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Royal Magazine - Issue No .125- May 2011 t

اأوامـــــر �ســــاميـة Royal Decree Appointing بتح�سين معا�سات المحالين على التقاعد قبل Inspector General of Police n المر�ســـــــــوم ال�سلطاني ) 2002/2 ( and Customs �سرطة عمان ال�سلطانية Job 10,000 تفوز بجائزة اأف�سل خدمة اإلكترونية Opportunities

Available at ROP تن�سغل بغري الطريق e the roadال Keep your mind on International Civil Defence Day t Marked n

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA o C

Editor-in-Chief Col/ Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Jabri AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA R O P N e w s Royal Decree appointing Inspector General of R O P N e w s R O P N e w s Police and Customs Food for Thought: I. Training Policy, Royal the objec- Oman Police tives, ensuring quality perfor- mance and services, planning Although the methods of and implementing the training training, and the names and courses according to the needs, positions of the training and assessing the results of 1- Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning “ Harbour Wave”. departments in the organi- these courses. 2- Trafalgar Square in London was created in memory of the zational structure differ from victory of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 R O P N e w s R O P N e w s 3- The Great Wall of China is the longest artificial structure in Editorial Board R O P N e w s one institution to another, The ROP training policy identi- the need to attach impor- fied the joint responsibilities of the world, stretching for 2400 km. tance to training remains the the departments involved in the by:1st Lieutenant 4- Mozart composed four short piano pieces when he was six same. training process. years old Abdullah Said Al-Harthy 5- Winston Churchill is regarded as Britain’s greatest 20th- In Royal Oman Police the II. Beginnings of Training at Directorate of Public Relations century statesman AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA training policy was issued ROP 6- Einstein didn’t speak until the age of three Mohammed bin Khalfan Addegheshi Adil Mubarak Al Zadjali in the Decision No.8/2005 7- Thomas Edison patented more than 1000 inventions Lt. Col/ Since established, the ROP dated 27 February 2005, 8- It has been estimated that the present English vocabulary which stipulates that training considered training an impor- consists of more than one million words is an organized and planned tant factor to enable the police 9- Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterpiece “The Canterbury Tales” was His Majesty Sultan Qaboos issued a Royal Decree as follows: activity aimed to improving personnel to carry out their main one of the most important influences on the development of Royal Decree No 40 / 2011 on appointment of an inspector general of police and customs. knowledge and skills of the duties in relation to maintain- English Literature We, , Sultan of Oman, ROP personnel to enhance ing the public security. Basic 10- Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frederic After perusal of the Basic Law of the State issued by Royal Decree No. 101 / 96, and according to the their efficiency, and qualify training programmes were pro- Bartholdi and given by France to the US to celebrate the US Amer bin Sultan Al Tawqi vided at the then ROP train- independence in 1876. Lt. Col/ requirements of the public good, have decreed as follows: them for their present and ing school in Qurum, and later Definitions: Article I. Major General Hassan bin Muhsin bin Salem Al Shuraiqi shall be promoted to the rank of gen- future tasks. - Etymology: A science which deals with the origin and devel- eral, and shall be appointed Inspector General of Police and Customs in the rank of minister. at Sultan Qaboos Academy for The training policy is based Police Sciences in to opment of words. It is derived from Greek (etymos “true”, logos Article II. This Decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be in force as from the date of on some principles, includ- cope with the rapid expansion “word”) its issuance. ing the belief that training of the force. The training pro- - Surrealism: Movement in literature and fine arts founded by Issued on 13 Dec. 2011 is fundamental for realizing grammes covered some spe- the French poet and critic Andre Breton which emphasizes the His Excellency the Lt. General took oath of office before His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on 16 / 3 / role of the unconscious in creative activity Lt Col/ Jamal bin Habib Al Quraishi 2011 at Bait Al Baraka Palace. 10,000 job opportunities available at ROP In response to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s instructions to employ 50,000 Omani job Training courses role seekers in the public and the private sectors, Royal Oman Police have the availability of 10,000 Fahad bin Saif Al Hosni opportunity at the police force. The first batch of the new recruits have already joined work and Captain/ were sent to in Nizwa for training. Coordination is underway now with the Ministry of Manpower for further recruitment. The training centres are at the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police in Sciences, the Security and Safety Services Establishment, the Task Force Police Command, the Oil and Gas Establishments Security Police Command, and Dhofar Governorate Police Command. ROP development plans The remaining numbers of recruits will added to the training centres respectively following the completion of the first batch of trainees.

