VOL 33 NO 22 | MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

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VOL 33 NO 22

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SIFF Asian films continue » P. 7

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Past, present Asian activists connect and share insights

Paroled Wah Mee Massacre conspirator deported to Hong Kong

By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly

Photo by James Tabafunda/NWAW

Speed dating brings total strangers together to meet each other and talk about themselves, all within one five-minute round after another with new partners.

A similar kind of timed — but longer — interaction took place between Asian American student activists and their predecessors from generations past at the Civic Leadership Dinner on May 16.

It was the first joint effort between the University of Washington’s Asian Coalition for Equality (ACE) and the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association (APISA) of Bellevue College.

Thirty-two college students from throughout western Washington and Oregon met with about 20 Asian and Asian American civic leaders at the Four Seas Restaurant.

According to the joint ACE-APISA website, “By connecting the past to the present, we honor those who took a stand in the Civil Rights movement of the 1970s and celebrate those who continue to fight for a more equitable community.”

Alan Sugiyama, executive director of the Executive Development Institute and former Seattle School Board member, introduced the activists from the 1970s.

Seattle police officer Alex Chapackdee, dentist Tom Vu, and state senatorial candidate

By Sue Misao Northwest Asian Weekly

Civic leader Kim Long Nguyen talks to Linh Le, D.J. Nguyen, Liem Nguyen, and Johnny Le.

Louis Watanabe spoke to the students during the civic roundtable and networking portions of the dinner.

Willon Lew, “Uncle Bob” Santos, Frieda Takamura, Y.K. Kuniyuki, Larry Matsuda, Diane Wong, Mark Okazaki, Kim Long Nguyen, Anne Galarosa, Debbie Uno, and Mike Tagawa are just some of the other civic leaders who attended.

ACE is “a community group, and so, the

things that we do as many of our original ACE leaders know is that we are advocating for the visibility and social equality for the Asian and Asian American community here,” said ACE chair Monica Ng. ACE began in the spring of 1969 as the first civil rights organization in Seattle “to mobilize Asian Americans in multiracial {see ACTIVISTS cont’d on page 15}

Locke and Lee reunite at high school event

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, center, and former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke meet at a Franklin High event.

when Mayor Gavin Newsom left, Lee was appointed interim mayor — and later was

Tony Ng, convicted for participating in one of Seattle’s deadliest shootings, was deported to Hong Kong on May 13 by {see NG cont’d on page 12}

VA’s top health official resigns amid furor But some calling for Secretary Eric Shinseki to step down from office

Photo by Jerry Johnsen

On May 15, more than 150 Franklin High School alumni, family, staff, students, and former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke gathered at the Mount Baker Community Club to induct five alumni into the Franklin Hall of Fame.

The new inductees are Katie Houlihan Dolan (’43), an advocate for children with disabilities; Felix Skowronek (’52), an internationally recognized flutist; Terry Deeny (’58), a national leader in the field of construction; Al Cohen (’61), a widely regarded educator; and Edwin Lee (’70), mayor of San Francisco and first Asian American to be elected mayor of a major American city.

Ed Lee and Gary Locke knew each other growing up in south Seattle and sang together in the Franklin Bel Canto Choir. When Lee was nominated, he asked that Locke introduce him.

In his introduction, Locke noted that Lee had never run for office — Lee’s career was one of community service, ultimately becoming the San Francisco city administrator. In 2011,

Tony Ng

{see LEE cont’d on page 15}

Eric Shinseki

By Pauline Jelinek Associated Press WASHINGTON – The top official for the health care of veterans {see SHINSEKI cont’d on page 13}

The Inside Story NAMES Who’s in the news this week? » P. 2

■

JUSTICE Lawyer/rapist sentenced » P. 4

APOP! Prom, TV, and passing of a musical legend » P. 8

PICTORIAL Congrats to Justice Mary Yu » P. 9

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asianweekly northwest

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

be announced in the fall. 

Singh small biz champion Seattle Attorney Madhu Singh has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration 2014 Washington Women-Owned Business Champion. Singh is principal of MK Singh Law Office — now Foundry Law Group. She was honored at a celebration recognizing SBA award winners on May 8 at Madhu Singh the Museum of Flight.

