Friday, October 19, 2012

Tribal Clashes

Excuse my French, but sometimes the things that happen in Dhofar make me want to stand on the edge of a cliff (preferrably in Dhalkut) and shout 'WHAT THE F*** PEOPLE???".

In  case you hadn't heard, there were clashes between two tribes in the mountains above Taqah on Wednesday. A friend of mine was there accidently and was reporting to me from the scene. I honestly don't know what to say or what to think. Groups of men from Al Mahri tribe and Al Awaid tribe were arguing for ages over land, grass, and where animals could graze. These arguments ended up in a planned brawl. They descended upon each other from the hills with their weapons (If you have kids, remember the four tribes scene from the movie Brave? Same thing)
Eight people at least were injured and the police/army had to get involved. We're talking hundreds of people here. It's INSANE. (it may have been hundreds of observers as well according to one of the comments below)

Other tribes got involved to try and stop the fight, and some tribes had the audacity to encourage one side to kill. YES KILL.
In the end tribal Sheikhs managed to negotiate peacefully and it all ended.
And you know what? No one got arrested as far as I know. The ROP knew about it in advance. Are they terrified of the tribes down south? Are we that dangerous? Are they afraid of a rebellion? I honestly don't understand. Everyone in town is talking about it. It just feels so medieval.
I have a photo of the police and army on the scene as groups of men attack each other but for some reason it doesn't want to upload. I'll try again in a little while. In the meantime, the Times of Oman actually published a little piece on the fight. I'm surprised they got away with it. Usually the government tries its best to pretend tribalism doesn't exist in Oman.

PS (It was purely tribal. Not a fight between two random groups of people according to a comment below)

15 comments:

  1. "Are they terrified of the tribes down south? Are we that dangerous? Are they afraid of a rebellion?" I take it those questions are rhetorical!

    I guess the ToO article is less controversial as it neither names the tribes involved, nor mentions that they were armed!

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  2. It's almost comical, until you realize they were serious and wanted to hurt each other. O_O

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  3. Truly unbelievable. I think Dhofaris need to sit now and discuss (through their sheikhs) how to address the negative aspects of tribalism. Cooperation is key.

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  4. I'm Dhofari and I'm disappointed. We need to work together as tribes to make Dhofar what it is.

    We are 'Dhofaris', not 'Mahris or Awaids'

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  5. Am sorry to say you and your reporter are exaggerating. There was a fight yes, but it was not between The Two Tribes(two tribes means everyone). It was between few people(around 20 only) from each side, and there were no weapons except sticks and stones. Both sides have guns but they did not use their guns, because there was no intention for killing. Even-though the fight was tough and there were injuries, but there were some people from both sides trying to stop it.
    Yes, there were so many people where the fight took place BUT most of them came to SEE not to participate in the fight. Some of them came to stop the fight and be intermediates between the two sides.
    Why there was a big number of people? Because it was Wednesday, the whole nation moved to Jeloub to report.
    At the end two young men from the two sides agreed to solve the problem temporarily and hand it over to Wally of Taqah to solve it with sheiks and the governor permanently.
    The whole scene was embarrassing.

    I prefer not to mention the name of the tribes because it is not fair to show there is a problem between the

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  6. It was tribes as Gucci mentioned. Why shame to say tribe name? This is fact.

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  7. Now the "go to" source for Gulf News, UAE :-) http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/row-between-tribes-in-south-oman-gets-violent-1.1091707

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  8. Can't believe Gulf News just "quoted" you all the way. Not very good journalism....

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  9. Cheap Journalism on Gulf News. Couldn't they come up with ANY other sources? No offence to you, Gucci but it's unfair to use you like that without your knowledge

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  10. And to anonymous up there, 20 people represent one tribe. They are therefore TRIBES.

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  11. Further evidence - as if it were needed - that a tribal society eventually, inevitably, leads to war. Unless you make all of humanity your tribe there can never be peace.

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  12. No the tribes in South are not Dangerous.Only certain tribes like Al-Hakli and AlMahry.Not all tribes have power in Dhofar

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  13. Sarah it is very fair what Gulf News reported.The just reported what was written on this blog post.How is this unfair???

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  14. Mahri... mate the Bush tribe is powerful. Gurkhas are dangerous. Tribes fighting over subsistance farming was tough in the Middle Ages.

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