Fistfight Erupts in Kuwaiti Parliament

Kuwaiti Parliament

A remark by a Shiite parliamentarian referring to Kuwaiti citizens who are being held in the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as terrorists elicited a violent response from fellow Sunni lawmakers.

Shiite Calls Kuwaiti Prisoners “Al Qaeda Militants”

Kuwaiti lawmakers were meeting to discuss what should be done about the two Kuwaitis which the United States has so far refused to release. When Shiite MP Hussein Hussein Al Qallaf dismissed the two prisoners as “Al Qaeda” militants, Sunni lawmakers took extreme umbrage.

Sunni Muslim Brotherhood member Jamaan Al Harbash lashed out at Qallaf, saying that the lawmakers were not called to meet in order to discuss Al Qaeda, but rather to discuss the prisoners.

Angry Words Turn Quickly to Fisticuffs

As a result of this exchange others joined into the fray, which then led to blows between two Shiite and four Sunni MPs, prompting the acting speaker of the house, MP Abdullah Al Rumi to dismiss the session.

Later on, the speaker of the parliament Jassim Al Kharafi said that the incident was “shameful.” Kharafi decided to adjourn all further sessions of parliament until May 31st and also called for an investigation of the incident by the parliamentary bureau for investigations.

MP Rudhan Al Rudhan called for the parliament to be suspended of an entire month, asking the country’s leader to use his constitutional powers to close down the house.

Another Type of Terrorism

MP Adnan Al Mutawa, a Shiite who was cut under his eye during the brawl, accused the hardline MPs of not understanding the meaning of democracy, or at least not believing in it. He said that the attack by them on their opposing MPs is just another “form of terrorism.”

“A Kuwaiti from any sect can make mistakes, but the government and the country should provide him with a fair trial,” lawmaker Waleed Al Tabtabae said.

“This is a national issue, but unfortunately Qallaf wanted to break national unity and started calling them (Guantanamo detainees) terrorists and members of Al Qaeda,” he added.

Democracy Not Respected or Understood

Adnan Al Mutawa, fellow Shiite lawmaker stood up to defend Qallaf.

“Parliament members are free to express their views in parliament, and they should be respected,” Al Mutawa said.

“Whoever violates others for their points of views is far away from freedom and democracy.”

Oman Subsidizing Purchase of Boats for Fishermen

In a move designed to help the fishing industry of the Sultanate, the minister of agriculture and fisheries announced his approval of subsidies which will pave the way for fishermen to make purchases of the equipment they need to ply their trade.

Subsidies Will Help Fishing Industry

Dr. Fuad bin Ja’afar Sajwani issued his decision on Tuesday which will appropriate subsidies for the purchase of boats, equipment, engines, GPS devices and other materials which advance the practice of fishing.

Help With Additional Equipment

There will also be subsidies available for the purchase of containers and cold stores for the preservation of fish. In addition monies will be available to help boost the fish farming industry such as to establish fish farms and buying fish and fish feed. Included also are subsidies to support fish transportation and marketing.

Fisheries Crucial to Omani Economy

Aside for the oil and gas industry, fishing and fisheries are one of the highest contributors to the gross national product. The fisheries sector is also viewed as having a greater potential growth due to the fact that the fishing waters within the Omani sphere are considered one of the richest in the world.

Analysts recognize the vital role that the fisheries sector plays within the Omani economy. The fishing industry affects tens of thousands of fishermen and their employees. The great growth which the industry has experienced of late is a reflection of the confidence the public has in it in addition to its clear importance the industry has to the overall Omani economy.

Omani Company Sends Water Desalination Unit to Hard-Hit Japan

The Sur Medical East Trading Limited Liability Company, an Oman-based business which is the sole representative of the Japanese firm J-Action Commerce Co. Ltd., recently sent two mobile water desalination units for use by Japanese citizens who are living in emergency shelters in the city of Ishinomaki in the Miyagi Prefecture.

Trade Partners for Six Years

The two companies, Sur Medical Trading and J-Action Commerce have been partnering together over the past six years. When Japan was first hit by the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake and the subsequent calamitous tsunami, Bader bin Nasser Al Farisi, the managing director of Sur Medical, sent two mobile water desalination units to be sent to the area. (The units were from the Japanese company.)

“People were not having access to clean drinking water. The desalination units ordered by Al Farisi have been working there for them since April 17, with Omani national flags, to show the friendship of Omani people to Japan. People in the affected areas are very grateful to the people of Oman for this,” said the president of J-Action Commerce Co. Ltd., Hidaki Hashimoto to representatives of the media at the Japanese embassy in Muscat on Sunday.