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA AL-AIN ASSAHIRA 4 16 Issue No.125 April 2011 Issue No.125 April 2011 18 Issue No.125 April 2011 Issue No.125 April 2011 Issue No.125 April 2011 Editing Director Issue No.125 April 2011 Captain/ Hilal bin Mohammed Al Harrasi 4 16 18

Editors Lt/ Nabhan bin Sultan Al Harthy Corporal/ Zakaria bin Salem Al Subhi Civilian Officer/ Thuraia bint Humood Al Aisaria 4 R O P N e w s Sub-editors (English Section) 16 Role of training courses in ROP development plans 1st Lt/ Ahamed bin Ja’far Al Sarmi 18 knowledge Garden 1st Lt/ Abdullah bin Said Al Harthy Civilian Officer/ Bashir Abdel Daim Bashir

Lay Out Producer First Sergeant Major / Yousuf Bin Bahadar Al Balushi

Photographers Statements of fact and opinion within Al Ain As’Sahira 1st Sergeant/ Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Qarni Magazine are made on the responsibility of the author Corporal/ Yaser bin Ali Al Dhanki alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the Royal Oman Police. They are not to be reproduced or Corporal/ Salem bin Yaqoob Addfae cited without prior permission from the ROP. Royal Decree appointing Inspector General of Police and Customs R O P N e w s AL-AIN ASSAHIRA

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos issued a Royal Decree as follows: Royal Decree No 40 / 2011 on appointment of an inspector general of police and customs. We, Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, After perusal of the Basic Law of the State issued by Royal Decree No. 101 / 96, and according to the requirements of the public good, have decreed as follows: Article I. Major General Hassan bin Muhsin bin Salem Al Shuraiqi shall be promoted to the rank of Lt. General, and shall be appointed Inspector General of Police and Customs in the rank of minister. Article II. This Decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be in force as from the date of its issuance. Issued on 13 Dec. 2011 His Excellency the Lt. General took oath of office before His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on 16 / 3 / 2011 at Bait Al Baraka Palace.

10,000 job opportunities available at ROP In response to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s instructions to employ 50,000 Omani job seekers in the public and the private sectors, Royal Oman Police have the availability of 10,000 job opportunities at the police force. Following coordination with the Ministry of Manpower some batches of the new recruits have already been sent to the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences in Nizwa for training.

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Royal Decree: pensions increase for ROP retirees

Within His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s attention to the happiness of the Omani cit- izens and to the improvement of their living conditions, His Majesty ordered the increase of pensions of the Royal Oman Police pensioners, who have retired before Royal Decree No. 2/2002. Accordingly, instead of 60% of the basic salary, the pension will become 80% of the basic salary plus 50% of the housing, electricity and water allowances. On this occasion His Excellency, Lt. General Hassan bin Muhsin bin Salem Al Shuraiqi held a dinner party for the pensioners and informed them of His Majesty’s orders.

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA Issue No.125 May 2011 5 Decade of Action for Road Safety’ launched R O P N e w s AL-AIN ASSAHIRA

