Muscat: A group of activists assembled outside Majlis Al Shura building in Seeb district of Muscat, demanding the release of protesters held in a recent swoop in three cities.
However, an hour after the number of activists started increasing, army vehicles descended on the venue, where for almost two months activists had camped until the army removed their tents and drove them away last Thursday.
"About 15 to 20 activists were arrested from outside Shura building and in Al Khuwair," Nasser Saleh, a leading activist in Muscat, told Gulf News.
Another activist Eshaq Akbari tried to approach the army officers but initially they brushed him off and refused to get engaged in talks with the protesters.
However, later a senior officer talked with the protesters. Nasser told Gulf News that they demanded, from army officers present outside Shura office, to know where the arrested activists were and they be released.
"We will wait until we get a satisfactory reply," he said.
Nasser said that he had visited Sur on Friday night where a large number of protesters have been taken into custody. "They were staging peaceful sit in like in Muscat and Salalah," Nasser informed.
According to an eye witness, a mild stone pelting incident took place in Sur late last night.
Amendments
A placard held by an activist in Muscat questioned Human Rights Commission about violation of human rights.
Basma Al Kiyumi, a lawyer and leading activists demanding reforms, called ridiculous recent amendment made to the Criminal Procedure Law in the country. "They have made changes under which now police can arrest someone without taking prior permission from the prosecutor's office," she said.
Another amendment allows security agencies in the country to hold a person without producing in the court for 15 days unlike only two days before the amendments were made. "That 15-day period is extendable to another 15 days," she said.
The activists are also upset with this amendment that gives security authorities in the country to hold protesters without producing them in court for almost one month.
"We want everyone to be released," another activist stressed.
The waiting game continued outside the Shura building in Muscat as darkness descended with some fearing confrontation.
Meanwhile, Salalah remained tensed with a lot of rumours floating, including a death due to firing. However, it later turned out to be an accidental death.
The shops which were forced shut by the army on Thursday and Friday near Governor's Office, opened Saturday but the southern coastal city remained tensed with security forces making their presence felt in big numbers.