S Korea to join U.N. disarmament forum in Japan

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will participate in the annual U.N. disarmament forum to be held later this week in Niigata, Japan, foreign ministry said Monday.

According to ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young, Shin Dong-ik, director general of the international organization bureau, will attend the 21st U.N. Conference on Disarmament Issues, scheduled from Wednesday to Friday.

The forum is co-organized by the U.N. and Japan, the ministry said.

Shin, on the sidelines of the forum, will meet his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo to continue meetings on bilateral disarmament, added the spokesman.

Beer drinking Muslim set free

BEIJING, August 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Kartika Sari Dewa Shukarno, who was convicted of drinking in public and sentenced to six lashes of the cane, has been freed by Malaysian authorities.

The reason for her release is not entirely clear though prison rules require anyone who is to be canes must be in detention first. However legal experts said at the weekend that it was not right to detain Ms Kartika since she had not been given a jail sentence by the Islamic court.

A van had taken her from her northern Malaysian home to put her in detention so that she could be caned sometime this week. But after half an hour the van returned, with officials saying the sentence would not be carried out. A senior Shariah court judge and some lawyers have said she cannot be caned unless she is in jail, and as she was not given a jail sentence, she cannot be caned. As such it creates a paradox for Malaysia's court system.

Kartika had pleaded guilty to the offence under Islamic and would have been the first woman in Malaysia to be punished in such a way，saying she wanted to deter others from committing similar offences. "I want to send a message that I really regret what I did, so I want to be punished in front of other people," Kartika said from her northern home state of Perak. "If other Muslims can see me being caned, I hope it will convince them not to drink."

Malaysian authorities say the purpose of caning is to "educate" rather than punish. But the penalty has led to criticism by some politicians and women's rights activists who claim it is still too harsh. The law in Malaysia allows for a three year prison term and caning for Muslims caught drinking, but most offenders are fined. Drinking is legal for non-Muslims.

(Agencies)

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Khmer Krom celebrate Khmer New Year under Vietnamese oppression

Traditional beauty: Performers from Anh Binh Minh Art Troupe offer a taste of Khmer tradition during the Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) Festival that has begun in the Mekong Delta. — VNS Photo Huynh Su

Khmer performers pull out all the stops

14-04-2009
VNS (Hanoi)

TRA VINH — The Anh Binh Minh Traditional Art Troupe of the southern province Tra Vinh has lined up a range of shows to celebrate the Khmer New Year, Chol Chnam Thmay, from April 13 to 15.

Dozens of its artists have fanned out around Tra Vinh, Soc Trang and Ca Mau provinces for performances based on the culture and lifestyle of the Khmer.
Dressed in traditional ethnic clothes, young and veteran performers sing and dance, but also perform serious plays focusing on the religion, traditional customs, and arts of the Khmer people.

"Our performances showcase the beauty of the Khmer spirit," said Meritorious Artist Kim Thinh, head of Anh Binh Minh, one of the province’s leading art troupes.

"We hope our shows enable young people to improve their knowledge about tradition, understand the greatness of their country’s rich culture, as well as learn useful lessons about love, life and people," he said.

In Ca Mau, Thinh and his colleagues have visited remote districts like Thoi Binh, Tran Van Thoi, and U Minh, performing in front of several thousands of people.

"We’re not looking to make a profit from these shows but we hope to encourage young people to love their culture more," said Thinh, who often travels with his staff by boat to remote areas to meet their fans.

"Chol Chnam Thmay is a time for people, especially youth, to celebrate after a year’s hard work and studies," Phan Huu Hung, a farmer in Thoi Binh District, said.

"We love to see Anh Binh Minh artists because their shows are quality and feature our Khmer culture," he added.

As in past years, the troupe along with many others is putting up free performances during the festival.

There are nearly 1.3 million Khmers in the Mekong Delta, chiefly in Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.

Local residents and visitors have flocked to participate in music programmes, traditional games, and sports competitions launched at the beginning of this month by local authorities.

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer Original report from Cambodia 10 April 2009

Prime Minister Hun Sen will return from an Asean summit in