The Sultanate launched the accidents and maintain laws and bear their responsi- Global Plan for the Decade safety. This is a fixed and bilities side by side with the of Action for Road Safety permanent policy, under government. 2011 – 2020 under the aus- the guidance of His Majesty The event was held in pres- pices of His Excellency Sultan Qaboos who closely ence of the representatives Lieutenant General Hassan follows this issue and gives of the organi- bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, the his directives to Royal Oman sations such as the World Inspector General of Police Police (ROP) to ensure safety Health Organistaion (WHO) and Customs on May 11 at of human life and property. and UNICEF among other the Traffic Safety Institute. Work will continue to achieve high profile officials of the the prospective aims of this government, security and pri- In a statement on the occa- plan .Al Shraiqi also hailed vate sector organisations. sion, Al Shraiqi, who is the efforts of the public and In her speech, Dr also Head of the National private agencies, as well as, Jihan Tawilah, WHO Committee for Road Safety, individuals for their tangible Representative in the said it is important for the role, initiatives and studies Sultanate said the declara- Sultanate to join the rest of in this field. He affirmed that tion of the Decade of Action the world in launching this this solidarity and respon- by the UN General Assembly road safety plan based on sible feeling by everyone will is one step in the right direc- the UN resolution to intensify achieve the sought aim. tion towards safer roads and efforts to reduce the number His Excellency Ali bin better lives across the globe. of road accidents. Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister What we hope to achieve col- The Sultanate takes great of Sports Affairs, said this lectively in the next decade efforts in this field and has year witnessed a decline in is to stabilise and then always been a pioneer in road accidents compared to reduce road traffic fatalities taking practical measures last year. All sectors of soci- around the world by the year to limit the number of road ety should abide by the traffic 2020.

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If this ambitious target is achieved, a cumulative total of 5 million lives, 50 million ROP services at serious injuries and US$ 5 trillion could be saved over the next Decade. The WHO is pleased that, Comex 2011 even before this global com- mitment, the 20 recommenda- tions outlined at the National Symposium on Traffic Safety (NSTS) and endorsed by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, are in line with the global plan. Joint efforts should concen- trate on the five pillars of this plan, which focus on overall road safety management, safer road networks, safer vehicles, safer road users and post-crash response. The Decade comes at a time when road traffic injuries are a major public health con- cern, not only globally. They claim 1.3 million deaths glob- ally; 20 - 50 millions disabili- ties and more specifically, up to 1.5 per cent of the gross national products in Eastern The Royal Oman Police participated in Comex 2011 held Mediterranean countries. on April 25 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. The ROP’’s corner reviewed the services rendered to the public via its website, the DG of Passports and Residence, the DG of Civil status, and the DG of Traffic. The ROP’’s corner also briefed the visitors about the electronic polling system that has been installed in citizens’ identity cards in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior to avoid the duplication of votes during the Majlis Asshura elections.

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA Issue No.125 May 2011 7 R O P N e w s AL-AIN ASSAHIRA

International Civil Defence Day marked The Sultanate of Oman represented by the Directorate General of Civil Defence, Royal Oman Police observed the annual International Civil Defence Day, which falls on the first of March every year. This year, the civil defence day was celebrated under the banner “ Woman’s Role in the Civil Protection” to highlight women’s role in civil protection, first-aid, awareness and information. Women are mainly responsible for the protection of children at home from drowning, burning and electrocution. Women contribute also to awareness activities to enhance the sense of prevention among community groups, especially women and children. Lectures, exhibitions and practical drills will be organized at schools, colleges, universities, Oman women’s asso- ciations and women training centres.

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ROP celebrates AGCC traffic week

Royal Oman Police celebrated on 13/3/2011 the 27th AGCC Traffic Week, which is observed this year under the banner: Let’s Work Together to Reduce Accidents to highight the necessity to solve road accidents problem, safeguard lives and spread the sense of road safety among people. On this occasion, the Directorate General of Traffic organized an exhibition at City Centre. The exhibition consisted of 5 main sections in the form of towers each containing an aspect of road traffic. On 14/3/2011the activities of Shell Prize for Road Safety were held at the Traffic Safety Institute in collaboration between Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Education and Shell Development, Oman. Delegates from AGCC directorates of traffic, who were in Oman to participate in this occasion visited the traffic accidents victims at Khawla Hospital, talked to them about their accidents, wished them early recovery and gave them gifts.

