معقوووووووولة!!!

اخي اذا ممكن تتاكد لان المواقع ما فاتحة؟؟؟

ايوة
حتى انا المواقع ما انفتحت ...

نتمنى التواصل عبر الموضوع
ولكن المواقع غير متاحة
وشكرا اخي على الموضوع

وعندي ما فتح

المواقع لا تفتح في عمان .. بس ان شاء الله بفتحها وبضع لكم محتواها هنا ..

[align=center]well if it does not work in Oman it works here

I will make it here

First page

Don't visit the Sultanate of Oman. Tourism in Oman is extremely dangerous.
Do not trust tourist information about Oman that you may have received from official sources.



Photo: Wild camels eating garbage in the streets of Muscat, the capital of Oman

WARNING: This is a serious travel advisory regarding tourism in Oman

If you are a tourist, traveler, bird watcher, scuba diver, honeymooner, fisherman, photographer, off-road adventurer, geologist, naturalist or other visitor planning a trip to Oman, think again. Tourists visiting Oman during 2005 (foreign nationals from Europe, Russia, and the United States) have been arrested, jailed, interrogated, refused contact with embassies, family and friends, and detained for up to six weeks in Oman without being charged with any crime or misdemeanor.



Valuable personal possessions worth many thousands of dollars, including cameras and video recorders, personal photographs and business records, laptop computers, cash and checks, radios, binoculars, luggage, GPS units and much more have been stolen from United States, German, Latvian, and Russian citizens by high-ranking Omani government officials.

Passports belonging to foreign visitors have been confiscated by Omani government officials for no reason, and tourists have not been allowed to leave the country.

If you are a tourist planning travel in Oman this could happen to you







Photo: U.S., European, and Russian citizens detained in an Omani hotel room for six weeks by government officials Photo: A bug (listening device) hidden under a coffee mug and planted in a tourist's hotel room by Omani officials

Personal statement from a recent visitor to Oman:

"If you visit Oman, you may be arrested, cell phone confiscated and thrown in jail. Not allowed to call anyone including friends, help, attorney, embassy, consulate, family or anyone who may give a damn about you. You will not even know what you may or may not have done wrong. Not given the chance to defend yourself or even face your accusers. Not given a trial or a representative of the court system to at least give you a clue what's going on. The Omanis won't even tell your embassy what's going on until you are deported and black-listed for forever (forever is a real real long time).

The Omanis can, at their will, deem you guilty and deport you, just so these thieves don't have to give your possessions back. They do this to keep the publicity to a minimum so as not to harm their tourism (the next suckers to come along might be you!)."

— John B., United States citizen, amateur geologist, and tourist, arrested and detained in Oman for six weeks during 2005, without charge. All of John's personal possessions were stolen by senior Omani officials. Nothing has been returned despite an official complaint to the U.S. State Department.


LINKS, EVIDENCE & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For further information about the dangers
of visiting Oman please follow the live text links below:
Who are we and what is our story?
Who are these thieves in Oman?
Opinion: My Thoughts on Our Oman Experience
The Oman Constitution
A complete list of personal items stolen from us
by the Omani government
The only official document we ever
received from the Omani government and its translation
Our letter of complaint to the U.S. State Department
regarding abuse we suffered in the Sultanate of Oman

CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE


All of the information on this website is 100% accurate and authentic. All information has been compiled from first-hand interviews with tourists from several different countries who have recently been detained, without cause or charge, by the Omani government.

Visitors to this site

[/align]

Who are they

[align=center]Don't visit the Sultanate of Oman. Tourism in Oman is extremely dangerous.
Do not trust tourist information about Oman that you may have received from official sources.

HOME ABOUT US OMANI THIEVES STOLEN FROM US DETAINEE'S OPINION
OMAN CONSTITUTION OFFICIAL OMAN DOCUMENTS LETTER TO U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

OMAN:
THE LAND OF TOURIST-TERRORISTS AND THIEVES
By John B.


For at least four decades the small country of Oman on the eastern most part of the Arabian Peninsula has been a destination for hundreds if not thousands of rock hounds.

My experience started in September of 2004 when I was shown a book and invited on a trip there. The book is an Oman book titled STONE TREASURES OF THE OMAN DESERT. It’s a guide on where to go to find certain rocks and different types of rocks to dig and collect in Oman. It not only has specific locations but pointers on making jewelry and displays for collecting them. I at the time being couched by my better half wanting assurances I would be safe and not in violations of any laws there. We did extensive internet searches and I actually called the American Embassy in Muscat and had a nice chat with a consoler. I inquired about rock hunting and safety of an American tourist. I was assured there were no laws pertaining rock collecting or at least none known and it was a very safe place to travel and enjoy. So I booked my flight with a local travel agent. I flew out of Phoenix the end of October 2004 and spent three weeks with my friends Ivan and Youri.

We rented 4wheel drive vehicles and traveled the country. Doing some camping and staying in available hotels while traveling. There was a customs search of my luggage both in and out of the SEEB airport in Muscat. The customs officials asked question on some of my gear. Particularly the metal detector I carried. I explained to them what it was and how it worked and what my intentions were with it. On departure at the end of our trip I also showed the rocks I had collected. There reply was it was OK! Using there famous Omani saying NO PROBLEM. I really enjoyed my trip there and I had a lot of fun with my Russian friends.

In February 2005 Ivan, Kasper and I discussed another trip to beautiful Oman. Kasper had the same reservations as I about traveling in that part of the world. But we assured him that it was very safe and used those famous Omani words. NO PROBLEM.

So again I booked my flight. Ivan had a few friends who wanted to join us and were invited. Kasper had a prior commitment to act as a geological tour guide in his home country Germany and our dates were set to his schedule. We emailed several car rental places in Muscat trying to reserve 4wheel drive vehicles but never received replies. We went thinking we wouldn’t have a problem getting them once there. Well it turned out there were none available so we spent our first three days calling around from our hotel room looking for 4 wheel drive vehicles. On the fourth day, March 16 we were able to rent two trucks which was enough to get us to Salalah were there were four more available.

Off we headed too Salalah. Salalah is a gorgeous small community on the southern end of the country. It’s a drive of approximately 1000 kilometers from Muscat to Salalah by main highway.

There on March 17 we rented the other four vehicles and the nine of us were split into groups for traveling. Each vehicle was given or had a two way radio and GPS so no one would get lost or could call for help if stuck or broke down. The radios were about two-mile capability in line of sight. The radios and GPS’s were also questioned and okayed by the customs agent upon entering the country. It amazes me about the radios that there would even be a concern about these since in most countries they are available as a child’s toys. We secured many supplies from local merchants and headed of sightseeing and rock hounding. Spending many nights camped under the stars and almost as many nights in small town hotels .On the evening of March 30 we made camp in the Ghubara region. Well away from the roads or oil works.

About 9:00 pm two vehicles approached our camp at a very high rate of speed. Once there they were in a very intimidating way and not familiar with any languages we speak demanded something. We tried to calm them down and co-operated as best we could with the language barrier. We showed them our passports and vehicle rental agreements. Invited them for coffee or tea, but they left about as fast as they arrived. We were cooking nine chickens we had purchased in Al Haima on our fire and they were welcome to some but they weren’t cooked at the time of there brief visit. By 10:30 in the evening our group was retired for the evening.

At 1:30 am the morning of March 31 I was waken by the sound of trucks heading towards our camp at a very high rate of speed. I sat up and was blinded by the approaching headlights. I stood up so I wouldn’t get run over by the idiots approaching camp. Low and behold it was a couple of the visitors we had earlier. Ironically a couple of our group didn’t like to sleep near our camp. They wander off into the desert to find a soft sandy low spot to make their bed and sleep. Luckily none of those guys or any other from our group was run over by these guys.

