A benevolent autocrat should survive in the face of a rare bout of dissent

LAMENTABLE: OMAN PROTESTS:

It is horrifying to read about the protests, violence in Oman, one of the most peaceful, prosperous countries in the Gulf. Oman is to the Gulf region what Goa is to India: a peaceful and welcoming haven. Oman is pretty, well-organized, has excellent infrastructure and the people have always been calm, peaceful, warm and hospitable. The country has fantastic beaches, hotels and restaurants.

Well-wishers of Oman and its wonderful people, like me, can only hope that the current spate of violence will end soon and the representatives of the ruling family and the protestors can sit down and solve their problems.

Across the world, the hiatus between the “haves” and the “have-nots” has been widening. It is indeed true that whilst there is more material wealth in the world, it is not necessarily percolating down the population strata in terms of jobs, opportunities and education. However the remedy to the issue, is dialogue and debate. Violence and destruction of property will not solve any problems.

Looking at the protests and mass rallies in affluent countries like Bahrain and Oman, I shudder to think, of the consequences, if 250 million Indians, who live below the poverty line of 2 USD per day, in desperate slums and villages, decide to take to the streets to protests against poverty, inflation and corruption. Most of the Gulf countries have unemployment allowances and free or subsidized health care/housing. India does not offer these facilities to its citizens.

Rajendra K. Aneja

I too have been surprised with the way protests in Oman took a nasty turn in the city of Sohar.
I do not underestimate that there could be deep-seated grievances for Omanis to claim better political representation, economic upliftment and accountability from their rulers.

Oman is a comparatively small oil producer with a small population which makes its per capita revenues quite substantial.
Sultan Qaboos has steered his country to an ever improving social, economic and material condition since taking over in 1970. Development has been taking place apace on all fronts but the people of Oman are likely to grow increasingly demanding.
He gets that recognition from older generations but younger ones have known no different.
The latest outpouring was brought on by contagion from the larger Arab winter of discontent initiated in Tunisia late last year.

Even if this has been only a one-off bout of dissent the writing is on the wall for Sultan Qaboos to rein in some of the excesses of Oman's governing establishment.
The sooner he reads correctly into what these Omanis are telling the easier it will be for him to continue to rule by consent.

If not, younger Omanis will eventually rebel at a time of their choosing and for reasons not readily perceived.