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R O P N e w s 10 and how to solve them. them. solve to how and and governorates all in regions, ways of providng work more convenient services for the public, police the probems facing the the the police work of improvement to regard with issues discussed meeting The Qurum. Headquarters, Police the at 3/5/2011 on divisions the ROP the of leaders with met Customs and Police of General Inspector Shuraiqi, Al Mohsin bin Hassan Excellency His eevd t i Eclec’ ofc a te oie edures Qrm Biair l Mohammed Ali Brigadier Qurum. Headquarters, delegation. accompanying his and Interior of Ministry Police Qatar, in Force Security the Internal the of Commander the at Excellency His of Office of office Director Al-Rashed, Excellency’s Customs his and Police at of General Inspector received Shuraiqi, Al Muhsin bin Hassan General Lt. Excellency His oa Oa Police Oman Royal Issue No.125 May 2011 May No.125 Issue A R I H A S S A N I A - L A Inspector General meets with ROP with meets General Inspector leaders

Guests AL-AIN ASSAHIRA R O P N e w s

Study and consultancy contract for computerization of customs works

A contract was signed on 9/3/2011 for a study and consultancy for the computerization of the customs work at Royal Oman Police. The contract was signed with Bozand Company ( EM ) for RO 1,200,000. Under this contract the company will carry out a technical study of the computerization of the work of and the services provided by the Directorate General of Customs, and will provide consultancy during the implementation of the project. The signing of the contract was attended by Major General Salem bin Musallam bin Ali Qatan, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs, some police officers and company officials.

Major General Salem bin Musallam bin Ali Qatan, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs received on 9/1/2011 Brigadier Jawad Hussein A’shatti, Public Attorny, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait and his accompanying delegation during their visit to the Sultanate.

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R O P N e w s 12 also a coordination and follow-up section. follow-up and coordination a also chemical evidence, traces of counterfeiting, fire arms, machines and fire. The building comprises technically standards, biological, of examination international the for facilities at with investigations criminal up-to-date constructed for equipped been has building new Its Investigations. The Directorate of Forensic Laboratory is part of the Directorate General of Enquiries and Criminal the includes also building station. ambulance Azaiba the The and unit the of store medical room. rest students and library a laboratories, medical lecture rooms, classrooms, includes that block educational an and sections, operational and istrative admin all comprises that block administrative an of consists building division ambulance The inaugurating cut were Tapes laboratory. commissioned. forensic the and division, ambulance the of buildings were new the respectively Qalhat by provided ambulances new The staff. laboratory forensic the to awarded were medals and Oath, Hippocratic the took also who paramedics, graduate 67 the to given were certificates and Prizes company. the by to the purchasing of 15 new ambulance vehicles within the social investment programme adopted contribution financial its for company Gas Natural Liquefied Qalhat thanked He ceremony. the in speech a delivered Division Ambulance the of Al-Siyabi Hilal bin Khalid The officer, medical paramedics. civilian emergency the of batch seventh the of graduation with started ceremony The the heights. airport the at and Laboratory Forensic Division Ambulance the of buildings new the 21/2/2011 on opened Police Oman Royal Issue No.125 May 2011 May No.125 Issue A R I H A S S A N I A - L A forensic laboratory buildings opened buildings laboratory forensic Ambulance division, Ambulance - AL-AIN ASSAHIRA R O P N e w s

Discipline students of Al Sahwa Schools graduated

His Excellency Mohammed bin Al Zubair bin Ali, Advisor of His Majesty the Sultan for Economic Planning presided over on 7/3/2011 the graduation ceremony of batch 15 of the military discipline course for Al Sahwa Schools. The ceremony was held at the training ground of the Police Taskforce Command and attended by some of their highnesses and excellences, a number of senior officers of the security and military organizations, mem- bers of the Schools’ council of trustees and parents of the students. Sixty nine of form 9 and form 10 students participated in the course, which was conducted within the cooperation between the Schools and the Police Task Force Command. It is aimed to inculcate in the students values and principles of patriotism, military discipline, sense of security, enhance their physical fitness, and to train them on arms and military skills.

