 pandemic. The minister replied reassuringly that the government of His Majesty the Sultan has, through the Ministry of Finance, made available whatever additional finance the ministry needs ....

In other news:
A laughable headline in this morning's Oman Observer, as all the local papers struggled to find the good news spin to describe Oman's performance in the World Bank Ease of doing business ranking report.

Bottom line facts:
Oman was ranked 65th out of 183 countries for overall ease of doing business, down 3 places from last year when we were 62nd.

We ranked 7th in the MENA region, up 1 place, but still worst of all the GCC countries.

More work to be done chaps.

Sultanate ranked top on Doing Business 2010: report
WASHINGTON — The Sultanate was ranked number six on the ‘Doing Business Index Report for 2010 among the Middle Eastern and North African countries.’ The report was published by the World Bank (WB) yesterday in collaboration with the International Financing Institution on its website.
According to the ranking which covered 183 countries from April 2008 to June 2009, the Sultanate was ranked sixty-five. It was ranked second on the Employing Workers’ and the third on Registering Property Index and the fourth on Paying Taxes Indices at the Middle East and North African countries.

The report ranked the Sultanate 39 as a High Income country out of 47 countries included on the list and ranked the 6th on the Middle East and North African countries level. Each country is ranked under ten indices, such as, employing workers, processing of work permits, registering property, protecting investors, paying taxes and inter-border trade.

Despite the many challenges, in 2008/2009 more governments implemented regulatory reforms aimed at making it easier to do business than in any year since 2004, when Doing Business started to track reforms through its indicators. Doing Business recorded 287 such reforms in 131 economies between June 2008 and May 2009, 20 per cent more than in the year before. — ONA

Yachts. Nothin' but trouble...

A nautical theme for today's post readers!

First, an update in the battle for Muscat's Capital Area Yacht Club. aka CAYC, a members only yacht club that happens to be right next to the newish Marina Bander Al Rowdha (a struggling commercial marina that also happens to be partially owned by... the MoT!)

It seems the Ministry of Tourism and their pet poodle OMRAAN still feel confident that intimidation, desperation and persistence will be enough to overturn the explicit written instruction of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos (who some time ago gave the CAYC a deed to their beautiful bay, which also happens to be Goldilocks 'just right' for an new ITD).

A hired heavy - an expat lawyer for MoT - apparently dropped by the CAYC recently and expressed disappointment that the plucky club had had the gall to keep the club facilities in good shape by renovating the patio.



Photo: The Capital Area Yacht Club... just right for OMRAAN


I'm reliably informed that on his recent surprise visit (co-incidentally just before a committee meeting) the Sudanese MoT lawyer asked the Club Manager "why they were carrying out improvements to the place?" (extension of patio area, new showers, shades etc). He then said rather ominously that they would be "moving within a week or two...".

What's next MoT? The old horse's head trick?

The MoT are now trying to move the case (a legal battle over the MoT's right to destroy the bay) to a different court, and are hoping to try their luck at the Oman Primary Court, even though the on-going case is already lodged with the Administrative Court. Any legal experts able to explain the difference?

Good luck CAYC. You should be able to get better lawyers than MoT, to be frank. In fact, maybe even get Omani lawyers, seeing as how the MoT seem unable to find one.

And for God's sake, look after that original deed from HM...

Readers. I encourage you to patronise the CAYC and give them some support. Most members are Omani, and it is a lovely place. After Ramadan, a lovely place for a swim, snorkle, a quiet ale and good value food. Not expensive to join either. Just mention that you're a guest of the Dragon and I'm sure you'll be taken care of. Note: this offer does not apply to one Mohammed Al Sunani - Director General of Planning & Projects at the MoT, a man who has better things to do than lounge around the CAYC, like maybe completing all the unfinished tourist development projects he's already started, perhaps?


In other news, a cautionary tale for my sailing chums.

a dear reader sent me these excellent photos from mid-July, when the Chairman of OHI, (HE?) Maqbool bin Hameed Al Saleh, had a bit of trouble with his nice beautiful yacht.


Photo: Not how it looked in the instruction manual.

I'm told he was out partying cruising on his boat with some guests, anchored at Bandar Khairan [aka 'BK'] for the night, when the wind picked up strongly.

Dragging its anchor under the squall, the crew were unable to get the engines started, and she quickly ran roughly aground, ripping her guts out.


Photo: Note to self: Million dollar Yachts and jagged rocks don't mix.

Ouch.

Fear not. Business is still good it seems, and the replacement craft (bigger, nicer) is on order.

BTW. Rumours I've heard, that this was an insurance job, really are totally ridiculous. HE was on board at the time, and people could have died. So, interesting as it may be to speculate, I'm afraid I can say it was not an insurance job, as anyone who knows anything about boats would probably know. And, I'll tell ya, get a boat like that in a swell/wind near rocks with no engines, and .... well, you're screwed.

OK, perhaps the crew, and almost by definition, her Captain, were more than a little remiss in their responsibilities. But we all know how hard it is to find good help, and the electrics were always a bit iffy since Gonu.

The real story is that, apparently, the ROP took some convincing it was important enough to come to the rescue. They thought it was either a hoax, or just some drowning illegal Afganis better left to... er... well, drown.

They had to be convinced by HE himself yelling down the phone with some gusto before they decided to leave port, it being a bit rough and all.




LOL.


[A big thanks to my sources on this one: N, SM, S. ] You know who you are...

Ask an Omani - The dating scene. Power cuts and homeless labourers.

Sorry for the lull dear readers, I had to take a business trip to London, via Switzerland naturally. Its good to be back. Interesting to see the power cuts in MQ & Shatti occuring regularly of late. Oman may be tendering for more power stations and foreign investment in the power sector, but as electricity is highly subsidised here, I'm curious who is going to pay the market price for that power and give the investors a reasonable return?

Lots of interesting stories in my in box, and I'll give you updates on several running stories later this week. There was a nice story in the UAE National about Homeless labourers in Oman too.

Number of homeless in Oman soars amid economic crunch
...“This is not the only homeless group living by a crust of bread and water,” he said. “They are everywhere in the country. Some absconded after their visas expired and some have entered the country illegally.”

They live in abandoned houses, construction sites, rooftops of commercial buildings, car parks of shopping malls and even behind rubbish bins.
...

But meanwhile, here's the latest installment of 'Ask an Omani' by our fantastic guest Omani - Omani Dreamer. Don't forget to email me your questions on local aspects of life and culture.

This weeks question: How is the dating scene amongst single young Omanis?



Anyone who has had single female friends come to visit (or an expat teenage daughter) knows it doesn't take long for the local lads to appear, eager to help them find their way around town and naturally, looking to hook up. But there's a lot of action in the local scene too.

Dating scene in Oman

Many wonder about the dating scene in Oman between our younger generation. Well, about 60% of the dating happens in Universities and Colleges! Many of the students that attend these colleges come from conservative families. However, in any case, there is a pattern that you will notice happening on the dating scene.