The SBA Women-Owned Business Champion Award recognizes individuals who advocate for and increase business opportunities for women above and beyond the call of their professional duties. 

County honors Korean Consul Korean Consul General Moon Duk-ho was honored today by the Metropolitan King County Council on May 19, receiving a certificate of recognition from the Council.

There are over 60,000 Korean Americans living in Washington state, according to the Council, half of whom live in King County. Washington’s strategic location on

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Korean Consul General Moon Duk-ho receives recognition from the Metropolitan King County.

Hon. Charles Z. Smith, left, his wife Ellie, and Justice Steve Gonzales.

the Pacific Rim makes Korea the state’s fourth largest trading partner.

“King County has developed a special relationship based on strong economic, social, and cultural ties, through times of peace and war,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, the author of the recognition. “We support the efforts in continuing to build strong bridges between the Republic of Korea and King County.”

The council also recognized the contributions of King County’s Korean American community. 

Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court in Olympia, the Hon. Charles Z. Smith was honored with unveiling of his portrait by painter Alfredo Arreguin.

Hon. Smith, of African and Hispanic descent, was the first minority to sit on the Court. 

SF Mayor makes good on bet Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s office

Shin Yu Pai

Shin Yu Pai of Seattle has been nominated for a Stranger Genius Award in literature. Pai is the author of seven books of poetry, a photographer, and oral historian.

The Genius Awards deliver $25,000 of cash support each year to local artists in the disciplines of visual art, literature, film, music, and theater.

The award winners will

Photo courtesy of King Co. Council

Pai up for Stranger award

Eng is new SYLP leader Martin Eng has been hired as the new coordinator for the Northwest Asian Weekly’s Summer Youth Leadership Program for 2014. Eng is a government and community relations student assistant at the University of Washington, Bothell.

Martin Eng Previously, Eng served as a Washington State Legislative intern in Olympia. 

Portrait lauds Hon. Smith On May 20, after Judge Mary Yu was sworn in as an

Northwest Harvest receives the check from two mayors (on left).

San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and Mayor Murray present a $4,000 check to Northwest Harvest On May 15, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee made good on his NFC Championship wager with Mayor Murray by presenting the Northwest Harvest Cherry Street Food Bank with a check for $4,000, thanks to the generous donations of Bay area residents.

The hunger relief agency says this will help them provide more than 18,000 meals to those in need across Washington State. 

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

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asianweekly northwest

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

■ national news

U.S. charges Chinese military officials in cyberspying case

By Eric Tucker Associated Press

Gu Chunhui

Huang Zhenyu

Sun Kailiang

The charges dramatize a longtime Obama administration goal to prosecute state-sponsored cyber threats, which U.S. officials say they have grappled with for years. A recent government report said that more than 40 Pentagon weapons programs and nearly 30 other defense technologies have been compromised by cyber intrusions from China. The cybersecurity firm Mandiant also has linked a secret Chinese military unit to years of cyberattacks against U.S. companies.

The prosecution was announced on the heels of a separate worldwide operation over the weekend that resulted in the arrests of 97 people in 16 countries who are suspected of developing, distributing or using malicious

■ briefly

Seattle lawyer gets 25-year prison term for rapes

By Associated Press Seattle lawyer Danford Grant, who pleaded guilty on May 7 to reduced charges of raping masseuses, was sentenced on May 19 to 25 years in prison. The plea helped Grant avoid a trial that could have earned him up to life in prison. Grant’s victims were all Asian immigrant women who worked as massage therapists in Seattle, Bellevue, and Shoreline.

“Danford Grant carefully chose these Danford Grant women to be the victims of his violent rape ambitions,” King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said. “He counted on them being too afraid to call police.”

Grant, 49, a married father of three and formerly a partner in a Seattle law firm, admitted raping the five women in 2011 and 2012.

He pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, as opposed to the original charges of first-degree rape. He also pleaded guilty to a burglary charge.

Grant’s lawyer, Richard Hansen, noted that by pleading guilty to third-degree rape, Grant did not admit using force to coerce the women, but that he had sex with them without their consent.

