Thailand - Funeral of King Bhumibol 'planned for late October'

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 The funeral of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be in late October, according to the government spokesman. 

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A government committee overseeing the funeral arrangements had agreed at a meeting on March 1 that that the rites be held by late October, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Wednesday.
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He said reports that the funeral would be held in late December were incorrect.
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It was reported that the Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn suggested the rites be scheduled for Dec 25-29 this year.
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The reports quoted the Prime Minister’s Office as saying the princess gave the advice during a meeting of the government panel overseeing the funeral of the late King.

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.Source; BangkokPost

Cambodia - Events call for equal rights

Activists and sex workers march in Phnom Penh yesterday to raise awareness of discrimination against sex workers ahead of International Women’s Day. United Sisterhood Alliance

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Human rights organisations called for an end to discrimination against women at a raft of events yesterday ahead of today’s International Women’s Day.
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The Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) organised a march that was joined by about 70 sex workers and women’s rights activists to raise awareness about sex workers’ lives and rights, strengthen solidarity and demand to be free from harm and violence.
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The half-hour march included women from different areas in Phnom Penh, many of whom carried red umbrellas – an international symbol for sex workers’ rights, according to Pech Polet, managing director of WNU. “What they are demanding is that sex work is [recognised as] work, and sex workers are humans. Sex workers’ rights are women’s rights,” she said.
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Discrimination against sex workers, she said “is getting worse and worse from day to day”, and the death of sex worker Pen Kunthea “still affects the sex workers today”. Kunthea drowned on January 1 while being chased by security guards in Phnom Penh’s riverside area.
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Boeung Kak lake activists, meanwhile, celebrated Women’s Rights Day yesterday near the Boeung Kak mosque, despite an order by the government not to do so.
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“We still did it because it is legal and we don’t do anything against the government,” activist Bov Sophea said.
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She said that more than 200 people came to “ask the government to respect human rights.” She said they also called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to release activist Tep Vanny as a “present” for International Women’s Day.
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At an event by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, female rights activists – including cis- and transgender women – yesterday pointed to the obstacles they encountered when advocating for labour, environmental and land rights. Executive director Chak Sopheap said women were often perceived as “second-class citizens” under Cambodian social norms.
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“Domestic violence and abuse, the exclusion of women from leadership positions in business, politics and public life, and the widespread perceptions of women as being weaker than men, are all symptoms of the same heteropatriarchal system that still rules Cambodia.”
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Though “more and more women are taking up leadership positions, both in business and public life … more continue to be oppressed,” she said, pointing to imprisoned activists Vanny and Lim Mony, and drowned sex worker Kunthea as examples.
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Today, the Cambodian Food and Service Worker Federation (CFSWF) will hold a workers’ rights event that will highlight women’s rights issues at work, according to CFSWF vice president Ou Tepphallin.
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She said women faced multiple issues, including having to support their families and take care of their children and parents while also working. Moreover, she highlighted that women who worked at karaoke bars or in restaurants had to work until late at night. When going home, she said, “they are not feeling safe when they walk, so they need to run”, because some areas “are dangerous at night”.
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Speeches to highlight the importance of women were also held at the Senate, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Ministry of Social Affairs, CMAC and City Hall, where employees will have the day off today for the holiday. 

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Source: PhnomPenhPost

North Korea, Malaysia step up dispute over Kim's death

A North Korean embassy staff asks police if they are allowed to leave as police puts a cordon at North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. The bitter diplomatic dispute between North Korea and Malaysia over the poisoning death of leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half-brother escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Pyongyang saying it had banned Malaysians from leaving North Korea. That was followed quickly by Malaysia saying North Korean embassy staff were barred from leaving its country. Malaysia had already expelled the North Korean ambassador on Monday. (Associated Press/Vincent Thian)
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The bitter diplomatic dispute between North Korea and Malaysia over the poisoning death of leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half-brother escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Pyongyang saying it had banned Malaysians from leaving North Korea.
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That was followed quickly by Malaysia saying North Korean embassy staff were barred from leaving its country. Malaysia had already expelled the North Korean ambassador on Monday.

The North's Foreign Ministry told the Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang that it would temporarily ban the exit of Malaysian citizens now in the North, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
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It said the exit ban will be valid "until the safety of the diplomats and citizens of [North Korea] in Malaysia’s fully guaranteed through the fair settlement of the case that occurred in Malaysia."
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Malaysia is pursuing several North Korean suspects allegedly involved in the killing, including a diplomat at the North's Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has not accused the North of being behind the killing of Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur's airport three weeks ago, but South Korean has.
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Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Marican told reporters at parliament that there are 11 Malaysians in North Korea: Three working at the Malaysian Embassy, two United Nations workers and six family members.
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The North said Malaysian diplomats and citizens "may work and live normally under the same conditions and circumstances as before" during the period of the temporary exit ban.