Guys:
Some guys come to the college and have never seen uncovered girls (not wearing face cover, or the head scarf). Being sexually suppressed, they start to spot a potential victim. The whole thing begins with them trying to be nice and funny (sometimes the scene is just sad! But some girls still manage to giggle!). After they get the signs of OKAY, which are usually indicated through smiles and giggles, they start by asking help in assignments. Then, the guy starts telling the girl that she is different the rest and that he feels sooooooo comfortable around her…. Etc (you get the point).

Girls:
Well, I must say that girl’s transformation is the most predictable of all. A girl comes to college and finds many boys that she is not used to seeing. Coming from a conservative family, she “rejects” the idea of even talking to a guy. She gives her “stares” of disapproval and gossips with her “similar mentality” friends about those “sluts” that talk with guys. Now, of course these girls would brag about how they are better than those “sluts” and that they are the “good apples” that are left. After the first month, these girls will find that they cannot help but smile whenever guys try to be funny.

Then, the transformation begins… you start seeing signs of make up on their faces. The head scarf becomes smaller (not bellow the chest). The abaya’s become tighter. After another month, the head scarf becomes loose and the silky (straightened) hair starts to show. All of this includes the smiles and giggles they have been sending towards the guys. Then, girls starts having that special someone in their lives that they talk to every night. Ohh, and yes, these are the girls that start with wearing clothes under their abayas and end up with undergarments under it only!

So here is the dating scene:

In a college, the girl and the boy look for a place that they “think” is invisible to everyone else. So, they might chose the library and go behind the book shelves. If the library is quite, you will be able to hear the giggles. Otherwise, that “invisible” place in not so… invisible. The guy might start touching the girl on her hand, then as the relationship advances, the more touching occurs. Then, all signs of compassion and love between the two appear in public. She leans on him, puts her arms around him.. etc. The difference is, it is not always love and compassion. Guys in this country like to brag about “how many” girls they have. They usually have more than one!

Then, as any relationship, things start to advance. Girls start attending college even when they don’t have classes (parents think they are studying very hard.. well.. they are working hard on something!). However, they are picked up from college by their guys. God knows where they go, but I’m guessing they just stay in the car and the guy gets some action. Once they are done, they guy drops the girl back at school...

Postscript: Co-incidentally there is a really great and detailed post today by Dhofari Gucci on the similar topic of Internet dating in Salalah. Check it out!


Of course in Oman we are still culturally some way away from where we could expect to get any info on premarital sex in Oman - we might all know its happening, but talking about it, or writing about it, still seems pretty impossible.

The great unwashed of the Omani Sabla - Blasphemer 'exposed'

A nice post on Omani Legal Eagle BlueChi's blog, highlighting the recent experience of Omani blogger Muawiyah Al Rawahi and his post suggesting Omanis who wanted to, should be able to buy alcohol in an off-licence or booze store, in addition to the (currently legal) practice of Omani's being able to go to a pub and drink there. (unfortunately Muawiyah blogs and comments almost entirely in Arabic, but he did try in English here).

As Blue Chi says (reproduced here without license)

...
The Arabic community was outraged by Muawiyah’s public discussion of a social and religious taboo: drinking alcohol. Though previously celebrated in forums and other blogs for his commentary and criticism of public figures and government practices, Muawiyah has been criticised and personally insulted on a number of online discussion boards for his “unislamic and immoral opinions”. A single thread dedicated to criticise and attack Muawiyah on Omania2.net had more than 12 pages of comments AFTER deleting all the ones which were regarded by the staff members as ones that violate the rules of the forum. An Omani member of over a 1000 posts who claims to be currently in Australia asked the administration to ban Muawiyah completely from the forum because of his suggestions to disobey religion.

The outrage in the Arabic community is bizarre to some extent, mainly because the sale of alcohol is legal in Oman. Yet it remains socially unacceptable for most people, and it is of course prohibited by religion. The majority of commentators in Arabic forums cannot seem digest the idea that alcohol has always been legal in Oman. This reminds me of how I always tried to explain to my classmates earlier this year about different social norms in Oman, and how things could be legal, yet socially and religiously unacceptable (e.g. drinking alcohol), or legal and religiously permitted, yet socially no longer acceptable (e.g. having four wives)....

LMAOFOFL - and well said Blue Chi.

The sabla in Oman are - it seems to me - dominated by the very young (essentially unemployed students), with little in the way of true adult life experiences, and almost all the Omani members are typical products of the 'brains off' religious brainwashing that has been successfully applied to them.

It's like being lectured about smoking by your 12 year old sister.

Poor Muawiyah as been threatened with banning from the Sabla ('oooohhh!'), and accused of being non-religious, a traitor, evil, that he should be punished, etc etc. As if the act of having a few drinks is, by definition, Un-Omani, unpatriotic, or even, dare I say it, an idea worth considering.

And what he says makes A LOT of sense. Afterall. Who is making the money from the vast sales of illegal alcohol to Omani? [Because don't try to tell me it ain't happening kiddies, you SQU Pollyannas!]

And it is basically legal in Oman anyhow, even for Omani!!! (Its not like he's suggesting being an atheist, ie an Apostate, or something else that carries the death penalty to those religious wackos that unpatriotically follow diktats from Iran or Saudi instead of the Law of the Land).

His point was essentially that either it should be totally illegal and banned for at minimum all muslims, or that the authorities should get real and loosen up a bit, and not just allow the wastafarians and the rich to get access.

Man, what an uptight bunch of preachers these commenters are! (And funnily enough, the root cause is something that wouldn't let most of the female members even study in the first place, and certainly not overseas!). You'd think we were in Sudan, or Somalia, Pakistan or Saudi perhaps, rather than tolerant Oman.

Fascists everywhere would approve of such anti-free speech stuff. And especially the tactic of immediate personalisation of the issue, rather than debating in on the actualité. 'Playing the man, not the ball'.. as it were. "You are accused of being Un-islamic, and we shall therefore banish you but we're totally incapable of holding a civilisaed discussion based on facts, rational arguments", etc.

Unfortunately, these nutters have a lot of company. Even in the UN. (and it takes a lot to make me agree with the infamous right-wing nutter Lou Dobbs - America's own Essa Al Zedjali!!! But Chris Hichens is a star):




George Orwell would laugh too - well, he would have laughed in an artistic, ironic, sort of bitter sweet, tuberculosis way.

Muawiyah. Keep it up. You are a star too. I don't agree with some things you say, but I support your right to say it, and the fact that you are brave enough to even ask some questions has been highlighted by this episode. Maybe you'll see the humour in this video ...




Cheers. I'm having a Ramadan G&T and toasting you.


For info, Here's a typical rant from the sabla: apologies for the autotranslate... Basically, I understand the argument is that by suggesting such a thing, he's polluting peoples' minds with ideas that are un-islamic and therefore must be banned.

