Calm returns as Qaboos seeks to assure citizens

Muscat: Life limped back to normal in Sohar as Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed told a delegation of the elected Majlis Asshura members that decisions taken always give priority to increasing the citizens’ standard of living.

Sultan Qaboos on Wednesday night received at Hisn Al Shumoukh in northeast of Oman, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Isa’ee, Chairman of Shura and members of the Shura Council.

In the northwest, at the industrial port town of Sohar, the Globe Roundabout was functional again Thursday morning as army patrols took positions but around 50 protesters continued to literally camp in the middle of the junction also known as Sohar Roundabout.

Now the protesters have pitched tents in the middle but the number of protesters has dwindled drastically, at least this morning.

“I took three rounds of the roundabout that was almost completely blocked since Friday,” a resident of Sohar told Gulf News by phone, adding that some of the placards displayed in Arabic by the protesters proclaimed loyalty to the country’s ruler.

Some of the protesters were miffed at being branded anti state by some. “We love our ruler and are completely loyal to him but we are peacefully asking for some reforms,” a protester at the Shura building in Muscat told Gulf News.

Some of the protesters at the Shura building stayed put whole night as they have pitched a couple of tents at outside the country’s parliament where 84 elected members hold consultative sessions.

On Wednesday night grapevine was abuzz with stories that protesters at the Globe Roundabout were given an ultimatum to vacate the area or else face action from army. People claimed to have received SMS saying that army has raised red alert.

However, sources confirmed that hospitals associated with the security forces, including the Royal Oman Police, are on red alert.

It seems worst is over as protesters in Sohar as well as in the other parts of the country have pledged not to allow anyone to indulge in any kind of arson or sabotage.

During his meeting with elected members of the country, Sultan Qaboos appreciated their efforts contribution with the government to push forward the comprehensive development march in the country.

He told the memers that the focus in the last years has been on building economic base that is capable of achieving welfare for all citizens. “The aim of these development projects and infrastructure services has been to outreach the development to all parts of the Sultanate.”

The Sultan pointed out to his great interest in everything that improves the standard of living of citizens which will be more focused on during the current stage.

He noted that many achievements have been made which will undoubtedly benefit the coming generations. Therefore, he pointed out, that shura had to play its role in raising public awareness of the importance of maintaining these achievements against those who commit acts that tarnish the image of the country and its authentic values. Such acts also damage the public and private achievements.

He assured the elected representative of Omani citizens that the laws and regulations in the country secure the rights of everyone to express their views and legitimate demands.