I tried to talk to these intruders but communication was poor at best. They wanted me to wake everyone. I was told there were bombs or landmines in the area and we weren’t safe. I assured them we were just fine but one of the men insisted we load up camp and follow them. So everyone was woken up and our camping equipment was loaded hap hazzardly into trucks and we were escorted to some buildings off in the distance. The buildings were in a fortress type configuration and we were brought in the main gate and told to park in an area in front of some buildings which we were shown around and told to make ourselves at home. We were given directions to the shower and toilet facilities. The large room we were given had a pool table and tennis table along with a television and cable and best of all nice soft pillows for sleeping.

Later that morning we were given pourage and dates for breakfast and the interrogations began. Kasper was the first interrogated then Ivan then Kasper again. All the time our cell phones were inoperable. They along with I asked for a call to our Embassy’s but were not allowed to make any calls. I was next for the question session we were all very open about what we were doing and inquired as if we had done something wrong. But we were never given an answer one way or another. These fellows were pretty cleaver in that when they wanted you to answer a question they were pretty good a speaking English. But when I asked a question they seamed as though I couldn’t speak English. We all told them of our experiences and were we had been and what we were doing.

I was constantly questioned about our trip to Al Duqm. I told them the only reason we had gone there was the diesel shortage their country was having. That we were almost out of diesel and it wasn’t much fun pushing diesel trucks through the desert. After Kasper, Ivan and My interrogation they ransacked our trucks. Taking out almost everything we had in them. Making nice piles of our gear, suitcases and rocks on the parking lot and demanding we stand next to our pile and point at it. While our pictures were taken. We were treated like criminals yet no would tell us if or what we had done wrong.

That evening around 5:00 pm we were told to drive our vehicles single file behind a lead truck and so we did. As we approached the main highway to head to Al Haima we were stopped. This is were a fellow named Halil walked from truck to truck and collected and kept our cell phones. We hit the main highway about sundown and followed the lead car to the police station at Al Haima. There we were given food and sat in an office for a couple hours then taken to some sleeping quarters where we slept.

We were woken early the morning of April 2nd and taken by bus to Muscat. These guys had the gall to ask us to transfer fuel from our gerry cans to the trucks. We again asked what we did wrong with no answer. So we told them to do it themselves. We didn’t want to ride in the back of a bus with guys smelling like gasoline or diesel. That seemed to cause the police a lot of confusion.

We sat there for a couple hours while they discussed their strategy (I can only assume that none of them wanted to suck on the siphon hose)!! It was one of the funniest moments of our trip watching the Royal Omani Police arguing over which one of them was going to suck the fuel hose. I guess there were no volunteers so we headed to the petrol station where the vehicles were fueled.

The bus ride to Muscat was long and uneventful. But there was one of my Russian comrades who either didn’t understand the orders given about giving up our cell phones or he ignored the command. While on route to Muscat while near cell towers he placed a call in the back of the bus. He called one of the Russian fellows’ fathers who is a Russian Politician.

To this day I’m convinced if that call wasn’t made we all would probably still be in prison in Muscat.

We arrived in Muscat and were taken to the Royal Oman Police headquarters in Qurm (Muscat). There again our trucks were parked and ransacked. We were taken to a large conference room. Most of our belongings, gear and rocks were brought in and we again were interrogated. As if we had not told them what we were doing.

Again we asked to call our embassies and enquired what we had done wrong. It was like talking to deaf people. At least we finally got to meet the ringleader Dr Salim Al Buisaidi. I don’t know what else these people wanted from us but I think they thought there was more to the story? Ivan and I got to briefly talk to this fellow. He requested that the items not be mixed especially the meteorites when Ivan was instructed to open boxes and suitcases. His conversation with Ivan was that they would have more time to speak. His conversation with me was a little more intimidating. He was demanding info on our last trip and wanted to know where our collection of rocks was from our last trip. Telling me he would have their or our embassy at my home to collect them. Through a bunch of theatrics and more interrogations we were then taken to prison. I went to one were there was no bedding, blankets or towels of any kind. Kasper went to a different prison. And the Russians were split into three groups 2, 2, and 3 and sent into three different prisons. All the while asking for a phone calls to our embassies.

For those who would wonder what an Omani prison is like all I can say is the American prison system is more like a hotel visit. I would more compare it to a modern version of the prison in the movie "Midnight Express." I was immediately a celebrity in there and it seemed as if all the poor bastards in there wanted to talk to the American in jail. I felt pretty foolish telling them I was there for rock hunting and I think they all thought I was fibbing or lying to them. But I assured them it was the truth. It seemed like everyone who could speak English wanted to stay up and talk. I was really having some withdrawals from my smoking and coffee habits and all I wanted to do was sleep. I found the people who were in that prison quite nice and very curious about Americans. There was a lot of graffiti on the walls that seemed to portray other sentiments about Americans. But I found that group of prisoners to be quite nice and I wish them all the best.

April 3rd in the afternoon I was summoned by some fellow inmates and told to gather my things because they were releasing me. I went to the gate and was taken out. My bag was no longer at the front office. I was taken by 2 fellows back to the police station.The fellows that couldn’t speak any English were given a Russian translator and ask lots of questions in individual sessions. We were then taken back to the same different prisoners. The prisoners couldn’t believe I was back. April 4th sometime in the afternoon I again was summoned to the gate entry and was told to gather my stuff ( bar of soap, tooth brush and psoriasis medication) When I got outside there was a small van with a locking side door. As I neared the van I could hear my friends yelling my name. We all crowded in that dink van and headed back to the police station. This time we were brought in through a small back door and lead through a paved courtyard. We were back in the office were our money and wallets were held and they were given back to us. We were then finger printed and our mug shots were taken. First there was the German Embassy consul. Then arrived the Russian Embassy consoler and finally like the Calvary the American Embassy consoler Wesley arrived. It was almost as if I weren’t quite awake because of no caffeine or smokes and was kind of in a sleep. Oddly when Wesley asked them what our charges were or why we were arrested? They became enraged and told him to shut up or he would be either arrested or escorted out. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing but he got just about the same answer we had got. ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING.

Wesley and I had a brief talk outside the police station. He told me that he had just found out about my arrest and hurried to the police station. He assured me the Omani judicial system was fair and just. He gave me the basics of how their court system works and that we will be allowed to address our accusers and their isn’t a jury but three judges that will rule on the case once everyone is heard. He also gave me at that time a listing of all the lawyers that our Embassy had experience with or were capable of translation into English. Kasper, the Russians and I left the police station with absolutely no documentation and no passport. We were allowed to dig through the trucks for anything left of our personal effects, mostly our clothes and sleeping bags was the only thing left. They kept all our cameras, Ivan’s two lap top computers, cash, checks and lots of personal documents left in his suitcase, our GPS units, radios, metal detectors, flashlights, binoculars, tire compressors, tow straps and anything else this pack of thieves wanted.

As we were digging though the trucks the gentleman who we had rented the trucks from in Muscat showed up to retrieve his trucks that we had paid for thru the 15th of April. Apparently the police called him so we wouldn’t get far? So we cleaned them out as best we could in the police parking lot and were presented a bill for cleaning and minor damages (some of the damage the police caused while driving them on the way to Muscat). But I paid it in full.

We were driven to the Asas Oman hotel where we secured the hotels largest royal suite available. Thinking we would only be there a few days while this mess was ironed out. I stayed in touch with my embassy on a basis if I got any news. The whole time I was there I only received one call from them and it was a fellow named Chris who introduced himself and gave me his cell number incase I had any problems and couldn’t reach Wesley. They were good about calling me back though.

The German consul advised Kasper he would be on a plane within a couple days and booked a ticket for him. The Russian consoler Dmitri was a real delight and was paying us visits on a regular basis. It seemed like he was the only one who really worked on our behalf on a daily basis.

