Columns

True education
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How to fix the price in Omani market
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Progress sans jobs
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How to combat monopoly in the local markets?
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Two-child policy
Hasan Kamoonpuri - MYANMAR recently re-imposed a two-child limit for
Counting money through dots and lines
ON THE AIRWAVES - By Lakshmi Kothaneth - HOW many times have we take
Promising future
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Capacity for extreme cruelty!
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Effective ways to wow your audience
By Salim Al Riyami — WHETHER you are delivering a speech, running a me
The bigger picture!
By Majed Al Sulaimany — Before I start on the main topic, I do not min
Money matters
By Mohammed Al Balushi — IT was reported that a local bank had lost ar
Core of the Business called ‘Sales’
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Start with low cost, and grow at your own convenience
By Syeda Ishrat J — Continuation from the last week on the topic: To
Demand for hiring people with cumulative experience
By Haider Al Lawati — IN some countries around the world, the demand f
Exchanging data
By Nasir Hafeez — COMMUNICATION between an individual or an entity and
Stealing One’s Thunder
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Leadership can’t be faked
By Susan Bagyura — Leadership is a funny thing in that it just can’t b
A new window
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Slump continues in Britain’s retail trade sector
By Andy Jalil — Foreign Correspondent — IT has been a long struggle in

Say no to sedition and inflammatory insinuation

Wed, 20 June 2012

OUTLOOK — By Mohammed Al Hadhrami — Most of what is written by bloggers is contrary to the Omani morals which are known for the spirit of tolerance and noble values. Some of these are irresponsible writings stemming from personal interests; others invite sedition and ignite unrest among the people. There are libelous writings that aim at damaging the reputation of the symbols of the nation by spreading rumours and falsehood about them. Being as such the likes of these blogs can trigger turmoil and harm the security of a nation known for peace.

Today’s world is teeming with terror and violence and many countries are suffering from insecurity and bloodletting caused by their own citizens. Political struggle in these countries has fuelled social instability and damaged the economy which caused countless troubles not the least of which is the degradation of education and health conditions of the citizens. Innocent people are being killed in cold blood and the citizens have lost dignity.

No-one wants to see this happening in Oman and that is why we call upon those bloggers not to tamper with our national security and not to spoil the excellent reputation of this nation. The values of peaceful co-existence are deeply-ingrained in the Omani culture and no one has the right to act in a way that could tamper with the national security. Please don’t spoil the peaceful atmosphere and don’t damage the excellent reputation which is the most valuable feature of any nation.

Unfortunately, many blogs and sites publish inflammatory insinuation and much nonsense that incite sedition and disseminate falsehoods. With the spread of rumours the truth will disappear like raindrop falling upon a vast arid desert. We are against oppression and political tyranny and we reject arbitrary detention. Similarly we are against the negative writings that spread the insecurity in this peaceful society. Our dreams have always been to enjoy peace, security and stability.

Following the arrest last week of a number of writers and bloggers some sites published the names of those arrested. Some posted opinions slandering the arrested, others defended them as being literati. No one is immune against prosecution if he or she crosses the limits of freedom and insult or defame others, because the dignity of individuals and the values of the society are protected by the law.

Freedom of expression does not mean that writing and publishing becomes open for anyone without rules and principles of control. No one is allowed to write anything irrespective of the consequences which can damage someone’s reputation or harm the nation as a whole. If freedom of expression is taken as something without boundaries and without rules, the social networking sites will become unbridled news agencies that are not subject to control.
I would like to call on the bloggers to beware of what they write and to be wise enough not to insult anyone and not to plunge into defamation and libel.