وجدت أنه من الأنسب التعقيب في موضوع منفصل -تسهيلا للقاريئ- على ما جاء من المدعو معاوية أدناه في موضوعه الاخير والذي نقله وأعاد تسويقة في سبلة عمان المدعو ليت لي جناح ، ومما لا شك فيه أن أي مادة تنشر هنا هي قابلة للنقد والرد والأخذ فأرجو ان الجميع يتقبل الأمر بصدر رحب . Found it appropriate to comment on the subject of a separate - convenience to the reader - it came from a certain Maaouya below last theme which was quoted and re-marketed in Oman called Ubuntu Refer me, there is no doubt that any material published here is subject to criticism and rejection and the introduction, I hope that everyone accepts it with an open mind.

أركز على الفقرة أدناه بعدما تجاوزت عدة فقرات لي أيضا تحفظ كبير عليها بيد أني تجاوزتها لضيق الوقت ولأن هناك إخوة آخرين قاموا مشكورين بالرد عليها . Focus on the paragraph below, after more than a few paragraphs I also significant reservations, however, I am overtaken by the time constraints and because there are other siblings have thankfully responded.






الكاتب أعلاه يعاني من تخبط في طرح أفكاره التي يدعو إليها ..فهو يرى أن كل فرد في المجتمع ..سيئ أم حسن طالح أم صالح فاسد أم مصلح ملتزم أم فاسق عاقل أم مجنون لص أم مؤتمن صادق أم كاذب شاذ أم معتدل مدمن أم صحيح قليل أدب أم مؤدب وضيع أو رفيع ..يجب أن يعبروا جميعاً عن أفكارهم وسلوكهم وأن يفتح المجال للجميع أن كل يغني على ليلاه ، إنها نظرة قاصرة ونظرة فعلا تنبئ بالخلط في فهم أن الخير والشر لا يلتقيان أبداً والخبيث والطيب لا يختلطان إطلاقاً ....معاوية هنا يشير بصورة غير مباشرة ويحتج الى الاخ العزيز موسى الفرعي عن رفع موضوعه الاخير والذي استقبل به رمضان وهو يطالب بتخفيض سعر الخمر !!! Author above suffers from confusion in putting his ideas advocated by .. he felt that everyone in the community .. good or bad or wicked or favor corrupt or committed to a reformed punk sane or insane thief or honest or trustworthy false anomaly or moderate true addict or a few literature or polite and wasted or thin .. must express all their thoughts and behavior and open space for all that each sing own fancies, they look inadequate and look really predict confusing to understand that good and evil can never meet and the good and bad do not mix at all .... Maaouya here refers indirectly to protest and dear brother of Moses to lift the sub-theme of the latter, which was greeted by calls for Ramadan, a rate cut wine!!! وحينما رصع موضوعة بصور آنية الخمر وحدد أماكن تناولها وأشاد بالخمر العُماني الأصيل أسقط دموع التماسيح على المساكين الخمارين والسكارين في البلد من فئة الفقراء والغلابا ...وصورها كأزمة يعاني المجتمع في اطار معالجته لمشاكل المجتمع في فلسفته الموسومة (الجدد) فكل شيئ عنده جدد (الشواذ الجدد ، المطاوعة الجدد ، الكتاب الجدد ، الوطنيون الجدد ، الخمارين الجدد ....الخ من قائمة الله العالم متى تنتهي ) لذا وجب القول ، أن موسى ليس هو المسؤول ...إنما هذا المجتمع العماني الاصيل الذي أسلم طوعا وحبا لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم منذ أكثر من 1400 عام ونيف يلفظ شواذ الفكر وشطحات النفس الخبيثة ...يلفظها لأنه مجتمع متحضر متجذر لا تصادر معتقداته وعاداته وتقاليده وغيرته بجرة قلم ...سيظل هذا المجتمع حائطاً منيعاً بإذن الله لكل من يحيد عن الطريق ...صحيح أن المجتمع ليس معصوما من الخطأ ..وصحيح أن هناك من يسرق ويفسد ووو...لكن الأصح أن المجتمع يبقى أصيل بعقيدته الاسلامية السمحة ...يحب الله ورسوله ...يغار على أبناءه ...والأهم يغار على عرضة ..لا يشرع الافساد أبدا ويسعى للصلاح والاصلاح دوماً ..فأبناء سبلة عمان هم ليس كلهم مطاوعة -إن صحت التسمية-...لكن هم كلهم يرنون الى طاعة الله عزوجل وقادرون على طرد الخبيث الذي يتغابى عليهم يكتبون ويتناقشون ...جميعهم ينتمون لهذا المجتمع فخورن به راغبون في تطويره وتحديثه ولكن في الاخير هناك حدود وهناك لقاء مشترك على مسؤولية الكلمة وأمانة الحروف لا عليهم إن قيل عنهم صبية فقد قيل أيضا عن صحابة رسول الله-صلوات الله عليه- صغار وصبية ..المهم يعكسون الشخصية العُمانية ..بكل ما تحملة من قيم ...وكل ما تحملة من إرث وبكل ما يؤرقها اليوم وتتطلع إليه في المستقبل ...أبناء سبلة عُمان سيظلوا أبدا ودائما ما يميزهم في الواقعية التي تنبض من مجتمعهم وليس ممن يريد تغير المجتمع وإحلال الفوضى مكانه ويصارع في ذلك طواحين الهواء ....بحثاً عن بطولة مزعومة وحرب موهومة ... When placed pictures of real-studded wine and select the locations covered and praised the wine, authentic Omani dropped crocodile tears for the poor and Alchmarin Alscaren in the country and category of the poor ... and pictures Algba society suffers a crisis within the framework of its treatment of society's problems in the philosophy of tagged (new), everything has a new (gay neo-neo-plasticity, new writers, new national, Alchmarin new .... etc. from the list of God, when will the world), therefore, must say, that Moses is not responsible ... but this authentic Omani society in which Aslam voluntarily and love for Allah upon him for more than 1400 year and a bit of thought and utter gay exaggerations Malignant Self ... uttered, because civilized society is rooted not confiscate his beliefs, customs and traditions and jealousy stroke of a pen ... This community will remain an impregnable wall, God willing, both deviate from the road ... It is true that society is not infallible .. It is true that there are those who steal and spoil Wu ... but rather that his faith community remains a genuine Islamic tolerant ... love God and His Messenger ... jealous of the children ... and most importantly for his jealous .. not prescribed corruption never seek for righteousness, reform always .. sons Ubuntu Forums are not all compliant - if correct name -... but they are all eager to obey God the Almighty and able to expel pernicious Itagaby write and discuss them ... all of which belong to this community are proud of the willing development and modernization, but ultimately there are limits and there is a joint meeting on the responsibility of the floor and the Secretariat of characters are not they told that their boys it was also on the companions of the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - and young boys is important to reflect the personal .. Oman .. in every sense of the values .. . and everything carries the legacy and all haunted by the day and looked forward to in the future ... people will continue to be Ubuntu Forums never always distinguish them in realistic pulse of society and not for those who want to change society and establish a place of chaos and fighting the windmills in search of .... Championship alleged illusionary and the war ...