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R O P N e w s 14 in crime control and repatriation of criminals. of repatriation and control crime in capabilities organisation’s international the enhancing for acclaim global gained which unit a Muscat, of ex-chief as role his for Medal Police International Distinguished Interpol the awarded also was Fadhil Bait Brig countries. 188 from delegates by attended and France, Lyon, in 21 April on held conference 7th Interpol’s the of sidelines the on Interpol, the of Secretary-General Noble, Roland Dr by honoured was Fadhil Bait Brig whole GCC whole the in kind this of one only the is Institute Safety Traffic The accidents. road of impacts economic and social the limiting and issue the about awareness public spreading for solutions suitable developing in believes which CMA of priorities the tops safety traffic that reaffirmed Jabri Al Sultanate. the in installations other and sites commercial and ist tour- into exit and entry easy about drivers taxi advising at aims also programme The driving. safe of aspects other and passengers of transportation the governing regulations with updated them keep and skills and knowledge high-level with group the provide to seeks Institute Safety Traffic the at drivers taxi of number large a such to training further offering for programme the that added He safety. traffic of field the in CMA the and ROP the between co-operation ongoing of part as comes contract the of signing that said Qatan Gen Maj CMA. of President Executive Jabri, al Said bin Yahya and Customs, and Police of General Inspector Assistant Qattan, Ali bin Musalam bin Salim Gen Maj by signed was agreement The drivers. taxi 200 of training the finance to contract a signed (CMA) Authority Market Capital the and (ROP) Police Oman Royal The contract training signs ROP Interpol honours ROP officer ROP honours Interpol Issue No.125 May 2011 May No.125 Issue A R I H A S S A N I A - L A

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA R O P N e w s

Workshop on ROP, Public Prosecution Joint Work

Under the auspices of His Excellency Hussein bin Ali Al-Hilaly, the Public Attorney Al-Batina Region’s Police Command organized a workshop between Royal Oman Police and the Public Prosecution on investigations and evidence collection. The opening session was attended by Major General Salem bin Musallam bin Ali Qatan, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs, and a number of senior police officers and members of the Public Prosecution. The workshop discussed the criminal statistics of 2010 and comments thereon. Suggestions were made on how to improve the efficiency of the joint work between ROP and the Public Prosecution.

150 driving instructors, taxi drivers graduate

Under the auspices of Major General Salim bin Musallam bin Ali Qattan, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs 150 driving instructors and taxi drivers were graduated in a ceremony held on Sunday, 20 Febr. 2011 at the Traffic Safety Institute. The training programme was conducted by the institute in partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). Major General Musallam bin Ali Qattan honoured the top graduates and presented certificates to the participants of the programme.

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA Issue No.125 May 2011 15 Role of training courses in

