THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
The Cambodian parliament is scheduled to hold its first post-election session today. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has called for his Cambodia National Rescue Party to boycott the meeting, unless strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen agrees to an independent investigation of alleged cheating in the July election. The Energy Ministry will hear applications from companies seeking licences to install solar equipment on company or residential rooftops. Installed systems would feed and draw from the 50mw national grid. Seeded tennis players begin competition in the Thailand Open of tennis at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The Criminal Court is to start hearing the defamation case by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut and his deputy Mallika Boonmeetrakul. They allegedly defamed the PM with gutter insinuations about her well-known-meeting with businessmen at the Four Seasons Hotel last year.
TUESDAY
Yet another ‘‘you couldn’t make this up’’ moment for Myanmar, when it hosts an Asean drug meeting . . . no, sorry it is an Asean anti- drug meeting. The effort Myanmar has put into fighting drug cartels is obvious. Agents from the US DEA, the Australian AFP and the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime will be at the meeting, presumably smiling sardonically. Ministers negotiating the Asean-centric Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) meet in Brisbane for the next four days — Asean plus Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. The RCEP aims to deepen trade relations among members without throwing up hands, in dismay or surrender, at the western obsession with intellectual property.
WEDNESDAY
The special cases litigation office of the Office of the Attorney General will announce today its decision on whether to indict former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban on murder charges. Or maybe it won’t; the OAG has already postponed this decision more than once. Charges were brought by the DSI over the killings of April-May 2010. The second leg matches of the FA Cup semi-finals take place this evening. Defending champions Buriram United face SCG Muang Thong United, while Insee Police United play Bangkok Glass. The winners will play in the final at Rajamangala Stadium on Nov 10.
THURSDAY
London’s very special gift to the world, Justin Bieber, will induce screams from very young girls. Insert earplugs at 7pm, when The Biebs is to skip out of the wings of Challenger Hall and confirm that not everything from Canada is bland and nice (including London, Ontario). It’s time for another big-time sepak takraw tournament in Bangkok, the second leg of the ISTAF Super Series at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, Ramkhamhaeng.
FRIDAY
It’s World Tourism Day. Be nice to one of them for a change. Without them, jewellery scammers and jet ski conmen would be free to haunt you. The United Nations somehow will combine International Year of Water Cooperation and World Tourism Day into one event, which could be amusing. Nine top leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy may hear the formal indictment today of terrorism charges stemming from the 2008 airport takeovers. Unlike the red shirts, yellowshirt core members such as Sondhi Limthongkul and Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang will be allowed bail if prosecutors actually indict them. There is no target for a trial date.
SATURDAY
Linphing, Chiang Mai Zoo’s iconic panda, will board a Thai Airways International Airbus 300 for a trip to China to search for a boyfriend. She will take along 300 state officials and fans. The panda has a reentry visa, valid next year. Chelsea face Tottenham in today’s early Premier League match at 6.45pm. Man Utd host West Brom and Man City are at Aston Villa at 9pm.