Oman's women go to polls, but don't vote for women

Omani voters elect only one woman to the new 84-member Shura Council even though many women voted.

MUSCAT // Omani voters have elected only one woman to the new 84-member Shura Council despite a large turnout by women in Saturday's polls.

"We are all disappointed but it is what the voters wanted and we must respect that," Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, chairman of the interior ministry and electoral committee undersecretary, said yesterday.

The victorious female candidate, Nu'amah bint Jamayel Al Busaidi, will represent one of the areas of Muscat.

There were no female members on the outgoing council, but with women outnumbering men at some polling stations hopes were raised this year. Of more than 1,300 candidates, 77 were women. Two women won seats in elections in 2002 and 2005.

Electoral observers said most voters elected a member of their own tribe. "In many instances, people of the same tribe went to the polls and voted for their man. To them, tribal loyalty is more important than education or experience," said Ahmed Al Siyabi, an observer from the interior ministry.

In a rare political statement in April, Oman's leading cleric voiced strong support for female candidates and urged voters to avoid casting ballots along tribal lines.

Three candidates involved in protests this year demanding jobs and political reform won seats in the northern towns of Liwa and Izki, and Taqa in the south.

"We see it as a victory for the protesters with the election of these three men," said Ali Saif, a former protester from Sohar. "Protesters had their say and now they have proper representation in the Shura."

Salim Al Mashani, who won a seat in Taqa in the southern region of Dhofar, was briefly detained by police in April, with other protesters.

During the demonstrations, disaffected Omanis demanded higher wages, more jobs and an end to corruption. While not urging a change in government, many also called for more powers for the Shura.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has ruled Oman since 1970, promised after the unrest to give the Shura Council some legislative powers and announced programmes to create jobs and fight corruption.

He announced a monthly allowance for registered job-seekers, a higher minimum wage for Omani private-sector workers and 50,000 new public-sector jobs. He also set aside the equivalent of Dh9.55 billion for a package of employment initiatives.

About 520,000 people were registered to vote in the weeekend's elections, compared with 388,000 in the last election in 2007. Officials estimate yesterday's turnout was almost 80 per cent.

For the first time, candidates were allowed to campaign using the media and through public speeches. Many candidates, including women, put up street posters and pushed their policies on radio and television.

Oman was the first Gulf state to give women the right to vote and stand for public office, in 1994.

Created in 1991, the Shura has the authority to question ministers and advise the government on socio-economic issues but has no legislative power or role in defence, internal security or foreign policy matters.

* With additional reporting by Agence France-Presse