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA ROP development plans

by Major/ Adil Mubarak Al Zadjali

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I. Training Policy, Royal Police Sciences in Nizwa to cope Therefore, it was inevitable for Oman Police with the rapid expansion of the the departments involved in train- force. The training programmes ing to cope with the development Although the methods of training, covered some specialized areas plans and provide training pro- and the names and positions of like the investigations, road traf- grammes inside the country and the training departments in any fic, passports, customs, civil abroad. organizational structure differ defence etc. However, with the from one institution to another, The development plans tar- expansion of these services it geted some ROP sectors, and the need to attach importance to became necessary for the per- training remains the same. the Directorate of Training pro- sonnel to undergo further spe- vided training for the personnel In Royal Oman Police the train- cialized training. Therefore, inde- ing policy was issued in the in these sectors e.g. the civil pendent training programmes defence development project Decision No.8/2005 dated 27 were prepared and implemented February 2005, which stipulates included the training of the new to qualify them for work at the staff and further qualification of that training is an organized and specialized sectors. planned activity aimed to improv- the already working personnel. ing knowledge and skills of the With the steady expansion of the In the Directorate General of ROP personnel to enhance their Royal Oman Police during the Police Aviation the plan included efficiency, and qualify them for last two decades, training began the training of a new genera- their present and future tasks. to crystallize from a central tion of pilots and aviation engi- The training policy is based on activity linked to the basic capa- neers to meet the expansion of some principles, including the bilities of the policeman in public the fleet and the services. Other belief that training is fundamen- security and other specialized development projects included tal for realizing the Royal Oman fields to a comprehensive activi- the expansion of the Ambulance Police objectives, ensuring qual- ty linked to the ROP development Division services, which required ity performance and services, plans and strategies. Therefore, specialized training of big num- planning and implementing the a professional and methodical bers of first-aid staff and para- training courses according to the partnership developed between medics at reputed medical train- needs, and assessing the results the ROP divisions and the train- ing centres abroad. of these courses. ing departments: the Directorate The Directorate of Training The ROP training policy identi- of Training at the Directorate worked together with these divi- fied the joint responsibilities of General of Human Resources, sions on well planned training the departments involved in the Sultan Qaboos Academy for programmes for each of them. training process. Police Sciences, and the Officers It has been proved later through Training Institute. the Directorate of Training’s con- II. Beginnings of Training at tribution to different develop- ROP III. Directorate of Training ment projects that coordination and ROP Development between divisions concerned Since established, the ROP con- Plans in the training programmes is sidered training an important fac- important. This must take place tor to enable the police personnel It’s obvious that ROP is always in all stages of the training pro- to carry out their main duties of concerned with the develop- cess from planning to the imple- maintaining the public security. ment plans of its different sec- mentation and the assessment of Basic training programmes were tors. These plans involved major the results. provided at the then ROP train- projects for improving the infra- ing school in Qurum, and later structure, and others for improv- at Sultan Qaboos Academy for ing the quality of the services provided by Royal Oman Police.

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA Issue No.125 May 2011 17 K n o w l e d g e G a r d e n

Food for Thought:

Knowledge Garden 1- Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning “ Harbour Wave”.

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA 2- Trafalgar Square in London was created in memory of the victory of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 3- The Great Wall of China is the longest artificial structure in the world, stretching for 2400 km. 4- Mozart composed four short piano pieces when he was six years old 5- Winston Churchill is regarded as Britain’s greatest 20th- century statesman 6- Einstein didn’t speak until the age of three 7- Thomas Edison patented more than 1000 inventions 8- It has been estimated that the present English vocabulary consists of more than one million words by:1st Lieutenant 9- Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterpiece “The Canterbury Tales” was one of the most important influences on the development of Abdullah Said Al-Harthy English Literature Directorate of Public Relations 10- Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi and given by France to the US to celebrate the US independence in 1876. Definitions: - Etymology: A science which deals with the origin and devel- opment of words. It is derived from Greek (etymos “true”, logos “word”) - Surrealism: Movement in literature and fine arts founded by the French poet and critic Andre Breton which emphasizes the role of the unconscious in creative activity - Catharsis: (Greek, Purification): A psychological term which

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA 18 Issue No.125 May 2011 AL-AIN ASSAHIRA Knowledge Garden K n o w l e d g e G a r d e n