The deal saves the victims from having to testify at his trial, Satterberg said.

“He knew that these women lived in the margins of a society where some did not speak English fluently, and where cultural shame surrounding sexual abuse is a powerful force mandating secret suffering,” he said.

Grant believed many people would see the case as “commercial transactions gone awry,” Satterberg added.

A business and employment lawyer, Grant previously worked in the Seattle City Attorney’s Office. 

Wang Dong

Wen Xinyu

software called BlackShades. The software allows criminals to gain surreptitious control of personal computers.

“This is the new normal. This is what you’re going to see on a recurring basis,” Bob Anderson Jr., executive assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber Response and Services Division, said.

In a statement, China’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. charges were based on “fabricated facts” and jeopardize ChinaU.S. “cooperation and mutual trust.”

“China is steadfast in upholding cybersecurity,” said the statement. “The Chinese government, the Chinese military and their relevant personnel have never engaged or participated in cybertheft of trade secrets.

{see CYBERSPYING cont’d on page 14}

Cherry trees from Japan to grace UW campus

By Walker Orenstein Northwest Asian Weekly Every spring, the quad on the University of Washington (UW) campus transforms from a peaceful green space to a bustling habitat for hundreds of shuttering cameras, families, and onlookers.

The draw is the quad’s Yoshino cherry trees, blossoming into clouds of pink and white that lure attention locally and worldwide.

The trees, bought by the UW in the 1930s and moved from Seattle’s Arboretum to the UW campus in the 1960s, are a trademark attraction for the school.

On Tuesday, May 20, UW President Michael K. Young, Japanese Consul General Masahiro Omura, and others helped dedicate a new set of flowering cherry trees that will grace the Rainier Vista, a grassy area at the center of campus with views of Mount Rainier. The trees are a gift from the Japan Commerce Association of Washington to the UW Department of American Ethnic Studies to celebrate the long history of Japanese-American relations at the university and in Seattle.

Rainier Vista will host 18 trees, and another 14 will be planted in the courtyard of the Japanese Garden in the Arboretum, as well as on Azalea Way, a small street entering the garden.

A large crowd packed the event held in a tent on Rainier Vista. It featured speeches, mock-up photos of what the vista will look like, previews of ceremonial plaques, and Japanese art.

“We all benefit from this rich diverse heritage of our Japanese-speaking communities in the Pacific Northwest and at the University of Washington,” Young told the crowd. “We are deeply honored to

Photo by Walker Orenstein

WASHINGTON (AP) – In a landmark case alleging international economic spying, the United States announced on May 19 unprecedented cyber espionage charges against five Chinese military officials accused of hacking into U.S. companies to gain trade secrets.

The hackers targeted big-name makers of nuclear and solar technology, stealing confidential business information, sensitive trade secrets and internal communications for competitive advantage, according to a grand jury indictment.

“Success in the international marketplace should be based solely on a company’s ability to innovate and compete, not on a sponsor government’s ability to spy and steal business secrets,” Attorney General Eric Holder said at a news conference.

The alleged targets are Alcoa World Alumina, Westinghouse Electric Co., Allegheny Technologies, U.S. Steel Corp., the United Steelworkers Union, and SolarWorld. The indictment, which includes charges of trade-secret theft and economic espionage, was issued in Pittsburgh, where most of the companies are based.

The U.S. accusation against Chinese personnel is purely ungrounded and absurd.”

The indictment says that five hackers — members of the People’s Liberation Army — worked from a building in Shanghai to steal proprietary information from the companies and the labor union, including communications that could have helped Chinese firms learn strategies and weaknesses of American companies involved in litigation with the Chinese government or Chinese firms.

The defendants are all believed to be in China and it was unclear whether they would ever be turned over to the United States for prosecution. But the Justice Department, publicizing the charges, identified all five by name and issued “wanted” posters. The five men are Sun Kailiang, Huang Zhenyu, Wen Xinyu, Wang Dong, and Gu Chunhui.

