Oman protestors call for fight against corruption

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 6:34 PM

OMAN PROTESTS Omanis were reported to have been calling for higher wages and fixed costs for basic food items, which have dramatically risen amid the global downturn (ITP Images)

Around 200 Omanis took to the streets on Monday to demonstrate against corruption and high food prices, it has been reported.

Despite protests and trade unions being largely prohibited in the Gulf, police did not intervene in the protest, said the newswire AFP.

Protesters chanted slogans calling for an end to corruption and carried banners saying “Rising prices have destroyed the dreams of ordinary citizens”.

The crowd, which gathered outside the housing ministry, were reported to have been calling for higher wages and fixed costs for basic food items, which have dramatically risen amid the global downturn.

The Omani demonstration comes days after a revolt in Tunisia which toppled the 23-year presidency of Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali.

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Posted by: Telcoguy Sunday, 23 January 2011 4:25 PM[UAE] - UAE

Actually commodities are at a high price right now, even with the world still going through a quite bad recession, so it may be that there are 'real' reasons (supply and demand) for the high prices of food.
Demand from China is still very strong, and as their diet is shifting towards meat that is is acting as a lever on the demand for cereals (2kgs of cereals for a kg of chicken, 10-15 for a kg of beef I think) It is not as bad as 2008, luckily.
But I agree with you on the impact this is having specially on poorer people. I would not be surprised to see rioting if food prices keep rising in places like PI or even Pakistan; actually my business partner there was telling me about how an average family can barely have meat once per month.

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Posted by: Abraham Wednesday, 19 January 2011 3:10 PM[UAE] - uae

On the mark, we are all dependant on this lifeline and as long as we are attached they will do what they like, prices will keep going up no matter what..

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Posted by: Saudi Engineer Wednesday, 19 January 2011 12:06 PM[UAE] - Saudi Arabia

My comment isn't directly related to the main subject but....

What's with food prices?? And prices in general? During an economic boom they shoot up, during a downturn they still increase, signifcantly. Does the consumer ever get a break? I can understand prices increasing during rapid economic growth, due to increased demand and a general rise in energy prices, basic commodities etc. But what's the justification of food prices never coming back down? No matter how bad the economic situation, no matter how far energy and comoddity prices retreat. Is it just greedy store owners trying to make up their losses in the stock market and other investments, or is there a decent reason?

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