Our first bit of unofficial news from the consulates was that there were many errors made in our apprehension. That there may have been some laws or treaty violations by them. The police were unaware of and were searching for laws we may have broken? Since they were unfamiliar with and had no prior experience with rock hounding laws this may take some time for officials to figure out what to do. Ivan having talked with Dr Salem at the police station agreed to take him to a place outside of Salalah were there was a lot of space rocks he was interested in retrieving. So the next day April 5th a flight was booked leaving Muscat at 11:00 and it was agreed that Ivan would meet them at the airport and go there to show them the rocks .Ivan was awake early and his first stop was the police station were he was asked to sort the rocks after the Oman police had mixed them up. From there Ivan took a cab to the airport to catch his flight and another fellow was there named Halil. But no Dr Salem they waited and finally 20 minutes before departure the Dr arrived. Ivan said it was like in a movie the Dr was told he was too late to get a boarding pass and catch the scheduled flight . He was acting like a crazy man running around the airport demanding to get on the plane . But to no avail they had to wait for until 3:00 pm for the next flight.

While in Salalah Ivan paid the bill for the rental trucks ,purchased some magin (camel meat) and got a hair cut and shave. He didn’t look like the same old cute Ivan when he returned on April 6th.

On April 7th Ivan called the Dr to set an appointment for Ivan and I at the Dr. Salem’s office at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the 10th of April. The appointment on April 10th was quite nice and Dr Salem was at that time quite cordial. Ivan gave then copies in floppy discs of all pertaining files to there inquiries off of his computers. We also went through some of the photos on on his computer from this trip explained our experiences and finds and what we thought of them. One of the photos was a picture of something we asked him about . There was one evening prior to our arrest were we had camped in the desert and Kasper made an unusual find right near camp. It was a rock about the size of a basket ball but somewhat oblong. It was a piece of terrestrial basalt. What was unusual about it was there was a grove about two inches wide cut around it in it’s girth for a rope to be tied to it. We all sat around the campfire discussing what it was. My first thought was an ancient boat anchor but we were at least 200 miles from any water. So on we pondered until I figured it out, just what this curious stone was. A camel brake, for runaway camels. I had to explain it to the guys who couldn’t speak English:

If you're out in the desert and your riding your camel and it starts to go crazy and chase another camel or it sees a mirage off in the distance and start to run for it . You just apply the camel brake by throwing the rock off the camel. Off course the other end is tied around the camels neck or it’s testicles! I know if I were a camel I would stop pretty quick !! Well we all took pictures of it and left it where we found it. The doctor and the other fellows in the room thought that rock may have been a tent anchor or something else. Towards the end of our visit I asked him if he knew what we were being charged with and what was going on ? His reply was it was a police matter and we should inquire with them. His departing words to Ivan were that he was going to Johannesburg, South Africa for a week and hoped to see him when he got back.

So the following day April 11th Ivan and I walked up to the police station to inquire. We were turned away and told shorts was not allowed . We walked back to our hotel put on some long pants and walked back up. We asked to speak to inspector Drackma. After a major runaround one of the thieves from the band came out and we inquired as to what was going on are we going to be charged or not, and about getting our passports and gear back? His reply was it will happen THESE days. Now this guy spoke real good English before !! I inquired what THESE DAYS means. All he would say was THESE DAYS.

I told him that some of our friends were suffering hardships because their families were worried and they were the sources of income for their families. He told me to write a letter to the ministry of foreign affairs. So I did. It was never acknowledged or replied.

On April 12th we were told by one of the consulates that they were charging us but this was all unofficial . He also advised us they had made many legal errors in our arrest. But that the police had no experience in trying to prosecute under these laws and it would require some time for them to figure out what they were actually going to do.

April 16th the Russian consular came to our apartment with gifts and a law that was faxed to him from the Ministry of Foreign affairs. The law was a law about national heritage and archeological references. The law is the Royal Decree number 6/80 he gave us a translation and we were later given a written translation by the German Embassy. It made absolutely no sense to any of us and said nothing about rocks or rock collecting.

April 19th The Russian consular again came to our apartment with more gifts. This time his news was good and that the unofficial word was that they were dropping all charges against us.

April 22nd one of the Russian fellows grandmother had passed away and we received a visit from 2 of the Russian consolers. We at that time received more unofficial news. We were told that the paperwork on our case was sent back to the location of our arrest. That they were going to charged us and that we would receive some paper work from them in the next couple days either that following Sunday or Monday.

That evening we all had a discussion about retaining an attorney for our defense . But it’s pretty difficult to retain an attorney since we still didn’t know what or if we were going to be charged and what with? Later that evening I received a call from the American consul. He told me that it was unofficial but that he heard we were going to be charged with three separate charges. Theft of government property, importing metal detectors without approval and a visa violation! The visa violation was something about having a work visa instead of tourist visa. I called my attorney in the states that night (morning in America) also and told him the unofficial report.

April 24th and 25th, that Sunday and Monday came and went. No news — good, bad or otherwise

April 26th my birthday. I turned 54 years old in Oman, I invited all my captive friends to a night on the town. Where else are they going to go? I took them to the Crowne Plaza hotel for a nice steak dinner and a glass of beer. Well it turned out to be a nice dinner five bottles of vodka a couple rounds of beer, wine and whiskey. $850 dollars later there were three Russians who lost their dinner on the way to or in our hotel room. One of them Captain Max (named Captain because he has a sailboat in Russia). Apparently got sea sick walking home from the Crowne Plaza hotel and rolled down a hill and into a ditch. He was all scuffed up the next day. The daily housekeepers were very nice, friendly and very understanding.

April 30th we received good news from the Russian Consulate. Again it was unofficial but we would be free pretty soon!

May 1st was the day Russians celebrate Easter. Easter morning is a week after it’s celebrated in America it’s celebrated in Russia. That morning we got a visit from the Russian consul, his lovely wife and daughter. They brought us colored hard boiled eggs and a cake to our hotel room and spent a few hours visiting with us.

May 2nd was Kasper’s birthday so to celebrate we went to a nearby restaurant and bar and had a light meal with a round of beers and a bottle or two of vodka. This hotel was amazing there was a sunken dinning room with a raised runway up the middle. Set up with a portable organ at the end of the stage. We all ate some food and started to get some drinks as the place started to fill up. All of a sudden the music started and four Arabic gals dressed like well dressed American women came on stage. They were dressed in dresses and slacks and basically stood in the runway and shook to the beat of the music. I guess that’s an Arabic strip show were the woman reveal their faces?

May 3rd we were instructed by the Russian consulate to book airline flights out of the country leaving between May 9 and 11. We were instructed that a reservation was not acceptable the police wanted actual hard tickets. We were all quite skeptical and apprehensive about purchasing tickets and not being allowed to leave or use them. We were told at that time that he thought we were being deported.

May 7th we went to the police station and were finger and palm printed six times each. Along with a photo of our faces was taken. All of us had representation from our perspective Embassy’s with us. The Embassy’s were told in advance that we would receive or have to sign documents. But we were told absolutely nothing received absolutely nothing and signed nothing.

May 8th we again were told to report to the police station we did again we were told nothing but that we needed hard copy airline tickets out of the country. At around 12:00 we headed in different directions to purchase our airline tickets and return with them in hand by 2:30 pm so we did. The tickets were turned over to the police station and we left for our hotel.

May 9th at 12:00 we received a call from the Russian embassy that he was faxed a document and instructed to give it to the concerning parties. He showed up at our hotel at about 2:30 pm with four copies of the document in Arabic and copies of a document in Russian for an excuse to their employers as to our detention. He told us basically what it said in a ruff translation. He was shocked and so were we. Earlier in the day I had talked with a local attorney and told him what we thought was going on. I asked him if I could chat with him briefly in the afternoon about representing us once we were out of the country. He advised me they were closed for lunch from 2:00 to 3:00 pm but he would be available till 6:00 pm.

