Muscat: About 500 Omanis, mostly youths, staged a peaceful Green March on Friday in the ministry area in the Al Khuwait District of Muscat, demanding better wages, lower prices and an end to corruption.
This was their second march in a month. On January 17, 200-odd young Omanis marched on the same route pressing the government to meet their demands.
"We will continue to take out peaceful marches until our demands are met," one of them said over a hand-held microphone at the end of the march.
He said that they would submit a memorandum to the authorities regarding their demands. "If our demands are not met we will meet again and walk again in a peaceful march," he said as the crowd cheered him loudly.
The march started at around 4pm from the Ministry of Housing and after covering about three or four kilometres turned back from the Oil and Gas Ministry roundabout and ended at the Housing Ministry.
Meanwhile, the security men kept a safe distance from the marchers and allowed them to go ahead with their rally. Apparently the marchers obtained prior permission from the relevant authorities for the Green March.
Supporting youth
"I am here to support the country's youth in their demands for jobs, better wages, end to corruption," Habiba Al Hinai, one of the few women marching, told Gulf News.
Habiba, who is a known sportswoman in Oman, stressed that her support was for a peaceful march. "I would also ask people to resist from using bad language when they shout slogans," she said. Habia, draped in the Omani flag, said she would like more Omanis to join in supporting the youth.
