Oman Recent Events and Developments
2002 was a watershed year for Omanis as Sultan Qaboos bin Said extended voting rights to all Omanis above 21. Previously voting rights were the exclusive luxury of the elites. In 2003 another political reform took place when first elections to the Consultative Council took place although it did little to change the council?s political set-up.
Women found representation in the Omani executive for the first time when a woman minister was appointed in 2004. Oman which was till now unscathed with the spectre of Islamic fundamentalism saw its first glimpse when 100 suspected Islamists were arrested for attempted coup but were later pardoned.
Omani trade received a boost in 2006 in the form of Oman-US FTA. In 2007 more than 50 people lost their lives when the Gonu, the worst tropical storm in decades, hit the country. Oman?s ecology and tourism received a jolt when the country?s Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was removed from UNESCO?s World Heritage site list, the first ever site to be de-listed, after the Oryx population dwindled significantly and the government cut down the sanctuary size by 90%.
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