The Russian consul left by 3:00 and Ivan and I immediately caught a cab to the attorney's office. There we had a brief chat, showed him the document were he was explaining to us what it meant and what was going on. He was in amazement of our story and we agreed to fax or email him a copy of the document once we were all out of the country safely. Five of us were to fly out of Seeb international airport within an hour of each other around midnight so the five of us traveled to the airport together. The remaining four guys were to fly out the following evening. Ivan and I flew to London and we had a six-hour layover to catch the flight to Phoenix. While in Heathrow airport London Ivan received a text message that the other four guys had caught their flight to Dubai and were safely out of that hell hole!!




IF YOU VISIT OMAN
YOU MIGHT NOT BE COMING HOME

All of the information on this website is 100% accurate and authentic. All information has been compiled from first-hand interviews with tourists from several different countries who have recently been detained, without cause or charge, by the Omani government. [/align]

Omani Thieves

[align=center]Don't visit the Sultanate of Oman. Tourism in Oman is extremely dangerous.
Do not trust tourist information about Oman that you may have received from official sources.


ROGUES' GALLERY:
ONE OF OMAN'S TOP GOVERNMENT THIEVES



CRIMINAL:
Guilty of detaining foreign nationals without charge
Dr. Salim Bin Hamed Al Busaidi
Director of Geological Survey
Directorate General of Mineral
Ministry of Commerce and Industry

P.O. Box 550, PC 113
Sultanate of Oman
Tel. ++968 7711954
Fax. ++968 7710515

Email: [email protected]

Why not send him a hello?




ROYAL OMAN POLICE (ROP): Guilty of arresting,
interrogating and holding foreign nationals without charge

The Royal Oman Police website make for good reading
if you have a sense of humor.

Quote: "The mission of the ROP is the maintenance of public order and security and monitoring public behavior together with the protection of lives, possessions, properties and honor."

That mission evidently does not apply to foreigners. Be warned!





IF YOU VISIT OMAN
YOU MIGHT NOT BE COMING HOME

All of the information on this website is 100% accurate and authentic. All information has been compiled from first-hand interviews with tourists from several different countries who have recently been detained, without cause or charge, by the Omani government. [/align]

Stolen From Them

[align=center]Don't visit the Sultanate of Oman. Tourism in Oman is extremely dangerous.
Do not trust tourist information about Oman that you may have received from official sources.

A LIST OF EQUPMENT AND PERSONAL POSSESIONS
STOLEN FROM OUR GROUP BY THE OMANI GOVERNMENT

Two laptop computers

All power cables and memory cards with readers

Exctensive library of licensed software

Personal data (including many accounts information and pass codes) and personal and irreplaceable photos stored on them (Please note: Any information that the Omanis requested was downloaded to floppies and given freely to them by us. We were happy to cooperate, and yet they still stole all of our equipment)

R40.00 and US$90.00 cash and international phone chips

Personal identification, bank checks and telephone books
with passwords and account numbers

Two 12 volt to 220 volt auto power multi plug adapter cables

Seven GPS (global positioning system) units, one Etrex legend C, three Etrex legends and three Garmins

Five suitcases: three full size, two briefcases

Four cameras: three high-end digital Sonys with telescopic features, including batteries, chargers, cases, zoom lenses, filters, memory cards, memory sticks, port cables and photos. One Cannon high-end digital camera with similar features and accessories

Two digital camcorders: one Panasonic and one Sony movie quality with batteries, chargers, cases, a stock of tapes, manuals and many hours of shot footage

Toshiba pocket PC with memory card and aluminum case

Five sets of Motorola and Midland short distance walkie-talkies for line-of-sight
communications between vehicles

One set of high end high power bird-watching binoculars

Assorted lures and fishing gear

Three 12 volt automotive air compressors, three tire repair kits, one bottle of green slim, five 11,000 lb tow straps and an assortment of clamps and fuses

Author-autographed books and our maps

All receipts for goods purchased and rented

Two metal detectors: one White's Goldmaster 3 with Sierra Goldmax coil and harness and one White's DFX with headphones

Portable rock saw with diamond saw blades

Heirloom rock hammer

Flashlights, and miscellaneous camping gear

Food, refreshments, batteries and minor tools

All items collected in the desert

Twenty 30-liter jerry cans filled with petrol and diesel




IF YOU VISIT OMAN
YOU MIGHT NOT BE COMING HOME

All of the information on this website is 100% accurate and authentic. All information has been compiled from first-hand interviews with tourists from several different countries who have recently been detained, without cause or charge, by the Omani government. [/align]

Detainee's Opinion

[align=center]OPINION: MY THOUGHTS
ON OUR OMAN EXPERIENCE

By John B.

I don’t believe we were in violation of any law that is currently in place. The radios and metal detectors that we were cited for were shown to customs coming into their country and were approved by them. They know this yet we were cited for not having authorization on the radios?

Their mining law I guess is because we had a shovel in one of our trucks. The shovel is a necessity if you are going to travel off road in a sandy desert.

Several books that are printed in English are actual field guides for tourists to use to find rocks. They even give specific locations and directions to areas to collect them. There are many ideas on how to make jewelry and how to label and display them.

The theft of state property is a joke. The six weeks we spent in captivity in Muscat and the month following no one was capable of finding any laws referencing space rocks, meteorites, rocks or stones at all or anything related. We even emailed the fellow who we believe is the leader of the pack, Dr Salim Al Busaidi who is somehow involved in the geology department in the Ministry of trade and commerce.

Either there are no laws or they are ashamed to show us. If this country wants to protect or keep these items for themselves then they should make a law or royal decree and make tourists and the local population aware of it. To date we have over two months looking and inquiring and still cannot locate such a law. There can only be one other answer and that is that these books are bait used to lure unsuspecting tourists and merchants into the trap we fell into. It wouldn’t be unrealistic to think that the other books on fishing, diving, boating, traveling, bird watching, four-wheeling or just about any activity this country offers is nothing more than bait for these thieves. Not only will they steal all your possessions they will drain your bank account by taking away your passport and making you a captive tourist. Meaning you have to spend more on the local merchants on food, lodging and other necessities.

Well here’s a novel idea! If there is something that is offensive or a law or decree that is made that may affect travelers to this country, why don’t they build a web page that tells or warns travelers of it? Instead they have a web page to their different government entities that will not acknowledge or reply to any inquiries either in writing or email. I guess there must be more profit and money gained by doing it their current way.

Oman is a country that supposedly wants to develop its tourism and is spending huge amounts of money and energy in that direction. They want the world to think they are a fair and just country. They also want the tourists of the world to think Oman is great and pleasant place to visit. But they do this to tourists that visit their country. Are the leaders of this country a bunch of idiots or morons? Or is this activity hidden from the upper levels of their government? Do they think that this activity and legal shakedown of tourists in their country will continue and not be noticed? That nobody will blow the whistle and tell the world of this activity.

Well guess again! I intend to make the consuming traveling public aware of these goings-on. Through the power of the international internet the world will know.

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Oman Constitu

[align=center]THE OMAN CONSTITUTION

Please note Article 24 of the
Constitution of Oman:

"Article 24 [Arrest]
Anyone who is arrested shall be notified of the causes of his arrest immediately and he shall have the right to contact whoever he sees fit, to inform them of what has taken place or seek their assistance, in the manner regulated by the Law. He must be informed promptly of the charges against him, and he and his representative shall have the right to appeal before the judicial authorities against the measure which has restricted his personal freedom. The Law regulates his right of appeal in a manner which ensures that a judgement will be issued on it within a specified period, failing which he must be released."


