Thailand - Monastic council likely to make decision on defrocking Phra Dhammachayo today

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Monastic council likely to make decision on defrocking Phra Dhammachayo today

THE SANGHA Supreme Council (SSC) is expected to issue a resolution today regarding the controversial monk Phra Dhammachayo.
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The honorary abbot of Dhammakaya Temple is facing charges of money laundering and accepting stolen items. 

Although he has already been stripped of his high monastic rank, he has not been defrocked.
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 The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday submitted a complaint concerning Phra Dhammachayo to the National Buddhism Office (NBO), urging it to take action against the embattled monk. 

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Indonesia offers Lombok airport to Australia

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Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has said that the Indonesian government will offer an Australian company the opportunity to jointly manage Lombok International Airport in West Nusa Tenggara.

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The offer came after a meeting between Budi and Australian Regional Development, Regional Communications, and Local Government and Territories Minister Hon Fiona Nash on Thursday.

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"We are offering an airport operator in Australia the chance to jointly operate Lombok airport," Budi said. Currently, the Lombok International Airport is managed by state airport operator Angkasa Pura (AP) I.

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 The airport has not yet been able to turn a profit and as such the minister hopes that the cooperation will increase traffic and spur further development of the airport.

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The meeting also highlighted possible cooperation between the two countries in tourism and aviation, especially in remote and border areas.

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The development of airports in border areas such as Rote Island and emerging tourist destination Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, were also discussed during the meeting.

Indonesia has invited private companies to take part in developing airports because of limited funds in the state budget.

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Australia mentioned the Christmas Island as well as an area in Brisbane as possible locations for collaboration in area development.

Fiona also welcomed the business talks between the two countries. "Certainly there are various ways to extend our opportunities in front of us," she said. (bbn)

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source: TheJakartaPost

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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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