“For the first time, we are exposing the faces and names behind the keyboards in Shanghai used to steal from American businesses,” said John Carlin, the head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

U.S. officials have previously asserted that

University of Washington President Michael K. Young gives a painting of the new Rainier Vista cherry trees to Japanese Consul General Masahiro Omura, as imagined by Seattle artist Aki Sogabe, who was in attendance. Sogabe practices Kirie, a papercutting technique, to make her art.

accept this wonderful gift.”

The event featured several speeches that commemorated the history of Japanese and Japanese American students who have attended the UW. Those relations haven’t always been perfect. In the 1940s, about 450 students were either sent to camps at the Puyallup fairgrounds, fled the state, or were drafted into the army. In Washington state, over 12,000 Japanese were incarcerated. Aside from touching on those troubling times, most speakers talked about positive relationships and experiences, such as the successful Asian law program at the UW that began in the 1960s with just three professors, and is now the Asian Law Center.

“There’s so much with respect to the University of Washington’s relationship with Japan, Japanese cultures, and Japanese Americans … the history {see CHERRY TREES cont’d on page 14}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ world news

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

5

After huge win, Lao defense chief, next Indian PM four others killed begins victory lap in plane crash

By Ashok Sharma and Muneeza Naqvi Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) – Thousands of people welcomed India’s next prime minister in the capital on May 17 after he led his party to a resounding election victory, with Narendra Modi flashing a victory sign to his cheering supporters and telling them that the win “created a new confidence among people.”

Results announced Friday from the weeks-long polls showed that Modi and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party had won the most decisive election victory India has seen in three decades, sweeping the long-dominant Congress party from power.

Modi was greeted by roaring crowds outside the BJP’s headquarters in the heart of New Delhi, where he met with the party’s leadership to discuss forming a new government.

The headquarters were festooned with garlands made of marigold flowers and multicolored balloons. Supporters blew conch shells, which traditionally mark the start of most Hindu rituals. As Modi walked toward the office, he was showered with rose petals.

In a country where elections usually result in cacophony rather than a single roar, Modi pulled off a mandate of staggering proportions, leaving him unfettered to pursue the agenda of economic revival and development that propelled him to victory.

What remains to be seen is how quickly Modi, who has ruled the western state of Gujarat since 2001, can match the enormous expectations he has created in an electorate that is hungry for change.

“One might envy Narendra Modi for his awesome electoral victory yesterday. But the challenges he faces as India’s 17th prime minister are scarcely enviable” Mohan

Guruswamy, an economist long associated with the BJP, wrote in The Citizen, an online journal.

For most of the past two years, Modi, 63, has worked relentlessly Narendra Modi to market himself as the one leader capable of waking this nation of 1.2 billion from its economic slumber, while trying to shake off allegations that he looked the other way amid communal riots in his home state in 2002 that killed 1,000 people, most of them Muslims.

As thousands of people cheered and danced in the streets to welcome him to the capital, it was clear that Modi had managed to win the confidence of a large number of Indians.

Modi and the BJP wiped out a Congress party that had dominated Indian politics for all but a decade since the country gained freedom from British rule in 1947.

The final tally showed that the BJP had won 282 seats and Congress just 44 in the 543-strong Lok Sabha, or lower house of Parliament — meaning Modi will be able to form a government without the support of smaller parties.

The last time any single party won a majority in India was in 1984, when the Congress party swept more than 400 seats following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

But 30 years later, India is in the midst of rapid socio-economic change. About 13 million young people are entering the job market each year, but not enough jobs are being created in an economy that has slowed down to below 5 percent in the last {see INDIAN PM cont’d on page 12}

With martial law, Thai gov’t nearly powerless

By Todd Pitman Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) – The question to Thailand’s army chief was a basic one.

After he declared martial law this week, would he be consulting the government?

His response encapsulated the increasingly surreal nature of this Southeast Asian country’s political crisis.

“Where is the government right now?

Where are they now? I don’t know,” Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha snapped before adding awkwardly, “I’m not interfering with the government, or anybody.”

But where, actually, is the elected leadership of Thailand? Few people here believe it is still running the country.

Six months of protests have forced its severely weakened Cabinet to shift offices constantly to avoid being harassed by demonstrators. By the time the army intervened Tuesday, a government that had

been in firm power in November found itself caught off guard, its leaders meeting at an undisclosed location that one aide described as “a safe house.”