Oman and Japan Trade

Big Support From Oman

Mr. Hashimoto further explained that, “This factory which was making water desalination units was severely hit by the quake. However, the additional orders from Oman came as a big support for them and they have started manufacturing desalination units again.”

Al Farisi added that the recent order of desalination units from Japan would then be exported to India and Africa.

Close Friends, Too

“Besides, three sets of large-scale desalination equipment will be imported into Oman, including one which will be installed in a Royal garden,” Al Farisi said.

The desalination units from J-Action have already been in use in Sur since September said Al Farisi. “They have been providing purified water supply in the rural areas and has been well accepted by the people.”

Hashimoto added that, “So far Bader has been to Japan three times and he is now a very close friend of mine.”

Talmiz Ahmad’s ‘Children of Abraham’ to be Launched in Oman

Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad

There will be a book launch at WH Smith, Jawaharat Al Shatti, on Saturday for the newly published Children of Abraham: The Clash of Messianic Militarisms, written by Talmiz Ahmad, who was the former ambassador to Oman representing India.

High Praise for “Children of Abraham”

Children of Abraham was published last year and is considered a landmark publication in the field of religion and violence, and has received outstanding reviews from Indian, Saudi and international scholars.

The author, Talmiz Ahmad is presently stationed as the ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, continuing a diplomatic career spanning 37 years, much of which having been spent in the Gulf states as well as West Asia.

Messianism for the Good and the Bad

The subject matter of the book is quite relevant to today’s world; exploring the role that ideology plays in modern-day violence. Ahmad discusses the organization and motivating impulse which propels militarists to assert their beliefs in extreme ways. The focus on messianic belief as a major factor in not only bringing comfort to those that adhere to the ideology is contrasted with the tendency for messianic militants to demonize those who are different. Ahmad asserts that messianic belief is often used as what he calls “divine sanction” for much of the extreme violence witnessed in the world today against “the Evil Other.”

What the Reviewers Have to Say

Faisal Devji of Oxford University reviewed Ahamad’s book in the journal ‘International Affairs’ from London: “–(in regard to) the debate on terrorism after 9/11 … writers of all hues feel compelled to identify themselves with one or another position within the conflict– Talmiz Ahmad’s clear-headed account of the theological reasoning that informs even the most ‘realistic’ narratives of all sides in the war on terror manages to stand outside this debate.”

Another review, by Lisa Kaki in “Arab News” from Jedda said, “Children of Abraham at War offers a fresh look at the situation in the Middle East with its focus on the role of messianism in contemporary politics, a force too often unacknowledged.”

Saeed Naqvi, Indian journalist commented that

“This book is a reassertion that the thinking ambassador is not quite extinct.”

Solid Growth Expected for Broadband Market in Oman

Ross Cormack, Chief Executive Officer for Nawras, a telecommunications firm in Oman, said that strong growth in the broadband market can be expected as more and more technology-savvy businessmen are demanding state-of-the-art technology in order to successfully compete in the world market-place.

Demand at Work and Home

More businessmen and others in Oman want to have fast and full internet access whether they are at work or at home, according to Cormack.

“Broadband devices are the future for the development of ICT. Wherever you go, you should be able to access high speed Internet easily and efficiently,” he said. “There is a vibrant base of business leaders in Oman and having the technology already available for them can only help to boost entrepreneurship further.”

Omanis Want Connectivity

Mr. Cormack also believes that the demand for more interactive broadband services as well as better nationwide connectivity have already been driving a real shift to a more multi-media focus while the impetus to connect all Omani citizens gains interest.

“Trends are showing a huge shift from linear television towards entertainment and social media on Internet, fixed and mobile and we believe interactive broadband services will encourage this move to grow,” he said.

“Major advancements have been made to the fiber for home technology in Oman,” Cormack added.

Smart Phones Driving Up Broadband Demand

One of the factors driving the demand for better broadband service is the increased demand from smart phone users who want to have complete access to internet services.

“Leisure has changed people’s lifestyle and smart phones reflect that,” Ross Cormack said. “In this context, more broadband access has to be provided, since people naturally want to use these new technologies to their full extent.”

Ross Cormack made these comments during an interview by the Oxford Business Group, as part of the research for “The Report: Oman 2012,” OBG’s upcoming analysis of business trends and investment opportunities in the Gulf State Sultanate.