فأي منتدى أو صحيفة أو أي ناشر إعلامي لا بد أن يتحلى بخط أخلاقي بما يمكن نشره ، هذا الخط يعتمد على القوانيين والاعراف وعادات وتقاليد وعقيدة البلد أو المجتمع (وفي حالتنا المجتمع مسلم والتشريع الاساس دين الاسلام ) ولا يمكن جعل هذا الخط فاقد البوصلة بلا حد أو حدود ، إن نشر أي مادة في منتدى ما لا بد أن يحقق عناصر النشر من حيث الهدف والمضمون والفائدة ، ان مادة النشر يمكن أن تتحول الى مادة غير صالحة للنشر إن هي خالفت ما أشرت اليه من قوانيين وعقيدة وذوق وأخلاق الشارع العام ولم تحمل لا هدفا ولا مضمونا يفضي الى شئ كما وهي غير موجودة في نظام أو إطار ما لحوار أو مناظرة أو نقاش ما ينتج علاجا أو حلا أو يوحد خلافاً ويتقيد به جميع الاطراف فيه بالحجة والبرهان ، إذا تأتي هذه المادة لتشكل فقط أداة هدم وهي بالتالي بذرة فساد وإفساد What kind of forum or any publisher of a newspaper or media must possess a moral line as it can be published, this line depends on the laws, norms, customs and traditions and the doctrine of the country or community (in our Muslim community and the legislation basically the religion of Islam) can not make this line lost without a compass or extent limits, the publication of any article in the forum do not have to bring elements of the deployment of where the aim, content and interest, a substance that publishing can be transformed into a substance not fit for publication if it is contrary to what I have referred and the doctrine of Guanyin and taste and morals of the street did not take an objective and content lead to something as it does not exist in the system or framework for a dialogue or a debate or discussion or the resulting treatment solution or otherwise unite and abide by all the parties to the argument and proof, if you come this article is only a tool and therefore the demolition of seed of corruption and corrupt

فهناك إذا من يعاني من خلل ما وخلط واضح وتناقض في تحرير المادة المنشورة ويتعامل معنا وكأننا نعيش في مجتمع ملحد أو علماني أو مادي أو بلا قيم ولا غيرة ولا قانون ولا دين ...وأن كل سفيه (المخاطب ليس معاوية لكن التسمية موجودة في أدبيات القرآن والسنة ) مجبرون على تقبل سفاهته وتطاوله على الاسلام والمسلمين بدعوى الفكر تلكم الشماعة التي يُرفع رايتها لتكون بردا وسلاما على نشر هؤلاء بضاعتهم الفاسدة التي تفيئ قيحاً وصديداً من نفوسهم المريضة التي هي أحوج للعلاج من التنظير لها على أنها فكر ..إننا بهذا نغتال الفكر ونحدده بسخف القول وبذائة المنطق وانعدام الذوق ...الفكر أسمى من ذلك والفكر يقبل الاختلاف ..لكن لكي شئ آدابة وأخلاقة وحدوده بما يشمل الفكر نفسه ..وإلا الفوضى هي المنتج الحاصل إن نحن شرعنا وقبلنا بمبدأ كل يغنى على ليلاه ، واعتبرنا ما نشره سلمان رشدي أو نشرته تسليمة نسرين أو رسام الرسوم الكاركاتورية عن الرسول فكراً واعتبرنا المواقع الاباحية وما تنشره فكراً ، واعتبرنا تفسير المصحف على أيدي الصهيونية فكرا ويجب الافساح له بين أوساط مجتماعاتنا وأبنائنا وإلا نكون منغلقين متطرفين متحجرين ، والاسلام دين السماحة والقبول بكل شئ !!! If there is to suffer from the disorder and confusion and clear contradiction in the liberation of the published material and treats us as if we live in a society or a secular or an atheist or non-material values or any other law and not a religion ... and that all impertinent (Interlocutor Maaouya but the name is not found in the literature of the Qur'an and year) are forced to accept Svahth and profaning Islam and Muslims under the pretext of thought that telecom Chandler championed to be coolness and peace for the deployment of these wares corrupt complies with pus and pus from the sick souls that are most in need of treatment from theory to them .. they thought we assassinate this thought, we identify Wackily obscenity of speech and the lack of logic and thought of my taste ... and thought it accepts the difference .. but nothing to etiquette, ethics, and its borders, including the same thought .. and chaos is the only product we started winning and if we accept the principle of all sing own fancies, and we consider the publication of Salman Rushdie or published by Taslima Nasreen or artist fees Rkaturip thought about the Prophet, and considered pornographic sites and published in thought, and we consider the interpretation of the Koran at the hands of the Zionist ideology and to clear him to be among our children and Mojtmaatna otherwise be locked Tjerin extremists, Islam a religion of forgiveness and acceptance of everything!!! هذا التنظير الخطير الذي يحاول البعض هنا التأسيس له على الرغم من أنه لا يقوم الا على هزيمة نفسية داخلية سيؤدي الى أخطار كارثية حتما إن تم التساهل معه ، إن سياج الايمان مهدد الآن ليس من الاعداء فحسب ..بل ممن يفترض أن يكونوا في الصفوف الأولى لحمايته في وقت فعلا أشبه ما نكون بالقصعة التي ينهشها الجميع . This dangerous theory that some are trying here Establishment him, although it is not based only on the internal psychological defeat would lead to catastrophic risks that inevitably been lenient with him, a fence is not of faith is threatened by enemies .. but only those who are supposed to be in the first row to protect him at a time really like what we Bakassap stricken everyone.