As Thailand tries to make sense of a move that the army denies was a coup, one thing, at least, is certain. The nation’s caretaker government has been rendered virtually powerless even as the rest of the country largely functions normally.

“Thailand is like a car driving on cruise control right now,” said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch in Bangkok. “But nobody is at the wheel, and it’s probably going to crash.”

Yet the crash, if it is coming, is happening in slow motion.

Glass-encased shopping malls and ornate temples are open as always.

Bangkok’s red-light districts still throb with activity. Civil servants still dutifully {see THAILAND cont’d on page 15}

By Thanyarat Doksone and Jocelyn Gecker Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) – A military plane carrying senior Lao government officials crashed May 17 in a wooded area as it approached an airport in the country’s northeast, killing at least five people, including the defense minister and other high-ranking members of the authoritarian country’s ruling party.

Lao National Television showed video of the mangled wreckage of the plane, with smoke rising from its badly charred remains. The footage showed rescuers pulling away pieces of aircraft debris and trying to dig through the remaining fuselage with shovels, as medical crews stood by watching.

About 18 people were believed to be on board the plane, which left Vientiane, Laos’ capital, early in the morning to bring the group to an official ceremony in Xiangkhoung province, about 470 kilometers (290 miles) away, said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee. Earlier reports had said about 20 people were on board.

The Ukrainian-made Antonov AN74TK-300 crashed in Xiangkhoung’s Pek district, where authorities were “helping to rescue the survivors,” according to Lao state news agency KPL, which cited an announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The brief official statement did not say how many people had died in the crash or survived.

Among those confirmed killed were Defense Minister Douangchay Phichit and his wife, said Nipat Thonglek, the Thai Defense Ministry’s permanent secretary.

Douangchay was also one of Laos’ deputy prime ministers and a high-ranking member of its Politburo, the main decision-making body for the nation’s all-pow-

erful Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, which has ruled the single-party state since 1975.

Others killed in the crash included Minister of Public Security Thongbane Sengaphone, Douangchay Phichit Vientiane Gov. Sukhan Mahalad, and at least one other senior ruling party official, Sek said.

He said he was given the information by authorities in neighboring Laos who did not immediately release details about the other passengers.

The Lao government is known for its secrecy, and most information about the crash — including the initial confirmation that it occurred — came from officials in neighboring Thailand.

“The accident happened as the plane was about to land at Xiangkhoung airport,” said Sek. The airport is near one of Laos’ major archaeological sites, the Plain of Jars. Xiangkhoung province borders northwestern Vietnam.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the crash.

The mountainous, landlocked country of 6.5 million people is one of the poorest in Asia. Its leaders are among the region’s most secretive, tolerating almost no opposition and maintaining strict control over the media.

Douangchay as defense minister and Thongbane as the security chief were both powerful and influential forces in the country’s security operation. While the precise impact of their deaths was not immediately clear, analysts viewed their sudden departure as an unexpected blow to {see LAO cont’d on page 12}

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 5/22

WHAT: Celebration of “2014 Odegaard Award Denny Hurtado” WHERE: UW Seattle Campus, Husky Union Building (HUB) Ballroom WHEN: reception at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., celebration at 6:30 p.m.

INFO: www.omadevents.uw.edu/ celebration, 206-221-0680, rchristi@uw.edu

FRI 5/23 WHAT: Music, meditation, spiritual discourse and personal blessings with AMMA Amritanandamayi, humanitarian and spiritual leader WHERE: Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way N.E. WHEN: 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-322-8337

WHAT: Screening and discussion with filmmaker of “Stateless” documentary on stateless Vietnamese who lived in the Philippines and came to the United States after 2005 WHERE: UW Ethnic Cultural Center Theater, 3940 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., Seattle WHEN: 7 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-543-4635

FRI 5/23 THRU MON 5/26 WHAT: 43rd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival WHERE: Seattle Center INFO: nwfolklife.org/festival

SAT 5/24 WHAT: Garden work party WHERE: Japanese Cultural & Community Center Issei Legacy site, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle WHEN: 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

■ briefly

UW celebrates AAPI heritage

To commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, University of Washington students, staff, and faculty are sharing their personal stories of identity in a project titled “No Longer Invisible: In Their Own Words.”