The government of Oman violated its own constitution in its treatment of us!
Click here to read the Oman constitution in full
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this is for this whbsite (http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/mu00000_.html)

[align=center]Oman - Constitution

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

{ Adopted on: 6 Nov 1996 }
{ Adopted by: Royal Decree No. 101/96, issued on 6 Nov 1996 by Qaboos Bin Said, Sultan of Oman }
{ Official Title: "The White Book. The Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman" }
{ ICL Document Status: 6 Nov 1996 }


{ Editor's Note
The edition is based on the raw text of an inofficial translation published at http://omanet.com/basiclaw.htm. }
[Preamble]
On the Issue of the Basic Law of the State We, Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, In confirmation of the principles which have guided State policy in various fields during the past period, and in asserting our determination to continue efforts to create a better future characterised by further achievements which will bring benefits to the Country and its Citizens. And in our determination to strengthen Oman's international position and its role in establishing the foundations of peace, security, justice and co-operation between different States and Peoples.
And in accordance with the exigencies of the public interest, have decreed the following:
The issue of the Basic Law of the State in accordance with the attached form of words.
This Decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force with effect from its date of issue.

Part One The State and the System of Government


Article 1 [Sovereignty]
The Sultanate of Oman is an independent, Arab, Islamic, fully sovereign state with Muscat as its capital.

Article 2 [Religion]
The religion of the State is Islam and the Islamic Shariah is the basis of legislation.

Article 3 [Language]
Arabic is the official language of the State.

Article 4 [Symbols]
The law shall determine the State's Flag, its Emblem, its decorations and medals and its National Anthem.

Article 5 [Form of Government]
The system of government is an hereditary Sultanate in which succession passes to a male descendant of Sayyid Turki bin Said bin Sultan. It is a condition that the male who is chosen to rule should be an adult Muslim of sound mind and a legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents.

Article 6 [Succession]

(1) Within three days of the position of Sultan becoming vacant, the Ruling Family Council shall determine upon who will succeed to the Throne.
(2) If the Ruling Family Council does not agree upon a successor, the Defence Council shall confirm the appointment of the person designated by the Sultan in his letter to the Family Council.

Article 7 [Oath of the Sultan]
Before exercising his powers the Sultan shall swear the following oath at a joint session of the Oman and Defence Councils:
"I swear by Almighty God to respect the Basic Law of the State and the Laws, to fully protect the interests and freedoms of the citizens, and to preserve the independence of the country and its territorial integrity."

Article 8 [Continuous Government]
The Government shall continue to conduct its business as usual until the Sultan is chosen and begins to exercise his powers.

Article 9 [Substantive State Principles]
Rule in the Sultanate shall be based on justice, Shura Consultation, and equality. Citizens shall have the right to take part in public affairs - in accordance with this Basic Law and the conditions and circumstances defined in the Law.

Part Two Principles Guiding State Policy


Article 10 [Political Principles]
The political principles are:
- Preserving the State's independence and sovereignty, protecting its security and stability, and defending it against all forms of aggression.
- Reinforcing co-operation and reaffirming ties of friendship with all States and peoples on a basis of mutual respect, common interest, non-interference in internal affairs, compliance with international and regional charters and treaties, and the generally recognised principles of international law, in a manner conducive to the promotion of peace and security between States and Peoples.
- Laying suitable foundations for the establishment of the pillars of genuine Shura Consultation, based on the national heritage, its values and its Islamic Shariah, and on pride in its history, while incorporating such contemporary manifestations as are appropriate.
- Establishing a sound administrative system that guarantees justice, tranquillity and equality for citizens, ensures respect for public order and safeguards the higher interests of the country.

Article 11 [Economic Principles]

(1) The economic principles are:
- The basis of the national economy is justice and the principles of a free economy. Its chief pillar is constructive, fruitful co-
operation between public and private activity. Its aim is to achieve economic and social development that will lead to increased production and a higher standard of living for citizens, in accordance with the State's general plan and within the limits of the Law.
- Freedom of economic activity is guaranteed within the limits of the Law and the public interest, in a manner that will ensure the well-being of the national economy.
- The State encourages saving and oversees the regulation of credit.
- All natural resources are the property of the State, which safeguards them and ensures that they are properly utilised while taking into account the requirements of State security and the interests of the national economy. No concession may be granted, nor may any of the country's public resources be exploited, except in accordance with the Law and for a limited period of time, and in such a manner as to preserve national interests.
- Public property is inviolable. The State shall protect it, and citizens and all other persons shall preserve it.
- Private property is protected. No-one shall be prevented from disposing of his property within the limits of the Law. Nor shall anyone's property be expropriated, except for the public benefit in those cases defined by the Law and in the manner stipulated by the Law, and on condition that the person whose property is expropriated receives just compensation for it.
- Inheritance is a right governed by the Shariah of Islam.
- Confiscation of property is prohibited and the penalty of specific confiscation shall only be imposed by judicial order in circumstances defined by the Law.
- The basis of taxes and public dues shall be justice and the development of the national economy.
- The institution, adjustment and cancellation of public taxes shall be by virtue of the Law. No one may be exempted from payment of all or part of such taxes except in circumstances defined in the Law.
(2) No tax, fee or other entitlement of any kind may be applied retrospectively.

Article 12 [Social Principles]
The social principles are:
- Justice, equality and equality of opportunity between Omanis are the pillars of society, guaranteed by the State.
- Co-operation, compassion, strong ties between citizens, and the reinforcement of national unity are a duty. The State shall prevent anything that could lead to division, discord, or the disruption of national unity.
- The family is the basis of society, and the Law regulates the means of protecting it, safeguarding its legal structure, reinforcing its ties and values, providing care for its members, and creating suitable conditions for the development of their aptitudes and capabilities.
- The State guarantees assistance for the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, sickness, incapacity and old age in accordance with the social security system. It also encourages society to share the burdens of dealing with the effects of public disasters and calamities.
- The State cares for public health and for the prevention and treatment of diseases and epidemics. It endeavours to provide health care for every citizen and to encourage the establishment of private hospitals, clinics and other medical institutions under State supervision and in accordance with the rules laid down by Law. It also works to conserve and protect the environment and prevent pollution.
- The State enacts laws to protect the employee and the employer, and regulates relations between them. Every citizen has the right to engage in the work of his choice within the limits of the Law. It is not permitted to impose any compulsory work on anyone except in accordance with the Law and for the performance of public service, and for a fair wage.
- Public employment is a national service entrusted to those who carry it out. The State employees while performing their work shall seek to serve the public interest and society. Citizens are considered equal in taking up public employment according to the provisions of the Law.

Article 13 [Cultural Principles]
The cultural principles are:
- Education is a fundamental element for the progress of society which the State fosters and endeavours to make available to all.
- Education aims to raise and develop general cultural standards, promote scientific thought, kindle the spirit of enquiry, meet the needs of the economic and social plans, and create a generation strong in body and moral fibre, proud of its nation, country and heritage, and committed to safeguarding
their achievements.
- The State provides public education, combats illiteracy and encourages the establishment of private schools and institutes under State supervision and in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
- The State fosters and conserves the national heritage, and encourages and promotes the sciences, literature, and scientific research.

Article 14 [Security Principles]
The security principles are:
- The State's goal is peace, and safeguarding the country's security is a duty entrusted to every citizen.
- The Defence Council studies matters concerning the maintenance of the Sultanate's security and its defence.
- It is the State alone that establishes the Armed Forces, public security organisations and any other forces. They are all the property of the nation and their task is to protect the State, safeguard the safety of its territories and ensure security and tranquillity for its citizens. No institution or group may set up military or paramilitary organisations. The Law regulates military services, general or partial mobilisation and the rights, duties and disciplinary rules of the Armed Forces, the public security organisations and any other forces the State decides to establish.