AIWA Awards for Business Achievement Set for May 30th in Oman

As Oman continues to grow as a world class capital of business and finance new methods of ranking the best businesses are being established to help investors and businessmen make their crucial financial decisions.

Awards for Oman’s Best Businesses

One such important innovation is the upcoming awards ceremony sponsored by the Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal (AIWA.) The awards ceremony will recognize Oman’s highest achievers in the business world.

The event is going to be highly publicized, targeting the very top echelons of the Arabic speaking business community in the Sultanate of Oman. New indicators are being established for the industry, and for the first time Omani corporations will be singled out according to qualitative indicators of performance. Performance was assessed using a transparent survey according to the highest of international standards.

Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal (AIWA) is Oman’s leading Arabic monthly business magazine, and is published by United Media Services, (UMS.)

Ceremony at Al Bustan Palace

The event, billed in English as “Awards for Oman’s Best Performing Companies” will take place at the Al Bustan Palace on May 30, 2011. Oman’s minister of commerce and industry, HE Sheikh Sa’ad bin Mohammed al Mardhoof al Sa’adi, will be the guest of honor at the awards.

It is expected that the event will be attended by the most influential of Muscat’s corporate businessmen, offering all those interested a remarkable chance for networking among Oman’s best and brightest. Predictions estimate about 250 of Oman’s top business leaders, senior government officials and CEOs from a wide variety of ministries, business sectors and government agencies.

Pinnacle of Performance Awarded

In addition to AIWA there are several finance companies sponsoring the awards event, including Muscat Securities Market (MSM) and Gulf Baader Capital Markets SAOC (GBCM.)

“Achieving the pinnacle of corporate performance is the dream of every CEO. But very few CEOs manage to convert their dream into a reality. Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal Awards for Oman’s Best Performing Companies endeavors to recognize and celebrate the excellent performance of the listed companies who have made it to the top,” says Sandeep Sehgal, CE of UMS.

A total of 15 awards will be distributed to Oman’s top ranking companies. AIWA will also recognize two of Omani’s most successful citizens who have shown outstanding achievement in business and economic growth. The two awards for individuals will be in the categories of AIWA Global Omani of the Year and AIWA Life Time Achievement.

Royal Decree Paves Way for Islamic Banks in Oman

Despite the fact that the Middle East is where the heart of Islam lies, the Islamic banking sector is still a weak spot, especially when compared with the flourishing Islamic financial markets in Muslim south Asia.

New Financial Products in Middle East

There is no question that recent events in the Middle East which have increased uncertainty have not done the world of Middle East finance any favors; there nevertheless have been the sprouting up of a variety of new financial products across the region. As choices multiply and the industry matures in places like the Gulf States and Jordan, the issue of sharia-compliant banking options is beginning to be addressed.

Royal Decree Allows for Sharia-Compliant Banking in Oman

The latest action in this area has been taken in the Sultanate of Oman. Last Tuesday a royal decree was issued which allowed the creation of the country’s first Islamic banks.

Gigi Varghese, an analyst at Vision Securities in Oman, was taken by surprise by the timing of the move, but he agrees that the idea of allowing for sharia-compliant banking to be established in Oman has been discussed in the past.

Omani Money Might Come Home

The solution for people until now living in Oman has been to keep their money in deposit accounts which bear no interest. Wealthier depositors who are now utilizing banks outside of Oman can now potentially bring their money home. Murad Ansari, banking analyst at EFG-Hermes believes that because the vast majority of Oman’s deposit base is not so sophisticated the new laws will mostly bring the demand deposits away from the local conventional banks to place their money in the newly established Islamic banks.

Chief Executive of Omantel Welcomes 200 New Employees

As a result of the Oman royalty’s recent call to create 50,000 new jobs throughout the country, Omantel has introduced 200 new employees to its staff.

The workers’ training began on Sunday at the company’s new headquarters in Mawaleh. There, they met with the senior VPs and were assigned different divisions. The new staffers will be involved with ensuring that the company’s customers continue to get the best service; Omantel currently has the largest network in the area.

The company’s human resources department selected the 200 employees from amongst hundreds of applications. Priority was given to applicants who were the most qualified, with experience and education in the field of telecommunications. The Vice President of human Resources Dr. Ghalib Al Hosni said:

“We are very proud to be welcoming these new employees to the Omantel family. This is a highly important development for Omantel and will further strengthen our Omani workforce within in the business.” He continued, explaining that “This is recognized at the very top of the company which is why Chief Executive Dr. Amer Al Rawas was so keen to meet and personally welcome our new employees to the company. We take great pride in the development of our staff that is our greatest asset and ensuring their long-term development and training needs are fully met.”

