April 22, 2013

Public Information Department, Working Hand in Hand with Member States, Drawing Strength from Staff, Can Meet Contemporary Challenges of Spreading UN Message, GA PI/2050

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2013/pi2050.doc.htm

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Another "deserving" UN authority figure. The UN Committee on Information has elected Oman, represented by Ambassador Lyutha Sultan al-Mughairy, to serve as its Chairperson. The Committee is supposed to be concerned, among other things, with "the free circulation...of information." But here is just some of what the newly-released state department human rights report says about Oman. "The sultan has sole authority to enact laws through royal decree...The principal human rights problems were the inability of citizens to change their government, limits on freedom of speech...The government monitored private communications, including cell phone, e-mail, and Internet chat room exchanges...[I]t is illegal to insult any public official...The media generally does not operate freely...The government used libel laws and national security concerns as grounds to suppress criticism of government figures and politically objectionable views. Libel was a criminal offense, and the government strictly enforced laws with heavy fines and prison sentences. The government also prohibited publication of any material that "violated the security of the state."...Some books were not permitted in the country...The law restricts free speech via the Internet, and the government enforced the restrictions...Authorities monitored the activities of telecommunications service providers and obliged them to block access to numerous Web sites...All video-chat technologies, such as Skype, are illegal...The law details crimes that take place on the Internet, which "might prejudice public order or religious values"...Authorities have also applied the law against bloggers and social media users...The government limited academic freedom, particularly the publication or discussion of controversial matters such as domestic politics, through the threat of dismissal."