Whoa. Local News.

Brief Update:
(1) Yesterday around 1200 people marched down the highway after Friday prayers at the 'People's Square' (sitin area) in Salalah. Why? To remind authorities that they're continuing with the sit-in until their demands are met. It's been two friggin months already. They put up two huge new banners. One says 'Jobs for all - cancel loans - Islamic banks!' (there's a fourth element but I can't remember ...). The second one says 'We're strong - We'll Stay - United' معتصمون - مرابطون- صامدون

.The Friday sermon yesterday was a little tough. The speaker, a Mr. Hardan, addressed His Majesty in parts of the sermon in a rather .... rough manner? Many of the people who were there felt uncomfortable after the sermon. Anyway, they marched and again Salalah made it to the front page of the newspaper this morning.

.(2) Murder in Salalah: on the weekend a senior official (deputy-wali) from Salalah murdered another senior official in the centre of town right by Al Shanfari mosque. Both men were extremely well known and the town is baffled. Why would someone in such a senior position murder someone (died of gun-shot wounds) in the centre of town in a public parking lot? It makes no sense,but it happened. The murderer, from a very well-respected mountain tribe confessed almost immediately afterwards and some claim he may have confessed to the crime without committing it because he's more likely to get out of jail by paying the family of the deceased a huge settlement. The 'real' murderer may have been a younger man from his family and most people believe it was an honor killing (involving a woman? a man? who knows). I hope wasta doesn't play a role in solving the murder (as was the case in previous crimes) and I hope the police crack down on weapons in Salalah. Everyone has weapons! It's frightening. I hope the truth comes out and we break these useless traditions of protecting the 'reputation' of certain families by covering up what they've done. In all cases, please say a prayer for the families of both men. What both wives must be going through.... I can't decide whether it's better to have dead husband or a murderer for a spouse. Ugh. May God give them strength to get through this. Ameen. What are your thoughts on this? Are you aware of any crimes in Salalah that were covered by 'wasta' over the years?

.(3) Say goodbye to Al Haffa Corniche/beach as we know it.The families living on the ocean received their settlement from the government just a couple of weeks ago and should be out of their beachfront houses by the end of this year I assume. Sad. Sad. Sad. I know I can't stop development but Al Haffa beach is the ESSENCE of this town.

Goodnight!