Part Three Public Rights and Duties


Article 15 [Citizenship]
Nationality is regulated by the Law. It may not be forfeited or withdrawn except within the limits of the Law.

Article 16 [Deportation, Right of Entry]
It is not permitted to deport or exile citizens, or prevent them from returning to the Sultanate.

Article 17 [Citizen Equality, No Discrimination]
All citizens are equal before the Law, and they are equal in public rights and duties. There shall be no discrimination between them on the grounds of gender, origin, colour, language, religion, sect, domicile or social status.

Article 18 [Personal Freedom]
Personal freedom is guaranteed in accordance with the Law. No person may be arrested, searched, detained or imprisoned, or have his residence or movement curtailed, except in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

Article 19 [Imprisonment]
Detention or imprisonment is not permitted, except in the places designated for that purpose in the prison laws, which provide for health care and social welfare.

Article 20 [Personal Integrity]
No person shall be subjected to physical or psychological torture, enticement or humiliating treatment, and the Law lays down the punishment for anyone who is guilty of such actions. No statement shall be valid if it is established that it has been obtained as a result of torture, enticement or humiliating treatment, or threats of such measures.

Article 21 [Criminal Punishments]
There shall be no crime and no punishment except in accordance with the criteria of a Law, and there shall be no punishment except for actions cognisable in Law. Punishment is personal not transferable.

Article 22 [Presumption of Innocence, Due Process, Personal Integrity]
An accused person is innocent until proven guilty in a legal trial which ensures him the essential guarantee to exercise his right of defence according to the Law. It is prohibited to harm the accused either bodily or mentally.

Article 23 [Right to Counsel]
The accused has the right to appoint a person who has the ability to defend him during the trial. The Law defines the circumstances which require the presence of a lawyer on behalf of the accused and guarantees those without the financial capacity, the means to resort to justice and the defence of their rights.

Article 24 [Arrest]
Anyone who is arrested shall be notified of the causes of his arrest immediately and he shall have the right to contact whoever he sees fit, to inform them of what has taken place or seek their assistance, in the manner regulated by the Law. He must be informed promptly of the charges against him, and he and his representative shall have the right to appeal before the judicial authorities against the measure which has restricted his personal freedom. The Law regulates his right of appeal in a manner which ensures that a judgement will be issued on it within a specified period, failing which he must be released.

Article 25 [Right to Litigation]
The right to litigation is sacrosanct and guaranteed to all people. The Law defines the procedures and circumstances required for exercising this right and the State guarantees, as far as possible, that the judicial authorities will reconcile the litigants and settle cases promptly.

Article 26 [Personal Integrity Against Experiments]
It is not permitted to perform any medical or scientific experiment on any person without his freely given consent.

Article 27 [Home]
Dwellings are inviolable and it is not permitted to enter them without the permission of the owner or legal occupant, except in the circumstances specified by the Law and in the manner stipulated therein.

Article 28 [Religion]
The freedom to practise religious rites in accordance with recognised customs is guaranteed provided that it does not disrupt public order or conflict with accepted standards of behaviour.

Article 29 [Expression]
Freedom of opinion and expression, whether spoken, written or in other forms, is guaranteed within the limits of the Law.

Article 30 [Communication]
Freedom of postal, telegraphic, telephonic and other forms of communication is sacrosanct and their confidentiality is guaranteed. Hence, it is not permitted to monitor or inspect them, reveal their contents, or delay or confiscate them except in circumstances defined by the Law and in accordance with the procedures laid down therein.

Article 31 [Press]
Freedom of the press, printing and publication is guaranteed in accordance with the conditions and circumstances defined by the Law. It is prohibited to print or publish material that leads to public discord, violates the security of the State or abuses a
person's dignity and his rights.

Article 32 [Assembly]
Citizens have the right of assembly within the limits of the Law.

Article 33 [Association]
The freedom to form associations on a national basis for legitimate objectives and in a proper manner, in a way that does not conflict with the stipulations and aims of this Basic Law, is guaranteed under the conditions and in the circumstances defined by the Law. It is forbidden to establish associations whose activities are inimical to social order, or are secret, or of a military nature. It is not permitted to force anyone to join any association.

Article 34 [Petition, Public Affairs]
Citizens have the right to address the public authorities on personal matters or on matters related to public affairs, in the manner and on the conditions laid down by the Law.

Article 35 [Rights of Foreigners]
Every foreigner who is legally resident in the Sultanate shall have the right to protection of his person and his property in accordance with the Law. Foreigners shall have regard for society's values and respect its traditions and customs.

Article 36 [Asylum]
Extradition of political refugees is prohibited. Extradition of criminals is subject to the provisions of international laws and agreements.

Article 37 [Territorial Integrity, Military Duty]
Defence of the homeland is a sacred duty, and rendering service in the Armed Forces is an honour for citizens regulated by the Law.

Article 38 [National Unity, Duty of Citizens]
Preserving national unity and safeguarding State secrets is a duty incumbent upon every citizen.

Article 39 [Taxes]
Payment of taxes and public dues is a duty in accordance with the Law.

Article 40 [Observance of the Law]
Respect for the Basic Law of the State and the laws and ordinances issued by the public authorities, as well as observance of public order and public morals, is a duty incumbent upon all residents of the Sultanate.

Part Four The Head of State


[Section 1 The Sultan]


Article 41 [Head of State, Commander-In-Chief]
The Sultan is the Head of State and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. His person is inviolable and must be respected and his orders must be obeyed. The Sultan is the symbol of national unity as well as its guardian and defender.

Article 42 [Functions]
The Sultan discharges the following functions:
- preserving the country's independence and territorial integrity and assuring its internal and external security, maintaining the rights and freedoms of its citizens, guaranteeing the rule of law,
and guiding the general policy of the State.
- taking prompt measures to counter any threat to the safety of the State or its territorial integrity, the security and interests of its people, or the smooth running of its institutions.
- representing the State both internally and externally in all international relations.
- presiding over the Council of Ministers or appointing a person to serve in that position.
- presiding over the Specialised Councils or appointing chairmen for them.
- appointing and dismissing Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and those of their rank.
- appointing and dismissing Under-Secretaries, General Secretaries and those of their rank.
- appointing and dismissing senior judges.
- declaring a state of emergency, general mobilisation, or war, and making peace in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
- issuing and ratifying laws.
- signing international treaties and agreements in accordance with the provisions of the Law (or authorising a signatory to sign them) and issuing decrees ratifying them.
- appointing and dismissing political representatives to other States and international organisations according to the limits and circumstances laid down by the Law. Accepting accreditation of representatives of States and international organisations.
- waiving or commuting punishments
- conferring honours, decorations and military ranks.

Article 43 [Assisting Function of Council of Ministers]
The Sultan shall be assisted in drafting and implementing the general policy of the State by a Council of Ministers and Specialised Councils.

[Section 2] The Council of Ministers


Article 44 [Functions]
The Council of Ministers is the body entrusted with implementing general State policies. In particular it shall:
- submit recommendations to the Sultan on economic, political and social, as well as executive and administrative matters of concern to the Government, and propose draft laws and decrees.
- foster the welfare of citizens and ensure the provision of health and other essential services in order to improve the quality of their life socially and culturally as well as economically.
- formulate aims and general policies for economic, social, and administrative development and propose methods of implementing these policies which will make the best use of financial, economic and human resources.
- discuss developmental plans prepared by the relevant departments, submit them to the Sultan for approval, and follow up their implementation.
- discuss proposals by Ministries in their fields of executive jurisdiction and make appropriate recommendations and decisions in this regard.
- oversee the smooth running of the State's administrative apparatus, follow up its performance of its duties , and co-
ordinate the activities of its different departments.
- monitor the implementation of all laws, decrees, ordinances and decisions, as well as treaties and agreements and court judgements, in a manner that will ensure that they are complied with.
- discharge any other competencies vested in it by the Sultan or conferred upon it by the provisions of the Law.