It also said that the Malaysian ambassador would be expelled, although he has already been recalled to Malaysia.
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Source: TheJakartaPost

A night at the Thai Oscars

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"Dao Khanong" and "Khun Phan" sweep the Subhanahongsa awards

 In a first for the Thai film industry, an independent movie directed by a female filmmaker swept three of the national film awards including the coveted best film and best director prizes on Sunday night, proving that small films are able of outdoing big-budget mainstream productions.
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“Dao Khanong” (“By The Time It Gets Dark”) by Anocha Suvichakorn- pong also took home the best-editing prize at the 26th Subhanahongsa awards held at Bangkok’s KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha theatre. The film triumphed against nominees who included the commercial hit “Fanday … Fan Kun Khae Wan Diaw” (“One Day”) and another indie by a female director, “Mahasamut Lae Susan” (“The Island Funeral”).
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After giving her acceptance speech, Anocha told the press she hoped her win would inspire young female filmmakers.
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“We should cross the boundaries of gender. Men, women and the third gender all have a chance to win the award. Don’t let your gender be an obstacle to reaching your dreams,” said the director, who spent seven years working on the project.
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Speaking with XP at the film’s premiere at the Locarno Film Festival last year, Anocha described the film as being about politics, memories and cinema. The narrative starts with a female film director, 
who wants to learn more about the Thai student movement in 1976 so she interviews a well-known female writer who was part of the movement. The film then goes back in time before bringing the audience back to present to meet the other characters and witness their struggles in modern society.
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The director also thanked her family for giving her the freedom to do what she loves. “I want to dedicate this win to those who fight for the liberty of thought and expression,” Anocha said.
Action drama film “Khun Phan” swept the most awards, picking up best supporting actor for Krisada Sukosol Clapp, best visual effects, best costume design and best makeup effects.
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Indonesia - Authorities rescue young orangutan being kept as pet.

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Officers from the West Kalimantan Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) rescued a young orangutan from a local house in Sintang regency where it was being kept as a pet.
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The male 3-year-old orangutan named Andiki was bought by its owner about a month ago, West Kalimantan BKSDA head Margo Utomo said on Saturday.
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The owner told the agency personnel that the family bought the orangutan when they were having a meal in the Simpang Pinoh area in Makong.
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The agency received a tip off from local people about an orangutan being kept as a pet and then went to look for more information.
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Besides rescuing the orangutan, BKSDA officers also disseminated information on the 1990 Law on Natural Resources Conservation and Ecosystem that prohibits the capture of endangered wildlife.
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"After we spoke to the owner, the officers rescued Andiki in collaboration with the Sintang Orangutan Center," Margo said, as reported by Kompas.com.
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The orangutan has been taken to the rehabilitation unit at the Center's facility in Sintang before being released into its natural habitat.
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Margo added that the agency has pushed for public awareness in keeping the country's rich natural resources. The consumption of nature must be in line with conservation efforts.

"Therefore we must stop the illegal trade and ownership of protected wildlife," he added.
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Singapore offers a perfect place to make a winter escape

Its warm weather, sea breeze and fresh air make Singapore an ideal getaway for mainlanders fleeing the cold

The beauty of Singapore is that one can see all the country has to offer during a visit that is short and sweet. Its warm weather, sea breeze and fresh air easily make Singapore an ideal getaway for mainlanders, especially in winter, when many Chinese cities struggle with the cold or even smog.

On a recent three-day trip to Singapore, we go on a shopping spree and binge on food that is cheap and cheerful. We see glistening skyscrapers sitting next to each other along the riverside, while basking in the shade of lush plants in the botanic garden.

We sip coffee at a local cafe and enjoy the night life in a local bar.

Indeed, all these elements are rolled into this compact yet neat land that accounts for less than 5 percent of China's capital Beijing, the place we come from.

As a food aficionado, my first highlight comes when I enter the Tiong Bahru Market, whose second floor is a food court, which is ringed with assorted independent food stalls.

"There are many places like this, but this one offers authentic local cuisine," says Candy Yat, our tour guide.

"Also, the food here is cheaper than at some of its counterparts," says Yat.

The place is filled with restaurants, which offer dishes like oyster omelet, steamed rice cakes topped with preserved radish, braised noodles, and assorted dim sum stuffed with sticky rice or green beans.

Most of the dishes we order are priced between $1-3.

The Cheng Tng (clear soup) is one thing you must try. Don't be fooled by the somewhat tedious dark brown look of the soupy dessert, as all the treats are at the bottom. The soup is sweet but not cloying.

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Indonesia - Tambora festival returns with more locations

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Festival Pesona Tambora (Tambora Charms Festival) is set to return April 5 to 11 in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) for the third time.
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In addition to commemorating the volcano's massive eruption back in 1815, the event also aims to promote Sumbawa, especially for tourism.
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NTB Tourism Agency head Mohammad Faozal told The Jakarta Post in Mataram on Friday that this year's festival would be held across five cities and regencies on Sumbawa, namely the regencies of West Sumbawa, Sumbawa, Dompu and Bima, and the city of Bima. Last year's event was only held in Dompu and Bima regencies.
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"The peak of the event on April 11 will still take place in the Ndoro Ncanga savanna area at the foot of Mount Tambora, which is part of Dompu regency," he said.
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According to the schedule, the event will kick off with a three-day 320-kilometer Tambora Challenge ultra marathon, that will start from Mantar tourism village in West Sumbawa, as well as an international paragliding event, which has been dubbed "the village above the clouds". During previous ultra marathons, which require participants to finish the race in 20 hours, only two participants in 2015 and one in 2016 made it to the finish line.
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(Read also: Tambora festival expected to boost foreign arrivals in NTB)
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Meanwhile, Sumbawa regency is set to hold "One Night at Loka". Loka is the palace complex of King Sumbawa that has been declared cultural heritage. The city of Bima and Bima regency will join the festivity through Lawata Beach Festival and a seminar on the region's tourism and maritime potential.
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A number of travel packages have reportedly been booked for this year's festival, including a two-day and three-night package where travelers can stay for one night in Mataram and go camping in Ndoro Ncanga the next day.
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Co-organizer Kompas Media community director Rusdi Amral said that the company decided to commit to the event in 2015 to help develop Sumbawa's tourism potential. "Hopefully the region's tourism sector can boost its local economy," he added.
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