Stories are posted on the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity website (www. washington.edu/omad/no-longer-invisible/) throughout the month to highlight the diversity in language, religion, culture, and tradition of the AAPI communities.

The project will culminate with a story exhibit and reception on May 29, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center on the UW campus. The event is free and open to the public, however RSVP’s to Linda Ando (riziki@uw.edu) or Chanira Reang Sperry (creang@uw.edu) are appreciated. The story exhibit will be displayed at the Kelly ECC through June 4. 

API candidates file for office The deadline for filing to run for elected office in King County has closed, and the following API candidates will appear on the ballot in the Aug. 5 primary election: Legislative District 1, State Representative Position 2: Sarah Sanoy-Wright Legislative District 30, State Senate: Shari Song Legislative District 32, State Representative Position 1: Cindy Ryu Legislative District 37, State Senator: Pramila Jayapal Legislative District 37, State Senator: Louis Watanabe Legislative District 37, State Representative 1: Sharon Tomiko Santos Legislative District 48, State Senator: Cyrus Habib Legislative District 33, State Representative 2: Mia Su-Ling Gregerson Legislative District 43, State Representative Position 2: Jessica Spear 

INFO: 206-568-7114 WHAT: “Journey through Asia” with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai performances during Folklife Festival WHERE: Seattle Center Bagley Wright Theater, 155 Mercer St., Seattle WHEN: 7–10 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-365-3146

SUN 5/25 THRU TUE 5/27 WHAT: Sister Cities International Festival, highlighting Okinawa and honoring cultures of the Philippines, China, Korea, Japan and more with entertainment, arts and crafts, dance, and children’s activities WHERE: Pierce College Fort Steilacoom campus, 9401 Farwest Dr. S.W., Lakewood

INFO: www.lsca.us, 253-9061346

MON 5/26 WHAT: Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Day program WHERE: Lakeview Cemetery, 1554 15th Ave. E., Seattle WHEN: 10–11 a.m.

INFO: 206-919-1465

WED 5/28 WHAT: Evan Osnos, former China correspondent for The New Yorker, speaks on his new book “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China” WHERE: Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park WHEN: 7-8 p.m.

INFO: 206-441-4419, info@ wscrc.org

WHAT: WSCRC China Happy Hour and Networking event with Evan Osnos WHERE: Marjorie Restaurant, 1412 E. Union St., Seattle WHEN: 5-6:30 p.m.

COST: $20 INFO: 206-441-4419, info@ wscrc.org

FRI 5/30 WHAT: ID Spring Roll 2014 WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 6-8:30 p.m.

COST: $100/general admission INFO: idspringroll.org

FRI 5/30 & SAT 5/31 WHAT: Seattle Butoh Festival WHERE: Taoist Studies Institute, 225 N. 70th St., Seattle WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $15–$25 INFO: 206-729-2054, www. daipanbutoh.com

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ at the movies

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

7

More Asian offerings at SIFF

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), running from May 15 through June 8, always brings fascinating Asian films to our town, many of them not available for viewing elsewhere. Here are three preview picks for the following week at SIFF.

“Patema Inverted,” which plays May 28 and May 30, is the only Japanese anime film in the festival, which is a bit odd considering the festival’s support of anime in the past.

It’s the feature film debut of director Yasuhiro Yoshiura, and it began life as an ONA (Original Net Animation), broadcast over the Internet.

The anime tells the story of Patema (voiced by Yukiyo Fujii in Japanese, Cassandra Lee Morris in English), a princess who presides over a subterranean kingdom composed of tunnels through Earth. She is a fair and wise princess, but she also has a wild streak, constantly venturing past the “safety zone,” much to the chagrin of her elders.

One day, while exploring off-limits, Patema “falls” through a passage and finds herself on the surface of the planet. She also discovers, much to her peril, that gravity is reversed on the surface, and she almost falls away into the sky, but is rescued by a boy named Eiji (voiced by

Nobuhiko Okamoto and Michael Sinterniklaas).

