http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142215140646886.html
Protests break out in Omani city
Thousands take to the streets in southern city in Gulf state to press for
better wages, jobs and end to corruption.
Last Modified: 22 Apr 2011 16:51
Unrest in Oman has been small relative to other Arab countries but
security has been increased significantly [Reuters]
At least 1,000 protesters have taken to the streets in Oman's southern port
city of Salalah in one of the biggest pro-reform demonstrations since scattered
unrest began in the Gulf Arab sultanate two months ago.
The protesters assembled in a car park across the street from the governor's
office on Friday, where a preacher led mid-day prayers and led them on a march
across the city.
"The Omani people are not afraid of protesting for as long as it takes for
reform, [but] first and foremost is to get government officials, who have been
embezzling funds for years, to stand trial," Amer Hargan, the leader, told the
crowd.
The crowd marched through the streets after his sermon.
The Reuters news agency put the number of protesters present at around 3,000
while the AFP news agency said the it was closer to 1,000 people.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the who has ruled Oman for 40 years, promised a $2.6bn
spending package last Sunday after nearly two months of demonstrations all over
the country.
Omani demonstrators have focused their demands on better wages, jobs and an end
to corruption.
Many are angered by the state's perceived unwillingness to prosecute ministers
sacked for corruption in response to demonstrations in February.
They are also impatient to see more employment opportunities, after Qaboos
vowed last month to create 50,000 jobs.
Small-scale unrest
Unrest in Oman has been on a relatively small scale, with dozens of protesters
camping out in tents near the
quasi-parliament, the Shura council, in the capital Muscat.
A sit-in that had lasted for weeks in the industrial town of Sohar, the
epicentre of Oman's protest movement, was suppressed when security forces
cleared road blocks and arrested hundreds for alleged acts of vandalism.
Earlier this week Oman announced pardons for 234 people arrested during
protests, but did not say when they were freed.
Sultan Qaboos has ruled Oman for 40 years [Reuters]
Gulf Arab oil producers, keen to prevent popular uprisings from taking hold in
their region, launched a $20bn aid package for protest-hit Bahrain and Oman
last month.
That job-generating measure, which will give $10bn to each country to upgrade
housing and infrastructure over 10 years, was more than had been expected.
Qaboos has offered a series of job reforms, including a monthly allowance for
the unemployed and pay rises for civil servants.
But in Salalah, protesters said the wage increase to 200 rials ($520) a month
from 140 rials ($366) was not enough.
"I got a job last week in the private sector, but it is only 200 rials and that
is not enough to look after myself.
The government needs to double the minimum wage," Ali al-Mahrati, protester,
said.
Qaboos promised in March to cede some legislative powers to the partially
elected Oman Council, an advisory body.
This means that only the sultan and his cabinet can legislate, but a transfer
of powers has yet to be announced.
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