Osama bin Laden Killed in Pakistan During US Military Operation

Osama bin Laden

The leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was killed in a US military operation which targeted his hideout in Abbottabad, about 61km north of Islamabad in Pakistan. President Barak Obama made the announcement of the notorious leader’s death on Sunday night which was met by a flurry of congratulations and pleased responses

Significant Achievement for the US

Obama said in a prepared statement which interrupted regular television programming that, “Tonight, I can report to the people of the United States and the world, the United States has carried out an operation that has killed Osama Bin Laden, a terrorist responsible for killing thousands of innocent people.

“The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date against al-Qaeda.

“We must also reaffirm that United States is not and will never be at war against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, in fact, he slaughtered many Muslims,” Obama added

The New York Times reported that bin Laden’s body was recovered from the compound and then buried at sea.

US President Obama

Congratulations Offered

A former president of the United States, George Bush, declared that the killing of bin Laden is a “momentous achievement.”

Crowds formed outside the White House as well as at the site of the destruction of the World Trade Center as the news spread of bin Laden’s demise.

Rosalind Jordan, a reporter for Al Jazeera in Washington, DC, said that the successful operation was the culmination of nine to ten months of planning.

“The fact that it happened inside Pakistan, there have been suggestions that Pakistani intelligence may have been protecting them,” she said.

Another Al Jazeera journalist, Patty Culhane, added that the US was able to utilize intelligence that was acquired last September, and using this information they were able to track bin Laden down via his couriers. They were then able to follow the couriers to bin Laden’s million dollar hideout.

Kamal Hyder, reporting from Pakistan for Al Jazeera explained that this outcome had surprised a lot of people.

“He was considered by many as a hero, but not to the extent that people would come out on the streets. The reaction so far has not been strong on the streets, perhaps a protest here or there by the religious parties,” Hyder said.

Osama bin-Laden Held Responsible for Massive Attacks on the US

The United States holds bin Laden and his al-Qaeda group as responsible for several serious attacks, including the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing over 200 people, which first put bin Laden on the ‘most wanted’ list; the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, an American destroyer anchored in Yemen, killing 17 US soldiers; and most famously, the attacks of 2001 on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, DC, which involved the hijacking of four separate planes and resulted in massive death and destruction with over 3,000 people murdered in one day.

Nokia Intoduces E7 Into Omani Market

Nokia’s premier smartphone, the E7, was officially launched in the Sultanate of Oman, marking its entrance into the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region of the world.

Oman and the Nokia E7 Smartphone

The Nokia E7 was introduced to the world last September, boasting the Symbian 3 operating system. It is also has a 4 inch Amoled ClearBack touch screen which will increase significantly its outdoor visibility. The E7 comes with a full QWERTY key pad which slides in and out for convenience and storage. It has an amazing 8 megapixel camera which comes complete with a dual LED flash and HD video capture.

Most important of all for Omani business leaders and others in need of a full-function, easy to use smartphone is that the Nokia E7 supports a full array of business applications from the most prominent technology providers such as Microsoft and IBM.

It is a great show of confidence that Nokia should choose Oman as the first of the MENA countries to distribute its state-of-the-art smartphone.

Hackers Target Mobile Devices as They Gain Popularity

In related news, a recent wave of security breaches in Oman was shown to be caused by the rising popularity of smartphones there. A recently published report by IT security solutions provider Symantec stated that hackers are now changing the focus of their trade onto mobile devices and away from computers. ‘The major mobile platforms have become ubiquitous enough to garner the attention of attackers,’ said the report.

The founder of knowledgeoman.com, Tariq Barwani explained that hacking into smartphones is definitely possible in Oman, but it is easily avoided. Users should refrain from downloading illegal copies of applications as well as never entering suspicious websites and never accepting unknown Bluetooth files.

“It could definitely happen here. The operating systems for smartphones are mini versions of those in computers, and if people understand the core of how these systems work, they could easily create Trojan viruses or back doors in systems which control how these operating systems work.”

Another IT expert, Saurabh Vats, the business development manager for Imtac, agreed that consumers must be aware that they can be targeted easily by hackers.

“Mobile devices have become an extension of our lives, and at the same time they have become a soft and easy target for those who are always on the hunt for easy money.”