Article 45 [Chairmanship of Sessions]
The Head of the Council of Ministers shall preside over the Council's sessions and has the right to entrust the chairmanship of sessions, which he does not attend, to one of the Deputy Prime Ministers. If the Prime Minister and his Deputies are absent, the Sultan will authorise whoever he sees fit to chair the sessions.

Article 46 [Quorum, Secrecy, Majority]
Meetings of the Council shall be quorate with the attendance of a majority of its members. Its deliberations are secret and its decisions are issued with the approval of a majority of those present.

Article 47 [Standing Orders, General Secretariat]
The Council of Ministers shall draw up Standing Orders including its Rules of Procedure. The Council shall have a General Secretariat which will be provided with a sufficient number of staff to assist it in carrying out its work.

[Section 3] The Prime Minister, His Deputies and Ministers


Article 48 [Appointment]
If the Sultan appoints a Prime Minister, his competencies and powers shall be specified in the Decree appointing him.

Article 49 [Qualifications]
It is a prerequisite that whoever is appointed as Prime Minister, his Deputy, or a Minister:
a) Shall be originally of Omani nationality in accordance with the Law;
b) Shall be aged not less than 30 years of the Gregorian calendar.

Article 50 [Oath of Ministers]
Before assuming their powers the Prime Minister, his Deputies, and Ministers shall swear the following oath in the presence of the Sultan:
"I swear by Almighty God that I shall be faithful to my Sultan and my Country, that I shall respect the Basic Law of the State and its implementing regulations; that I shall uphold at all times the integrity of the State and the security of its territories, and shall work to promote fully its interests and the interests of its citizens, and that I shall discharge my duties truly and honestly."

Article 51 [Ministries]
Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers shall supervise the affairs of their Ministries and Organisations, and implement the general policy of the Government therein, as well as drawing up future guidelines for their Ministries and Organisations and following up their implementation.

Article 52 [Responsibility]
Members of the Council of Ministers are politically collectively responsible before the Sultan for carrying out the general policies of the State, and each is individually responsible before the Sultan for the discharge of his duties and the exercise of his powers.

Article 53 [Economic Incompatibility]
Members of the Council of Ministers shall not combine their Ministerial position with the chairmanship or membership of the Board of any joint stock company. Nor may the Government departments of which they are in charge have dealings with any company or organisation in which they have an interest,
whether direct or indirect. They should be guided in all their actions by considerations of national interest and public welfare and should not exploit their official positions in any way for their own benefit or for the benefit of those with whom they have special relations.

Article 54 [Remuneration]
The emoluments of Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers, during their term of office and after their retirement, shall be determined in accordance with the directives of the Sultan.

Article 55 [Ministers]
The provisions of Articles 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 shall apply to all those with the rank of Minister.

[Section 4] Specialised Councils


Article 56 [Establishment]
The Specialised Councils shall be established, their powers defined and their members appointed in accordance with Royal Decrees.

[Section 5] Financial Affairs


Article 57 [Financial Laws]
The Law specifies the provisions concerning the following matters and the bodies responsible for them:
- collection of taxes, revenues and other public monies, and measures for their disbursement.
- maintenance and administration of State property, the conditions of its disposal, and the limits within which a part of this property may be assigned.
- the general State budget and the final account
- the autonomous and supplementary budgets and their final accounts
- control of State finances
- loans extended by or obtained by the State
- currency and banking , standards, weights and measures
- salaries, pensions, indemnities, subsidies and gratuities charged to the State Treasury.

Part Five The Oman Council


Article 58 [Composition]

(1) The Oman Council shall consist of:
- The Shura Council
- The Council of State
(2) The Law shall specify the powers of each of these Councils, the length of their terms, the frequency of their sessions, and their rules of procedure. It shall also specify the number of members of each Council, the conditions which they must fulfil, the method of their selection and appointment, the reasons for their dismissal, and other regulatory provisions.

Part Six The Judiciary


Article 59 [Rule of Law, Impartiality]
The sovereignty of the Law is the basis of governance in the State. Rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the dignity of the judiciary and the probity and impartiality of the judges.

Article 60 [Independence of the Courts]
Judicial power is independent and vested in the Courts of Law, of whatever type or status, which issue judgements in accordance with the Law.

Article 61 [Independence of Judges]
There is no power over the judges in their rulings except the Law. Judges can only be dismissed in cases specified by the Law. No party may interfere in a law suit or in matters of justice; such interference shall be a crime punishable by law. The Law shall specify the conditions to be fulfilled for those administering justice, the conditions and procedures for the appointment of judges, their transfer and promotion, the security offered to them, the cases in which they are not liable for dismissal, and other relevant provisions.

Article 62 [Organization, Military Courts, Martial Law]
The Law shall regulate the Law Courts of whatever type or status and shall specify their functions and competencies. The jurisdiction of Military Courts shall be restricted to military crimes committed by members of the Armed Forces and the security forces and shall only extend to others in the case of martial law and then within the limits laid down by the Law.

Article 63 [Publicity]
Court hearings are public except when the Law Court decides to hold the case in camera in the interests of public order or public morals. In all cases pronouncement of finding and sentence shall be in open session.

Article 64 [Public Prosecution, Attorney General]
The public prosecution shall conduct legal proceedings on behalf of the community, shall oversee matters of judicial prosecution and shall be vigilant in the application of the penal code, the pursuit of the guilty and the execution of court judgements. The Law shall regulate the public prosecution and its competencies and shall specify the conditions and security applicable to those who discharge its functions. In exceptional cases, Public Security departments may be legally empowered to conduct proceedings in cases involving misdemeanours, in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Law.

Article 65 [Legal Profession]
The legal profession shall be regulated by the Law.

Article 66 [Higher Council]
The judiciary shall have a Higher Council, which shall oversee the smooth running of the Law Courts and auxiliary bodies. The Law shall specify the powers of this Council with regard to the functions of the judges and the public prosecutor.

Article 67 [Administrative Courts]
The Law shall adjudicate in administrative disputes through a Special Administrative Causes Court or Department, whose organisation and mode of procedure shall be specified in Law.

Article 68 [Jurisdiction Disputes]
The Law shall adjudicate in disputes over jurisdiction between judicial departments and in cases of conflict of judgements.

Article 69 [Ministerial Opinions]
The Law shall define the competencies of the department which expresses legal opinions to Ministries and other Government departments and formulates and revises draft laws, regulations and decisions. The Law shall also specify the mode of representation of the State and other public bodies and organisations before the Departments of Justice.

Article 70 [Judicial Review]
The Law shall stipulate the judicial department concerned with settling disputes arising from the incompatibility of laws and
regulations with the Basic Law of the State and ensuring that the latter's provisions are not contravened, and shall define that department's powers and procedures.

Article 71 [Judgements]
Judgements shall be issued and executed in the name of His Majesty the Sultan. Failure or delay in executing these judgements on the part of the concerned public officials shall be a crime punishable by law. In such a case the judgement beneficiary has the right to bring a criminal action directly to the court concerned.

Part Seven General Provisions


Article 72 [Treaties]
The application of this Basic Law shall not infringe the treaties and agreements concluded between the Sultanate of Oman and other States and international bodies and organisations.

Article 73 [Martial Law]
None of the provisions of this Basic Law shall be suspended except in the case of martial law and within the limits laid down by the Law.

Article 74 [Publication]
Laws shall be published in the Official Gazette within two weeks of the day of their issuance. Laws will come into force from their date of publication unless they stipulate another date.