was first applied in 1895 to the these scenes with thee, Over my lady’s wrist too much,” therapeutic release of emo- Yet the sweet converse of an or “Paint tions that cause tension or innocent mind,, Must never hope to reproduce anxiety. Whose words are images of the faint thoughts refined,, Half-flush that dies along her - Domino Theory: Theory of Is my soul’s pleasure; and it throat:” such stuff international conflict sug- sure must be Was courtesy, she thought, gesting that in some circum- Almost the highest bliss of and cause enough stances one defeat is likely human-kind,, For calling up that spot of joy. to be followed by others, as When to thy haunts two kin- She had one toppling domino in a row dred spirits flee.. A heart—how shall I say?—too of dominoes standing on end soon made glad, might knock over others. My Last Duchess Too easily impressed; she By - Deconstruction (literature): liked whate’er Robert Browning She looked on, and her looks branch of critical theory, and That’s my last Duchess paint- in particular a way of reading went everywhere. ed on the wall, Sir, ‘t was all one! My favour texts, which contests the idea Looking as if she were alive. that language can guaran- at her breast, I call The dropping of the daylight in tee absolute meaning in any That piece a wonder, now: Frà form of discourse, and which the West, Pandolf’s hands The bough of cherries some attempts to analyze texts by Worked busily a day, and there uncovering the conflicts within officious fool she stands. Broke in the orchard for her, them and deciphering some of Will’t please you sit and look their multiple meanings. the white mule at her? I said She rode with round the ter- “O Solitude! If I must with “Frà Pandolf” by design, for race—all and each thee dwell” never read Would draw from her alike the By Strangers like you that pic- approving speech, John Keats tured countenance, Or blush, at least. She thanked O Solitude! if I must with thee The depth and passion of its men,—good! but thanked dwell, earnest glance, Somehow—I know not how—as Let it not be among the jum- But to myself they turned if she ranked bled heap (since none puts by My gift of a nine-hundred- Of murky buildings; climb with The curtain I have drawn for years-old name me the steep- you, but I)) With anybody’s gift. Who’d Nature’s observatory—whence And seemed as they would stoop to blame the dell, ask me, if they durst, This sort of trifling? Even had Its flowery slopes, its river’s How such a glance came you skill crystal swell, there; so, not the first In speech—(which I have not)— May seem a span; let me thy Are you to turn and ask thus. to make your will vigils keep Sir, ‘t was not Quite clear to such an one, ‘Mongst boughs pavilioned, Her husband’s presence only, where the deer’s swift leap called that spot Startles the wild bee from the Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: foxglove bell. perhaps But though I’ll gladly trace Frà Pandolf chanced to say “Her mantle laps

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA Issue No.125 May 2011 19 and say, “Just this Phoenix. It does not live on is to perform the obsequies of Or that in you disgusts me; fruit or flowers, but on frankin- his father. But this duty is not here you miss, cense and odoriferous gums. undertaken rashly. He collects

Knowledge Garden Or there exceed the mark”— When it has lived five hun- a quantity of myrrh, and to try

AL-AIN ASSAHIRA and if she let dred years, it builds itself a his strength makes frequent Herself be lessoned so, nor nest in the branches of an oak, excursions with a load on his plainly set or on the top of a palm tree. back. When he has gained suf- Her wits to yours, forsooth, In this it collects cinnamon, ficient confidence in his own and made excuse, and spikenard, and myrrh, vigour, he takes up the body —E’en then would be some and of these materials builds of his father and flies with it stooping; and I choose a pile on which it deposits to the altar of the Sun, where Never to stoop. Oh sir, she itself, and dying, breathes out he leaves it to be consumed smiled, no doubt, its last breath amidst odours. in flames of fragrance.” Other Whene’er I passed her; but From the body of the parent writers add a few particulars. who passed without bird, a young Phoenix issues The myrrh is compacted in Much the same smile? This forth, destined to live as long a the form of an egg, in which grew; I gave commands; life as its predecessor. When the dead Phoenix is enclosed. Then all smiles stopped this has grown up and gained From the mouldering flesh of together. There she stands sufficient strength, it lifts its the dead bird a worm springs, As if alive. Will’t please you nest from the tree (its own and this worm, when grown rise? We’ll meet cradle and its parent’s sep- large, is transformed into a The company below, then. I ulchre), and carries it to the bird. Herodotus describes the repeat, city of Heliopolis in Egypt, and bird, though he says, “I have The Count your master’s deposits it in the temple of the not seen it myself, except in known munificence Sun.” a picture. Part of his plum- Is ample warrant that no just Such is the account given by age is gold-coloured, and part pretence a poet. Now let us see that crimson; and he is for the most Of mine for dowry will be dis- of a philosophic historian. part very much like an eagle in allowed; Tacitus says, “in the consul- outline and bulk.” Though his fair daughter’s self, ship of Paulus Fabius (ad 34) The first writer who disclaimed as I avowed the miraculous bird known to a belief in the existence of At starting, is my object. Nay, the world by the name of the the Phoenix was Sir Thomas we’ll go Phoenix, after disappearing Browne, in his “Vulgar Errors,” Together down, sir. Notice for a series of ages, revis- published in 1646. He was Neptune, though, ited Egypt. It was attended in replied to a few years later Taming a sea-horse, thought its flight by a group of vari- by Alexander Ross, who says, a rarity, ous birds, all attracted by in answer to the objection of Which Claus of Innsbruck cast the novelty, and gazing with the Phoenix so seldom making in bronze for me! wonder at so beautiful an his appearance, “His instinct appearance.” He then gives teaches him to keep out of Story of The Phoenix an account of the bird, not the way of the tyrant of the Ovid tells the story of the varying materially from the creation, man, for if he were to Phoenix as follows: “Most preceding, but adding some be got at, some wealthy glut- beings spring from other indi- details. “The first care of the ton would surely devour him, viduals; but there is a cer- young bird as soon as fledged, though there were no more in tain kind which reproduces and able to trust to his wings, the world.” itself. The Assyrians call it the

