15 March 2011
MUSCAT: Protestors who have been staging a sit-in in front of the Majlis Al Shura building in Al Seeb discussed the need for setting up a new economic panel to keep a tab on the Sultanate's economy.
Continuing their strike for the 14th continuous day, the
protestors said that they will be in front of the Majlis till all their demands are met.
Nearly 700 protestors gathered in front of the Majlis and discussed the necessity of setting up a new economic committee along with salary hike issues and the need of a better education system, yesterday.
Talking to Times of Oman, Ahmed Shizawi, a protestor, said they will continue their peaceful sit-in. Even though 80 per cent of our demands are met, a few more issues are still to be resolved.
We want the government to set up an economic committee to monitor our economy and lead it to the path of progress. Moreover, our demands like higher salaries, better education system, trial of corrupt ministers and justice for Sohar firing victims are yet to be met."
"People's need should be the priority of the new economic committee. It should study the basic problems faced by the ordinary man. The panel should know the ground reality and then make the plans, which will be helpful for the ordinary man," Shizawi said.
Experts from various fields in the Sultanate led the discussions.
Ahmed Al Alawi, a protestor who is taking part in the protest actively for the last 14 days, said that even though the ministers are ousted, we should not let them walk scot-free.
"They plundered our nation for the last two decades. It is our country's money. So, they should be held responsible for that and should face trial," he said.
Pointing out the faults in the present education system in the Sultanate protestors said that a lot has to be done for the betterment of the education sector.
"In Oman, school level education is free but, the higher education is not affordable for everyone. Even if a student has good marks, if he doesn't have enough money for fees, he may not get a seat.
We see that a lot of Omani students are going to Asian countries for higher education. It shows that education quality is good and affordable in those countries.
This situation should have to be changed. We should initiate steps to improve the current education system," Shizawi added.
Media freedom was also discussed yesterday by the protestors.
Talking about the media situation in the Sultanate, protestors said that the media needs to be overhauled and a free press should be nurtured.
"Media should be given more freedom. If the country has to move ahead then we should not curb media. A journalist should not be threatened. The image we have in the West is bad.
People in the West say that Omani media is timid. If this opinion has to be changed then we should give more freedom to the media," Shizawi said.
Mediapersons, broadcasters, administrative staff and technicians staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Information last week, demanding ouster of the minister of information and the undersecretary at the Ministry. "Corruption at the Ministry of Information should also be ended.
Several mediapersons have left the country and are working abroad because of the suppression of freedom of thoughts and views," Shizawi added.
On the salary hike issue, protestors said that both Government and private companies should consider the salary hike issues seriously.
"A lot of qualified and experienced candidates are not getting the salary they deserve. Both Government and Private firms should look into the issue seriously," Salima Al Rajhi, a protestor said.
The protestors started their indefinite strike in front of the Majlis building on February 28.
MUSCAT: Protestors who have been staging a sit-in in front of the Majlis Al Shura building in Al Seeb discussed the need for setting up a new economic panel to keep a tab on the Sultanate's economy.
Continuing their strike for the 14th continuous day, the
protestors said that they will be in front of the Majlis till all their demands are met.
Nearly 700 protestors gathered in front of the Majlis and discussed the necessity of setting up a new economic committee along with salary hike issues and the need of a better education system, yesterday.
Talking to Times of Oman, Ahmed Shizawi, a protestor, said they will continue their peaceful sit-in. Even though 80 per cent of our demands are met, a few more issues are still to be resolved.
We want the government to set up an economic committee to monitor our economy and lead it to the path of progress. Moreover, our demands like higher salaries, better education system, trial of corrupt ministers and justice for Sohar firing victims are yet to be met."
"People's need should be the priority of the new economic committee. It should study the basic problems faced by the ordinary man. The panel should know the ground reality and then make the plans, which will be helpful for the ordinary man," Shizawi said.
Experts from various fields in the Sultanate led the discussions.
Ahmed Al Alawi, a protestor who is taking part in the protest actively for the last 14 days, said that even though the ministers are ousted, we should not let them walk scot-free.
"They plundered our nation for the last two decades. It is our country's money. So, they should be held responsible for that and should face trial," he said.
Pointing out the faults in the present education system in the Sultanate protestors said that a lot has to be done for the betterment of the education sector.
"In Oman, school level education is free but, the higher education is not affordable for everyone. Even if a student has good marks, if he doesn't have enough money for fees, he may not get a seat.
We see that a lot of Omani students are going to Asian countries for higher education. It shows that education quality is good and affordable in those countries.
This situation should have to be changed. We should initiate steps to improve the current education system," Shizawi added.
Media freedom was also discussed yesterday by the protestors.
Talking about the media situation in the Sultanate, protestors said that the media needs to be overhauled and a free press should be nurtured.
"Media should be given more freedom. If the country has to move ahead then we should not curb media. A journalist should not be threatened. The image we have in the West is bad.
People in the West say that Omani media is timid. If this opinion has to be changed then we should give more freedom to the media," Shizawi said.
Mediapersons, broadcasters, administrative staff and technicians staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Information last week, demanding ouster of the minister of information and the undersecretary at the Ministry. "Corruption at the Ministry of Information should also be ended.
Several mediapersons have left the country and are working abroad because of the suppression of freedom of thoughts and views," Shizawi added.
On the salary hike issue, protestors said that both Government and private companies should consider the salary hike issues seriously.
"A lot of qualified and experienced candidates are not getting the salary they deserve. Both Government and Private firms should look into the issue seriously," Salima Al Rajhi, a protestor said.
The protestors started their indefinite strike in front of the Majlis building on February 28.
© Times of Oman 2011