Article 75 [Retroactive Law]
Provisions of laws shall only apply from the date of their coming into force; whatever happens before that date is of no consequence, unless the text specifies otherwise. Excluded from this exception are penal laws and laws concerning taxes and financial dues.

Article 76 [Ratification]
Treaties and agreements shall not have the force of law until they have been ratified. In no case may a treaty or an agreement contain secret conditions which contradict its declared conditions.

Article 77 [Old Laws]
Everything stipulated by laws, regulations, decrees, directives and decisions in force on the date of this Basic Law becoming effective shall remain in force, provided that they do not conflict with any of its provisions.

Article 78 [Required Laws]
Laws which are not yet in existence but are necessitated by this Basic Law shall be promulgated by the competent departments within two years of its coming into force.

Article 79 [Supremacy of the Constitution]
Laws and procedures which have the force of law must conform to the provisions of the Basic Law of the State.

Article 80 [Executive Bound By Law]
No body in the State may issue rules, regulations, decisions or instructions which contravene the provisions of laws and decrees in force, or international treaties and agreements which constitute part of the law of the country.

Article 81 [Amendments]
This Basic Law can only be amended in the same manner in which it was promulgated.[/align]

Official Oman Documents

[align=center]OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE
GOVERNMENT OF OMAN AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS

Pictured below are copies of the only official documents we ever received from the Oman government, plus translations of those documents provided to us by the German embassy.

We are currently awaiting further information regarding the "laws" of Oman, and will post that information, and our opinion as soon as we receive it.










TRANSLATION


Sultanate of Oman
Public Prosecution

A decision closing
the Case No. 1/Q/2005 - Habari Police Station

The accused:
1. Ivan Kotrev - 45 yrs - Russian
2. John Karl Blizt - 59 yrs - American
3. Yuri Stepakov - 27 yrs - Russian
4. Victor Alexiev - 45 yrs - Latvian
5. Kasper Von Wuthenau - 38 yrs - German
6. Dimitri Golkov - 38 yrs - Russian
7. Timor Amakovady - 38 yrs - Russian
8. Alembik Maxim - 38 yrs - Russian
9. Alexi Regevenko - 27 yrs - Russian

The incident summarises that some Police elements sighted on 31.03.2005, at night, six vehicles ridden by the nine accused at the area of "Sidad" adjacent to oilfields. The Police were suspicious, particularly there is information that some unknowns are laying hand on meteorite rocks and smuggle them outside the country. The Police took these accused to the Police Station and, after obtaining a warrant from the Public Prosecution, searched their vehicles to seize from each of them some pieces of rocks, stones, wild animal skeletons and some marine shells. The Police also seized metal detection devices.

A report supported by photographs showed the seizure of sequestered rocks and stones as well as wireless paging devices and metal detectors in the six vehicles used by the accused to complete their crime.

Photocopies of some daily newspapers and Internet websites showed there was news about the falling of rare meteorites from Mars in the Wasta Region and that the Director of Mineral Excavation Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has asserted that one of the rocks found is originating from Mars.

By interrogating the accused, the First and the Fifth took exception that they are specialised in geological research and their going to the desert and collecting some rocks is meant for study and scientific research and additionally benefit their work. The First accused added that he had previously visited the Sultanate for three times and collected samples of rocks in the Omani desert. Interrogating the other accused, they stated that they headed to the Omani desert to collect some rocks and different stones for the purpose of scientific research conducted by the First accused who asked them to do so when they met him.

As for the communication devices seized with the Second accused, he stated that he brought them with him to the country through the Seeb International Airport pointing out that the Airport authorities did not object to the devices entering the country.

In the legal conformity, the incident constitutes the following crimes in face of the accused:

First:
The theft misdemeanour punishable under Article 279 of the Penal Code.

Second:
The misdemeanour of conducting exploration and excavation operations without licence, punishable under articles (3/2 - 10/1 - 21/A) of Law 27 of 2003 on mining.

Third:
The misdemeanour of using radio communications devices without licence, punishable under articles (9/1 - 30 - 54) of law 30 of 2002 on regulation of communications.
Whereas the accused were captured upon initiating their crime without ensuing any negative consequences on the Omani society and without affecting whatsoever the national economy.
And whereas continuing legal proceedings to file a public case against the accused shall have a negative impact and shall be of great detriment to the tourism in the country which is promoted by the State as a vital source of national economy, let alone the fact that it represents the only sources to economies of some countries in the world.

And whereas what the accused went through during the seizure and the following interrogation process over the incident may deter them and others from committing the same actions in the future.

And whereas from the mentioned above, the incident proved to be insignificant to necessitate trying the accused but rather to absolve them from being brought before the court, sufficing with their deportation while taking procedures to deter them from entering the country in the future in addition to confiscating the seized items by the State in accordance with Article (101) of the Criminal Procedures Law and Article (29) of the Foreigners Residence Law.

And whereas based on the above and the non-existence of a part claiming a civil right and in application of Article (125) of the same mentioned law, it is legally right to decide to close the case due to immateriality.

Whereas the abovementioned details of the case.

It is decided:
1. The case is closed for immateriality.
2. The executive authority shall take necessary measures to expatriate the accused and list them as personae non-grata to enter the Sultanate's territory.
3. Confiscation by the State of the seized effects.
4. A copy of the decision is to be handed over to those concerned.

21 Rabie Awwal 1426
30 April 2005
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Letter To U.s. State Department

[align=center]OUR OFFICIAL LETTER OF COMPLAINT
DELIVERED TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Dear Sirs:

I would like to file a formal complaint against the country of Oman.

I want to inform you of a recent experience I had in that country. I went there and got a tourist visa to travel around sightseeing and rock collecting. Prior to going I inquired with our embassy over there via phone call and inquired about rock collecting. They advised me that they were unaware of any laws or restrictions pertaining to that hobby. I have seen several books written in English apparently geared at tourism for Oman.

These books, one in particular, STONE TREASURES OF THE OMAN DESERT, is a field guide explaining where to go, how to find and how to collect their rocks. There is nothing mentioned about mining permits, export permits or restrictions.

So I met some international friends there. We rented cars and off we went. We ended up arrested. We were never told what, if any laws we violated. We were not allowed to call anyone or our embassies. Our cell phones were taken away and we were imprisoned for four days. Then released without our passports or told of our wrong doings or pending charges. All the while our embassy is assuring me that Oman has a very nice, fast, fair and honest judicial system. We spent six weeks in a hotel continually in contact with our embassies. We and the embassies were never advised of our charges. Even though it was a daily ritual for us and our embassies to call or walk too the police station to inquire.

The day of our deportation one of our embassies was faxed a document in Arabic about our arrest, three misdemeanor charges, the confiscation of our gear, including personal effects. The will of their government of thieves, not to make this case public for fear it would be a determent to their tourism. So they deemed us guilty closed the case without a trial and deported us with literally the clothes on our backs. The reason I'm writing you is to find out what you can do about this injustice? I've attached this link to their Oman constitution which states the rights of a person arrested. It sure didn't happen this way!

If you have any questions you might confirm this story with Wesley Robertson consular at the American Embassy in Muscat Oman. Mrs. Lee Reader of the State Department whom represents Oman. Or myself John Blennert at this email.

Article (24) (Omani constitution)
"Anyone who is arrested shall be notified of the causes of his arrest immediately and he shall have the right to contact whoever he sees fit, to inform them of what has taken place or seek their assistance, in the manner regulated by the Law. He must be informed promptly of the charges against him, and he and his representative shall have the right to appeal before the judicial authorities against the measure which has restricted his personal freedom. The Law regulates his right of appeal in a manner which ensures that a judgement will be issued on it within a specified period, failing which he must be released."

Please reply with your course of action. Nothing short of nuking the thieving bastards would make me one happy tax-paying camper!! ) )

Warmest Regards

John Blennert

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