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Dryden in one of his early therefore committed the child Sphinx asked him, “What ani- poems has this allusion to the to the care of a herdsman with mal is that which in the morn- Phoenix: orders to destroy him; but the ing goes on four feet, at noon “So when the new-born herdsman, moved with pity, yet on two, and in the evening Phoenix first is seen not daring entirely to disobey, upon three?” Œdipus replied, Her feathered subjects all tied up the child by the feet and “Man, who in childhood creeps adore their queen, left him hanging to the branch on hands and knees, in man- And while she makes her prog- of a tree. In this condition the hood walks erect, and in old ress through the East, infant was found by a peasant, age with the aid of a staff.” From every grove her numer- who carried him to his master The Sphinx was so mortified ous train’s increased; and mistress, by whom he was at the solving of her riddle that Each poet of the air her glory adopted and called Œdipus, or she cast herself down from the sings, Swollen-foot. rock and perished. And round him the pleased Many years afterwards Laius The gratitude of the people for audience clap their wings.” being on his way to Delphi, their deliverance was so great Milton, in “Paradise Lost,” accompanied only by one that they made Œdipus their Book V, compares the angel attendant, met in a narrow king, giving him in marriage Raphael descending to earth road a young man also driving their queen Jocasta. Œdipus, to a Phoenix: in a chariot. On his refusal to ignorant of his parentage, had “...Down thither, prone in flight leave the way at their com- already become the slayer He speeds, and through the mand the attendant killed one of his father; in marrying the vast ethereal sky of his horses, and the strang- queen he became the husband Sails between worlds and er, filled with rage, slew both of his mother. These horrors worlds, with steady wing, Laius and his attendant. The remained undiscovered, till at Now on the polar winds, then young man was Œdipus, who length Thebes was afflicted with quick fan thus unknowingly became the with famine and pestilence, Winnows the buxom air; till slayer of his own father. and the oracle being con- within soar Shortly after this event the city sulted, the double crime of Of towering eagles, to all the of Thebes was afflicted with Œdipus came to light. Jocasta fowls he seems a monster which infested the put an end to her own life, A Phoenix, gazed by all; as highroad. It was called the and Œdipus, seized with mad- that sole bird Sphinx. It had the body of a ness, tore out his eyes and When, to enshrine his relics in lion and the upper part of a wandered away from Thebes, the sun’s woman. It lay crouched on the dreaded and abandoned by Bright temple, to Egyptian top of a rock, and arrested all all except his daughters, who Thebes he flies.” travellers who came that way, faithfully adhered to him, till Source: Bulfinch, Thomas. proposing to them a riddle, after a tedious period of mis- Bulfinch’s Mythology: The Age with the condition that those erable wandering he found the of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, who could solve it should pass termination of his wretched Legends of Charlemagne: safe, but those who failed life. should be killed. Not one had Source: Bulfinch, Thomas. Story of The Sphinx yet succeeded in solving it, Bulfinch’s Mythology: The Age Laius, king of Thebes, was and all had been slain. Œdipus of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, warned by an oracle that there was not daunted by these Legends of Charlemagne. was danger to his throne and alarming accounts, but bold- life if his new-born son should ly advanced to the trial. The be suffered to grow up. He

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