The two form a most unlikely friendship, as Patema needs to find her way back to her own people, and Eiji tries to protect her.

Also from Japan, but about as far removed from “Patema Inverted” in style and story as you can get, is “Why Don’t You Play in Hell?” showing on May 24 and May 26.

The director, Sion Sono, has a long-running career as a director, screenwriter, and occasional actor, since his first feature film, “Bicycle Sighs,” which he shot on 16mm film in 1990.

A constant, though distinctive and lyrical, critic of Japan’s perfectionist ways, Sono’s stories often feature misfits, underachievers, criminals, and various aspects of the counterculture.

Several of these aspects appear in “Why Don’t You Play in Hell?” The plot concerns a filmmaking/performance art crew with the lively name of the F*uck Bombers, who stir up mayhem on public streets and film the results.

It’s all designed for art, thrills, and giving the establishment a kick in the pants, but the Bombers eventually decide to commit a “happening” on the same street where two Yakuza gangs happen to be duking it out.

This makes the Bombers witnesses, with criminal evidence on their cameras. Trouble soon follows…

“Liar’s Dice,” an Indian film directed by Geetu Mohandas, plays on May 26, June 3, and June 5.

This is Ms. Mohandas’ first feature film as a director, although she has a long career as an actor going back to 1986, when she was just 5 years old. The title relates to a dice game popular throughout the world, where the player can see his or her own dice, but not the dice held by other players.

The film centers on a small village where a woman, Kamala (played by Geetanjali Thapa), hasn’t heard from her husband, who’s gone to Delhi for work. She goes in search of him, taking her small daughter, Manya (Manya Gupta), who, in turn, insists on taking her pet goat.

The mother, daughter, and goat meet up with a soldier, Nawazuddin (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who’s gone AWOL and promises to help the little family. But he may not be what he seems, and complications lie in wait on the long road to the big cities.  The Seattle International Film Festival runs through June 8. For more details, show times, and venues, visit http:// www.siff.net/festival-2014.

Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

■ arts & entertainment ‘Journey through Asia’ at Folklife

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle’s cultural festival that takes place over Memorial Day weekend at Seattle Center, will feature talented performances and activities from all cultures. Folklife Festival is one of Seattle’s biggest public events and draws in diverse spectators and performers annually.

For Melody Xie, a Chinese dance, culture, and language instructor, Northwest Folklife Festival presents an opportunity to educate the public about different Asian cultures. Xie is the coordinator for “Journey Through Asia,” a Folklife Festival showcase that celebrates different Asian cultures through dance and performance. Xie is the first person of {see MELODY cont’d on page 12}

For store events, recipes and announcements, visit www.uwajimaya.com

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

■ arts & entertainment

April’s pop notes

Prom, TV, and the passing of a musical legend

Hudson Yang as Eddie Huang

Nina Davuluri

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly Can you believe that it’s May already? April zipped by so quickly, and with it, a few notable stories that include prom and a significant addition to American primetime television. Read on to find out more!

Fight for your right to prom It’s prom season! High school ended years ago for most of us, but for the teenagers of 2014, the path to prom still looms strong. Some kids just hope to snag a date with their school crush. Others, however, dare to dream big.

Patrick Farves, an 18-year-old senior at Central York High School in York, Pa., asked Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri to prom in the middle of a school assembly.

Davuluri, who was on tour to meet with high schools around the nation, was doing a Q&A session with the student body.

Farves, who had previously been warned by school administrators that there would be repercussions for the stunt, brandished a flower to Davuluri and popped the prom question to her. Farves’s fellow students erupted in cheers.

Unfortunately, the act cost Farves three days of inschool suspension.

Was it worth it?

Davuluri later released a statement. Although she was flattered by the invitation, she was unable to attend due to her travel schedule. She also asked the school administrators to reconsider their punishment to Farves.

So maybe the suspension wasn’t worth the effort. Still, Farves has an awesome story to share, and the teen will still be permitted to attend his senior prom.

At the very least, someone should give this kid an honorary Prom King crown because his stunt definitely deserves an A for effort!

