THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
Would-be media controller and junta-approved National Reform Steering Assembly committee chairman ACM Kanit Suwannate will try to decide today just precisely how hard to stomp on freedom of the press.
You’ll find out this week what your next smartphone will be, from reports from the Mobile World Congress which runs from today to Thursday in Barcelona. Today is the final impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court for South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
If you need a laugh, the UN “human rights council” opens today for four weeks of conventioneering and role playing.
The Malaysian Open of tennis begins today, with the finals on Sunday.
The Oscars are this morning, with first awards to be presented after 8am.
TUESDAY
The junta’s “peace negotiator” Gen Aksara Kerdphol is in Malaysia today to try to sign a deal for safe zones in Thailand’s deep South with several ageing Malaysian men who used to be active separatists.
British stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard will play the Comedy Club at KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Theatre (Siam Square). The often gaudy transvestite performs at the same time as the Guns N’ Roses show at SCG Stadium, where tickets are 3,500 or 4,000 baht to sit, or 5,000 and 6,500 baht per head to stand in the stagefront pit. Early today (3am) our very own and resurgent (we hope) Leicester City host Liverpool in a Premier League match. At 2am, Manchester City and Huddersfield replay their fifth round FA Cup match. De facto Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will convene her second meeting with ethnic groups at Nay Pyi Taw today, aimed at trying to end conflicts and lowlevel fighting.
WEDNESDAY
All illegal hotels in Ayutthaya become legal today. Explanation: Last December the province gave an estimated 100 inns in 16 districts until today to get proper building permits and licences for their businesses or face immediate closure. The Treasury Department’s new land rental rates go into effect today, boosting fees across the country by one billion baht.
Hong Kong’s “government” will start legal proceedings to unseat four extremely inconvenient, elected pro-democracy lawmakers.
The Hun Sen regime will put a man on trial today for killing noted critic Kem Ley, although there’s not a person in the country who actually believes he did it. Christians mark Ash Wednesday, the first day of their six-week Lent and leading to Easter on April 16.
THURSDAY
The Punrak Market opens today through Sunday at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, selling a huge variety of mostly homemade food, clothing and consumer items, with all money earned to benefit disadvantaged children. Ian Baird of the University of Wisconsin will speak at the Siam Society at 7.30pm on Chao Sone Bouttharabol, an important figure in 20th century politics and royalty in southern Laos, next to Ubon Ratchathani.
ISIS Thailand — not the terrorist group but the Institute of Security and International Studies of Chulalongkorn University — will hold a public forum on “Asian Views on America’s Role in Asia” beginning at 9.30am and featuring C Raja Mohan of the India Centre, former Korean foreign minister Yoon Youngkwan and Ellen Laipson of the Stimson Centre of Washington, DC.
FRIDAY
Thailand and the United States have already begun joint operations to catch tax dodgers, and if you want (or need) to know how it works, experts will tell you tonight. Register for the seminar via email: nattaweem01@gmail.com
The next least-worst thing after the dead US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the China-Asean-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Ministers of 16 countries wrap the 17th negotiating session without full agreement today in Japan.
China begins a major political meeting it calls the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
The annual meeting of the rubber-stamp National People’s Congress begins on Sunday.
SATURDAY
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrive today for an overnight stay in Bangkok. The main purpose of their week-long trip was a five-day Vietnam visit, but the couple wished to pay respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who visited Japan in 1963.
Top-ranked and unbeaten contender Nawaphon Nakornloung (36-0, 28 KO) will fight No.2 Juan “Churritos” Hernandez Navarrete of Mexico (33-2, 22 KO) for the vacant WBC flyweight title, Pone Kingpetch’s former title. Undercard fights start at 6pm at Nimibutr Stadium. More on YouTube at (www.goo.gl/O7mrXf).