إنه لمن الخلط الواضح أن ندمج النقاش والحوار والفكر مع فحش القول وبذائة الكلام وسوء الخلق تجاه ما يعتقده المجتمع وما يحمله من إرث وحضارة طوال قرون خلت ومضت ليأتي من يأتي مثلاً من به لوثة عقلية وانفصام أخلاقي وعقائدي لا ليطرح قضية ما وإنما ليطلق الاحكام بالتخلف والرجعية ويعمد عن السخرية والتطاول على الله عزوجل والرسول والقرآن والسنة والمذهب وعلماء المسلمين . It is clear that combine to confuse the debate, dialogue and thought with the obscenity of speech and obscenity and bad manners to speak about what society thinks, which encompasses the heritage and culture for centuries and proceeded to come from, for example, comes by the psychic mental and moral and ideological dichotomy is not to present the case, but called for sentences backward and reactionary, and the packers the ridicule and insulting the Almighty Allah and the Prophet and the Qur'an and Sunnah and doctrine and Muslim scholars. وهو بهذا لا يتجاوز أسس وقواعد الحوار فحسب بل ويستغل هذا الخلل لتعميم هذا الشذوذ والمرض مستخدما ملكة الكتابة والتعبير في محاولة لاستقطاب من يعاني من ضعف الايمان وغياب الوازع الديني ، إذن هو لا يبحث عن جدال أو نقاش أو حوار أصلا ..لأنه يعلم خواء الافكار التي يعمل على طرحها وضعف منطقه فيعمد على المراواغة ويلطش هنا وهناك ، ليواصل هكذا سبره وغيه دائما ليلقى بضاعته الفاسدة وينشرها لا أكثر ..وبالتالي من يقبل هذا على أي منتدى سيتحول المنتدى بالتالي إلى وعاء حافظ وناشر لهذا النوع الذي يطلق عليه اجحافا فكر وسيجري على تصوير الامر على أنه تيار ايضا اجحافا للمجتمع المسلم الذي نحيا ونتربى فيه ، فيزيد الامر سوء على المجتمع أصلا الذي بحاجة الى التقويم والاصلاح ..فضلا عن توطئة أقدام المفسدين والمخربين بدعاوي الفكر والحوار ، لهذا حينما نقول على أن إدارة أي منتدى يجب عليها تفرق ولا تخلط الامور ولا تعمل على تطويب هؤلاء المرضي المفسدين ولا تحاول أن تفرغ المجتمع من خط دفاعه الداخلي ليتقبلهم كأفراد عاديين ، لأنها بهذا تعتبر شريك في جرم الإفساد ولا يمكن بحال أن يتساوى الفرد الصالح مع المفسد والا لما اختلف الخير عن الشر ، نعود فنقول أن الفكر موجود إن وجدت الاليات التي ترعاه وتنظم أطره ومساحاته ليكون نقاش يفضي الى نتيجة يستفيد منها المجتمع وليس دجل بيزنطي لا يعمل الا على تهيئة بذور الفتنة والشقة والعداوة أو نشر الفساد والافساد ومحاولة خلخلة المجتمع من قيمه والباسه لبس غير لبسه فقط لرسم نرجسية حالمة تعاني من ارهاصات نفسية أكثر منها فكرية وشطحات أكثر منها رؤى موضوعية تحاور وتناقش وتنقد ذاتها ولا تخجل أو تأخذها العزة بالاثم من الاعتراف بالحق وتصويب الخطأ This is not to exceed the principles and rules of dialogue, but also exploit this flaw to have this abnormality and disease using the talent of writing and expression in an attempt to attract to suffer from weakness of faith and the absence of religious faith, then, is not looking for debate or discussion or dialogue at all .. he knows the emptiness of ideas that working to put forward and the weakness of logic and scale up to Alemrawagp Iltc here and there, to continue so Sabrah and relapse is always to deliver his goods corrupt and published no more .. and therefore accept this on any forum Forum will turn to the pot thus maintained, and publisher of this type, known as the thought and would be unfair to portray it that the stream is also unfair to the Muslim community in which we live and where Nterpy, increasing it's already bad community who need to calendar reform .. feet in anticipation as well as spoilers and saboteurs claims of thought and dialogue, and for this when we say that the management of any forum must not confuse the separate issues and does not working on the beatification of these patients is not trying to corrupt society to complete the line of defense for internal accepts them as ordinary, because it is a partner in this offense can not in any corruption that even the individual with good spoiler and it would not have differed good from evil, we return, we say that thought is, if any, mechanisms which is sponsored and organized frameworks and Messahath to be a discussion lead to the result of the benefit of society, not hanky-BE does not work, but to create the seeds of discord and hostility or apartment and the proliferation of corruption and corruption and trying to undermine the community values and wear clothes that is worn only to draw a dreamy narcissism suffering from the beginnings of a psychological rather than intellectual and the vagaries visions rather than substantive dialogue and discuss and criticize itself and not be ashamed or guilt, take pride of recognition of the right and correct the error

'Ask an Omani' - Ramadan eating in Oman

We've all seen the rice, ghee, biscuits, Vimto, and various sugar/High Fructose Corn Syrup products piled high in the supermarkets, ready for the food frenzy that is Ramadan. (Dhofari Gucci also had a great post about the Salalah Ramadan feasting experience and the outstanding leaning tower of Creme Caramel).

One of my contacts in the food distribution business here assures me they do 3 months worth of 'normal' business in just the one month of Ramadan. Urban legend has it that most Omanis actually gain weight during the month of 'fasting', but I have no idea if this is true... Occasionally there are even reports of deaths due to over-eating!

Our resident 'Ask an Omani' Omani Dreamer adds to the topic with this week's special edition: "What is the deal with Ramadan and all that eating?"

Food in a Typical Oman Ramadhan Day

Many people look at the extent of shopping that happens in Ramadhan and wonder.. What do these people eat!?

First, I will have to explain the regular food we eat in a regular month:

Here, in a typical Omani family house, the day starts out with a cup of milk and Omani bread. (Omani bread is very thin and you dip it in the milk before you eat it). The day goes on and people might drink coffee at work and housewives might eat some fruits. In the afternoon, the typical lunch is rice with meat and some salads.. (Don't forget the watermelon)! Then, people don't eat until its dinner, which consists of either some soup or a western/eastern dish. Whichever it is, it's just either one or two smaller dishes.

On Ramadhan, we fast, but in reality we eat more! Here is my average day in Ramadhan:

The day starts out with sohoor (breakfast before sunrise). Now, to get the maximum food in your stomach that would digest slowly you would have to eat rice and yogurt. Some people eat rice and meat! But which ever... it is a heavy meal -Of course its a bad idea to sleep right after that, but we need to reserve energy! - Then, we wake up late and go to work. Since we only work for about five to six hours a day -its actually less, remember we are tired and can't concentrate much- we get home early. At 2pm, I would go into the kitchen to help out with the cooking -actually, I'm usually hungry and want to make sure that what I'm in the mood for will be served! - Today I made some sweets (including crème caramel of course!!).



Creme caramel: Recommended Ramadan eating!

At the Iftaar table (sunset breakfast), the whole family would gather around the food and stare at the watch. We all want the guy in Oman tv to stop reciting the Quran and call for prayer! The food consists of samboosa, 3 kinds of pastries, about 3 or 4 kinds of sweets, dates, fruits, juice, water, more juice..etc. Once the Imam calls for prayer I start grabbing everything I see in front of me: drinking a bit of juice, then a samboosa, then a pastry, then some sweets.. all at once and before the call for prayer is over! Then, barely able to stand up, I go to pray with a full stomach.

After prayer, we gather at the table again. This time, more food starts to come out. We would have the soup of the day along with more samboosa and pastries. We eat more and more, till our bellies hurt. Then, we take some rest. The men go to prayer (its about 8:15pm by now), and us women clean and try not to eat more. Once everyone is back, we are back to serving dinner. It would be about 10:30 to 11pm. The regular lunch that would be served in a regular month would be served as dinner. So we eat more.. take some zantac or tums, and eat more. Stuffing more food in your stomach than what you can handle, but all you think about is how hungry you will be the next day if you don't!


Is the picture clear now?

New sex positive link for Muscat Confidential, Internationalsurvey, and thank god we bailed from Gulf Air

I don't know who got us out of Gulf Air for free, but well done that man. Or woman.


Photo: Do you have to add feathers when it's so obviously a turkey?

We got dragged into this disaster some time ago. The old CEO bought some pricey new planes, and it was downhill from there.

Whoever got us out of owning this airline, well, I think they deserve a medal.

We would have lost 100s of millions by now, with more to come, if not for that bold act of disposal.

Gulf Air 'may renegotiate plane orders'

Bahrain's Gulf Air may renegotiate plane orders with Airbus and Boeing, the carrier's recently-appointed chief executive Samer Majali said.

The struggling airline, which is fully owned by the Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, also said it was open to merging with other airlines, but is not in talks yet.

Speaking to Reuters in a telephone interview, Majali said the company would "honour the terms of the contract" with manufacturers but may negotiate amending airplane numbers and sizes. Gulf Air has 35 Airbus and 24 Boeing aeroplanes on order.

Majali said passenger numbers were down 3 percent in the first seven months of 2009, while yields were 15 to 20 percent lower, compared with the same period last year. Capacity deployment is "very tight", said Majali, who hopes to achieve results close to last year's in the second half.

"Yields are still quite low and I'm not sure anything, globally speaking, has put major brakes on yields," he said.

The airline has seen three chief executives attempt to turn its loss-making operations around since 2002, cutting jobs and realigning its network as previous shareholders Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman gave up their stakes in the ailing carrier.

In 2007, the airline cut jobs and trimmed its network after reporting losses of more than $1 million a day. - Reuters

CAUTION: BELOW NOT RAMADAN COMPLIANT
Fasting? look away now





Meanwhile...
I signed up Muscat Confidential with the simply drop-dead sexy

Violet Blue


Photo: Cute.


and her new, amazing URL shortener vb.ly.

So now, if you type www.vb.ly/dragon

you should end up here!

Note: You may be unable to go to her blog from the country you happen to be in. Either way, I'd be interested to know what countries do allow access and which don't. Try and go to www.tinynibbles.com and report back via comments the country and either yes [Violet's blog accessible] or no [blocked].

More swine flu deaths in Oman. WHO updates H1N1 Advice. Oh, and do not take asprin for H1N1!

Another 2 deaths from H1N1 reported, bringing the official Omani total after the weekend to 4.



The best website on H1N1 I've come across so far is from the CDC or Centre for Disease Control in the US: "What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms".

Symptoms of H1N1
Similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with H1N1 also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Emergency Warning Signs
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Something I didn't know before was to AVOID TAKING ASPRIN- especially children under 18. There is a chance of a nasty side effect that is untreatable and can lead to brain damage called Reyes Syndrome. Instead use paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

CDC:
Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate – Pepto Bismol) should not be administered to any confirmed or suspected ill case of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection aged 18 years old and younger due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. For relief of fever, other anti-pyretic medications are recommended such as acetaminophen or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For more information about Reye’s syndrome, visit the ' National Institute of Health website

Here's the updated advice from the World Health Organisation [WHO]. Its a good news/bad news story.

Good news: Early treatment with Tamiflu seems to help those in higher risk catagories - children less than 5yrs old, the elderly, pregnant women, immunocompromised and chronically ill (diabetes, for example).

The bad news: Tamiflu works best when given early at first onset, but about 40% of those that get super sick on day 5-6 are 'normal', ie not in the at risk catagory. Hmmm.

This is why the CDC do not recommend attending a 'Swine flu party', as lots of otherwise normal people have died from H1N1 (even if the odds are low).

What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?
"Swine flu parties" are gatherings during which people have close contact with a person who has novel H1N1 flu in order to become infected with the virus. The intent of these parties is for a person to become infected with what for many people has been a mild disease, in the hope of having natural immunity novel H1N1 flu virus that might circulate later and cause more severe disease.

CDC does not recommend "swine flu parties" as a way to protect against novel H1N1 flu in the future. While the disease seen in the current novel H1N1 flu outbreak has been mild for many people, it has been severe and even fatal for others. There is no way to predict with certainty what the outcome will be for an individual or, equally important, for others to whom the intentionally infected person may spread the virus.

Ramadan Mubarak! News. Belated 'Ask an Omani' on Polygamy

Yes, it's Ramadan (and luckily in line with Saudi and Iran too!). The office is always so beautifully quiet in the afternoons at this time, sometimes I wish it could be Ramadan all year...

For a local summary of Ramadan and what it means, I recommend Dhofari Gucci's post today.

We've also had our first 2 official H1N1 deaths, although (as pointed out by Muscat Mutterer) Dhofari Gucci reported 2 deaths some time ago as being due to H1N1, this was subsequently denied by the Ministry of Health as the young woman refered to by DG tested negative. So officially, only 2 deaths so far, and both people with existing heath issues. So keep washing hands, etc, etc.

Meanwhile:

Oman Air new plane almost ready
Oman Air are finally getting FAT [Factory acceptance testing] completed for their brand new Airbus A332 plane. Here's a pic of it in the air ripped from plane spotter central commandJet Photos. Presumably they will have already fixed the dicky airspeed system...


Photo: Oman Air's new A332 flys in the blue sky of France


Ministry of Tourism change tack in the battle for Capital Area Yacht Club
The MoT have apparently changed their mind about wanting to grab the beautiful bay currenly occupied by CAYC for yet another OMRAAN Integrated Tourism Development. Now the MoT are apparently saying they want it to be turned into a public beach, due to the high demand. Of course, that the high demand for public beaches may be related to the many public beaches already requisitioned by MoT in the first place.

A key driver for the continued MoT pressure seems to be the repeated attempts to shanghai the current CAYC members off to the next door Marina Al Bandar, and thus boost the marina's profitability... But I must be mistaken: how could there be a connection between the actions of public officals at the Ministry of Tourism and the profitability of the Marina?


Blue City takeover attempt
No updates on the attempt - supposedly by investment brokers in the UAE - to buy the Blue City bonds at a hefty discount, so we must assume they were not successful in getting control, at least not yet.


Belated "Ask an Omani" - Polygamy
I also neglected to post the latest in our "Ask an Omani" segment on time last week, so here it is (although, I know, she already posted it on her own website ages ago). Remember, if you have any questions, email me here at Muscat Condifential.

My Second Wife… NEXT!

The Qur’an states that a man can marry up to four wives. There are many restrictions and conditions for polygamy in Islam. However, here I will talk about polygamy that has been taken out of its religious context into –my favorite of all – the cultural context. Yes, there is a difference.

Polygamy in Oman is, well, acceptable by most men and rejected by most women. You might find the practice common to some families and rejected by others. Personally, I would love it if it were illegal. But –and that’s a big but – you cannot ask to change God’s laws. So, how do we women manage to work around that? Well, women really don’t, or better.. they can’t other than ask for divorce. So, let me tell you what happens in this culture.

Many men, here, believe that it is their religious right to marry more than one despite their wives feelings. What some do –many of them- is marry a second wife in secret. The whole thing goes on for months or even years. Some men dare to take money from their first wives to pay the expenses to marry the second one. Build a new house under their names, dowry, wedding expenses.. etc. Once the scandal is out, the woman either tries to divorce the husband or lives with him for her kids’ sake.

Why do men marry more than one? Well… because they want to. Some of the excuses that you might hear is… “There are too many unmarried women in the country and we just want to do a good deed”, or “I felt sorry for the girl, she was unmarried”, or “just because –the only honest one”. So, how do first wives feel…. Hurt, stabbed in the back, regret, and all other emotions that go in your head once you find out that someone cheated on you!

Isn't it Ironic? Journalist erased from Omani Newspaper, questioned and deported for ... criticising press freedom in Oman

I'm not very happy writing this blog post, dear readers. Not at all.




I didn't think this would ever happened here. Not these days. And maybe it hasn't.

But... I must offer you the facts. You join the dots.

Here's the story.

A few days ago, I was told anonymously that a newspaper reporter in Oman, a Mr. Arun Solomon, had apparently been summarily arrested, questioned, and deported, along with his family, for [allegedly] writing an opinion piece for a foreign newspaper that was (so we are told - no one can now find it) somewhat critical of Oman's general media performance standards-wise; mentioning at the same time such descriptive phrases as 'the Middle Ages'.

Yeah, right, I thought. (I get this stuff all the time, and its usually false.)

I did, naturally, google Mr Solomon, as you do, and in the process read many of his totally acceptable and harmless opinion editorials here in Oman, and news reports, via the web. I could do that only thanks to his newspaper of employment for some significant duration it seemed, The Oman Tribune.

I didn't find anything a fraction unsafe or political.

yet, I asked around. Why not. Follow through.

Wow.

'Yes' was the answer, 'it's true, but shhhh'.

I still didn't believe it. No way. For mouthing off in an overseas paper? Under what law? About how crap our media is? How can that be seriously considered a state secret? LMAOFOFL

But, now,... when I go back to google and do the same searches for Arun's stuff, and follow the links to the Oman Tribune, I get
'ERROR page not found'.



And if I now go to the index page of the 'Opinion' section of The Oman Tribune, surprise surprise, no mention of Mr Arun Solomon.

Nothing.

It was rather spooky.





Go on. You try finding Arun on the Trib's site now by doing a simple Google Search. Follow any link.

See? Zip. Nada. No one home to the name Mr. Arun Solomon at the old Oman Tribune. Like, I'm sorry, Who?

Even if the Tribune has had an attack of what one might call the Essa Al Zedjali's Alzheimer's; fortunately, the web has a memory of course.

Those www.bing.com and Google spiders and servers are out there surfing the web 24/7, gobbling up it seems even the uneventful web publications of The Oman Tribune.

And funnily enough, they still remember Arun Solomon, and the stuff he wrote for the Tribune!





There's more of his stuff there... you just have to ask Google or Bing for the "cached page" instead of actually going to the link. And there he still is, gainfuly employed at the Tribune as of a few days ago. Its almost like a spooky, virtual previous life/alternative Universe.

You can even still (until they read this and fix it perhaps) do a search on the Tribune's own website for "Arun Solomon" and get a zillion hits.... but try finding the words Arun or Solomon in the links you're offered... and there's nothing.

Which, you know, rather disappointed me. Because, surely we wouldn't deport someone for that? And even worse, try to erase him from history? Its soooo,... Kim Yung Il guys.

And - damn it! - I still haven't even seen what he wrote that was apparently so illegal, ... or if he even did!

And that's sort of weird.... seeing as I'm told he was, as they say, 'assisting ISS with inquiries' non-stop for a week.

Arun has, apparently, now left the country. Maybe. If he was ever here...

Breaking News: CEO of the Wave, Nick Smith, 'resigns'

In Breaking news last night now confirmed, I’m very reliably informed that Nick Smith, CEO of The Wave development, has ‘resigned’ with immediate effect, and that several more senior management ‘resignations’ are expected very soon.


Photo: Nick Smith ex-CEO of the Wave Development

Nick seems to have done a great job at the Wave. The Wave is the country’s first Integrated Tourist Development, explicitly backed by the Oman Government - Waterfront Investments and National Investment Funds Company (representing Omani Pension Funds) - and the UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Group. They've won countless awards, actually delivered properties, and were early enough to sell a fair few.

Presumably, now that the first phases are completed, and things are generally in order, the shareholders (who coincidentally had a shareholder meeting in Muscat yesterday) figure they can cut costs and get rid of the expensive Expats.

More news to come on this as it happens...

Maybe there's a job for Nick at Blue City... they could do with the help!

Here's his recent interview with Dossier Magazine.

CEO Nick Smith Speaks Candidly with Dossier Magazine
25/03/2009

You last spoke to OER Dossier in September 2008. Since that time what progress has been made at The Wave, Muscat?
Construction at The Wave, Muscat is well underway with over 800 homes now under construction in different phases which have already been launched. We currently have nearly 5,000 men working on the con¬struction site. The main access way into the development has been completed allowing our first customers to move into their prop¬erties. Over 70 handovers to customers have been completed to date and by the end of 2009 we expect to have completed over 300 properties.
The outer arms of the marina have been completed allowing the start of the marina walls to be placed in the near future. The outer reef has also progressed with 100m of that now visible above the sea. Lakes and waterways excavation is also underway and lake lining is in progress. Accumulation of materials for the golf course is in readiness for commencement of construction.

What has been the impact of global financial crisis on The Wave, Muscat?
The current global economic climate does pose a few challenges for us. However, the situ¬ation in Oman is different as prudent financial policies by the government coupled, with lim¬ited international investment in Oman have helped ease the situation. Our banks continue to grant some mortgage loans to our custom¬ers, which is an excellent sign of commitment to the real estate market in the Sultanate and confidence in our project. There is no doubt that more mortgage funding will be needed as the tourism projects develop.

At The Wave, Muscat our attention will be focused on building our strengths and in the timely delivery of our units which have already been sold. We have invested heavily in our customer service to home owners, right from the moment of purchase and also to those who have already moved into their homes at The Wave, Muscat, ensuring customer confidence and satisfaction is of paramount importance to us. We are backed by strong investors, the Omani Government (Waterfront Investments and National Investment Funds Company (representing Omani Pension Funds), and the UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Group. Their unwavering support to create a master planned community for real people to live, work and visit is a vision which shall move steadily towards fruition. We have already established our leadership position in the market and we are currently positioned to become the new heart of Muscat. Real estate investments are still the safest investments and The Wave, Muscat is simply the best location to buy a home in Oman.

Some residents are already settled in their new homes. What has been their feedback of life at The Wave, Muscat?
The Wave, Muscat has recently been accorded the ISO 9001:2008 certification for excellence in customer service making the company the first property developer in Oman to win ISO accreditation for adherence
to high quality management systems in customer services. This service has been embraced by our homeowners and a recent survey has revealed a 95% customer satisfaction rating. We are acting on customers’ feedback. It is their home and we need to listen to what they say, whenever we can.

The Wave, Muscat recently won a number of awards at the CNBC Arabian Property Awards and Homes Overseas Awards. What do you believe was the key to these achievements?
Our recognition on the international and regional real estate platforms can be attributed to the company’s commitment to adopt best quality practices in building a world-class tourist and residential development which respects the culture and heritage of Oman. The judges often refer to this. We have continued to exceed the expectations of our customers whilst optimizing the financial, business and social returns for our stakeholders. Our proven delivery track record and construction moving according to the schedule has established our position as the market leader who promises a sound investment. Our home designs combine the best in contemporary design with traditional Omani flair thereby creating a truly multicultural community living experience. To win the Best Architecture in Arabia award in Florida in November last year was a huge accolade. Homes Overseas gave us Silver in the Best Development Worldwide in 2008. This is a true comfort for us and our customers – we are going for Gold this year!

Are there any sales releases planned for this year?
Compared to other GCC countries, real estate market in Oman is still in its formative stage. The demand for quality housing still remains high. There is a large segment of the Omani and expatriate population based in Oman who still have a huge appetite for quality real estate products. Our business achievements confirm that we are significantly ahead of the competition. We do have some apartments and villas for sale now. But the current economic conditions cannot be overlooked. We shall continue to keep a watchful eye on the market conditions. We will release more units if conditions are right for us and the purchasers.

As the project is now well established, how do you in your role ensure that employee motivation stays up given the duration of such a large project?
For me, employee motivation in a real estate development like The Wave, Muscat, which is continuously changing everyday, is ensuring that our employees love what they do, enjoy coming to work everyday and thrive with the challenges of being part of the first ITC in Oman. It is our recruitment strategy to encourage people who are looking for a workplace that will treat them well, give them a happy work environment, excellent opportunity to enhance their skills and a career path which is in line with their own ambitions of growth. At The Wave, Muscat conscious strategies have been put in place to ensure that employees remain enthusiastic. They receive unlimited support and encouragement to face and conquer their challenges. Their achievements are recognized and rewarded throughout their career path with us.

The Week hacked, Crime on the rise, Minister of Higher Education caught giving wastafarians state scholarships

The Dragon is now back in Oman, and found it has pleasantly cooled down since I left!

Crime on the rise
But meanwhile Muscat seems to be enduring a big increase in crime of late (not reported in the rose-tinted media, obviously). Al Ghubra, Azaiba and Al Khuwair especially are experiencing house break-ins, car vandalism and car thefts. I've also been informed of organised gang rapes again happening in Oman.



So, take care not to leave your doors open, even during the day. The teenaged thieves will try to enter to steal car keys, wallets, handbags, etc.

And women - especially Asian and Subcontinent ladies - should take extra care when walking alone, particularly in and around Azaiba beach and Ghubra. It seems gangs of young Omani men are again getting the idea that they can rape vulnerable women and get away with it.

Anyone noticing anything suspicious should note the car reg. number, take a photo, and inform the ROP, who do take these things seriously if pushed.


A few tidbits:

Omani Minister of Higher [thx Muscati!] Education Scholarship scandal
After being on the Arabic sablas for a couple of weeks, the recently leaked documents of the Ministry of Education scholarship scandle are being discussed on Oman Forum. I would post the state audit documents here, but after the recent Ali Zuwaidi internet trial, I'm a little wary of publishing leaked Government documents!

I note Muscati [Oman Forum administrator and grandee of the Omani internet] also removed the names of the lucky wastafarians who got the scholarships... Article 61-phobia is not uncommon in the Omani bloggosphere!

What I find most interesting is that the arabic posts have been left up by the authorities. This is itself generating conspiracy theories about who and why the documents - from a State Audit investigation - were leaked at all, and why action seems absent. Its probably just that everyone's on holiday...

What's clear (if the documents are true, and they seem authentic) is that the children of several senior Omani Government officials were given scholarships paid by the Omani state to attend University overseas, despite not qualifying for them on their own merits. Tsk tsk. It'll be interesting to see where this ends up.


Muscat Mag The Week website 'Hacked'
Earlier this week local free-mag 'The Week' had their website hacked by an Iranian anti-Arab hacker.

Pro-Iran hacker vandalises Oman tabloid's website
By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
Published: August 15, 2009, 22:30

Muscat: The website of a Muscat-based weekly tabloid - The Week - was hacked on Saturday by DarkLOrd - a hacker who claims to be an Iranian.

The hacker "took over" The Week, published by the Apex Press and Publishing placing a message that spewed venom at Arabs as well as the world in general. DarkLOrd also threatened bloodshed in his message.

"We noticed at around 8am that our site was hacked and within a couple of hours we restored the site," Mohana Prabhakar, the Apex Press and Publishing CEO, told Gulf News on Saturday.
...

Personally I just wish The Week would stop publishing all these photos of Omani body-building narcissists wearing nothing but a teeny-tiny pair of budgie smugglers. Presumably the jaguar-loving editor Mohana Prabhakar (newly promoted to Apex CEO!) approves of the scantily clad muscle-bound bodies...


Meanwhile...In glorious Dubai,
the cracks are again starting to show, and its not just the collapsing of almost completed buildings.


Photo: New Dubai building for rent or sale, as is where is...

Residents of Emaar's development 'The Springs' were finding their man-made "lakes" becoming stagnant fetid algae ponds.



In response, enviromentally friendly Emaar seem to have had the lakes dosed with large quanities of sodium hypochlorite, and leaving the containers lying around as well. In the process the muppets put so much bleach in the water the poor ducks and birds have been slowly and painfully killed by chemical burns and poisoning. Emaar, of course, responded with the standard Gulf 'we have excellent rules and so by definition we didn't do anything incorrectly' non-answer.

Stale waters: Acid lake at The Springs

The mysterious deaths of a number of birds on the banks of man-made lakes in The Springs have raised fears among residents that a toxic chemical may have got into the water.

People living there say they noticed ducks losing their feathers, unable to fly or walk, with bloodshot eyes and swelling around their heads a week ago. They said they had seen the bodies of “dozens” of dead birds scattered in and around the lakes.

...
In a statement, a spokesman for Emaar Properties said the lakes undergo regular inspections by maintenance teams led by limnologists. “As per best practice, low doses of algaecides are periodically used to reduce the yearly natural growth of algae. These algaecides are environmentally friendly and used in doses that do not affect fish or birds.”

No animal fatalities have been seen over the last couple of years, due to the use of the algaecides, the statement said.

“Emaar has stringent measures in place to ensure adequate and timely maintenance of the lakes in compliance with Dubai Municipality requirements. We are looking into recent activity at our community lakes.”

LOL.