Finally, a few familiar faces on TV The Internet is abuzz that ABC has picked up “Fresh Off the Boat,” a primetime sitcom that features an all Asian American cast. This will be the first sitcom in 20 years to star an Asian American family. This is a big deal, my friends.

The comedy, which is based off of a memoir from restaurateur and chef personality Eddie Huang, will follow the misadventures of 12-year-old Huang and his Taiwanese immigrant family, as they navigate the cultural differences of their new life in Florida. The show is set in the 1990s.

I watched a preview of the pilot and it is funny stuff. It’s fresh, different, and a little dry at times — just my kind of humor.

Actors Randall Park and Constance Wu star as the protagonist’s parents, while newcomer 10-year-old Hudson Yang plays the kid version of Huang. Though he’s

young, Yang already displays some awesome comedic chops, and I’m excited to see where he’ll take this show.

“Fresh Off the Boat” is listed as a mid-season replacement, meaning that we won’t see this show on air until early 2015.

Response to the pilot preview — directed by filmmaker Lynn Shelton, formerly of Seattle — has been largely positive so far, and I can’t wait to see it onscreen. How the rest of America will react to an all-Asian cast, however, remains to be unseen.

Bidding adieu to a legend Larry Ramos, a singer and guitarist who was best known for his work with the 1960s hit band The Association, recently passed away in Clarkston, Wash. Ramos was 72 years old and of Filipino descent. He had been battling varying illnesses the last few years following a heart attack in 2011.

The Association featured a group of musicians and singers who mixed pop, rock, folk, and psychedelic Ramos sounds. was invited to join the group in 1967 when one of the guitarists left. He would later go on to play the guitar and harmonize on lead vocals for “Windy” and “Never My Love,” both top Billboard pop hits from The Association.

Though the band later broke up in 1973, The Association would occasionally get back together for special tours.

Ramos sometimes joined in on these reunions.

Although he is virtually unknown by today’s younger music audiences, Ramos has been hailed as a trailblazer for Asian American artists during the 1960s.

In a time of racial discrimination, Ramos set a precedent for Asian hopefuls in the entertainment industry for being one of the lead singers in an otherwise all-Caucasian band, and also for being one of the first known Asian Americans to be involved in the American music business.

“I know I opened doors for a lot of Asians and Filipinos,” said Ramos in an online article with INQUIRER.net, a Philippines-based news site. “I know a lot of people don’t know who I was, but I’m flattered when people approach

Larry Ramos, front and center, with the rest of the Association, clockwise from center left: Russ Giguere, Jim Yester, Brian Cole, Ted Bluechel, and Terry Kirkman

me and say that I was their inspiration for becoming a musician or entertainer. I’m really happy and flattered, if I did that for anybody.”  Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

9

Congratulations to Mary Yu!

for being appointed to be the first Asian American Washington State Supreme Court Justice.

We are proud of Yu! Ellen & Eddie Abellera  King County Assessor Lloyd Hara Mercer Island City Councilmember Benson Wong  Jagdish Sharma Linh Thach  Albert Shen  Heidi Park  Mohan Gurung  Kristina Logsdon Jared Jonson  Teresita Batayola  Diane Narasaki  Alan Sugiyama Akemi Matsumoto  Ruthann Kurose  Joan Yoshitomi  James Buckley Muckleshoot Indian Tribe  David Della & Odette Polintan Itu & Debadutta Dash  Evelyn Yenson  Cindy Shiota  Ruth Woo Bob & Hon. Sharon Tomiko Santos  Hon. Phyllis G. McKinney Jon & Hon. Bobbe Bridge  Hon. Anne Levinson  Terry Yoneyama LaVerne Lamoureux  Dan Shin  Estela Ortega  Hon. Cindy Ryu Chancellor Jill Wakefield  Hon. Claudia Kauffman  Nate & Leslie Miles

Justice Yu and Hon. Charles Z. Smith share a laugh after the unveiling of Smith’s portrait, painted by Alfredo Arreguin, that honors Smith as Washington’s first Justice of color.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Justice Yu, Hon. Anne Levinson, Hon. Phyllis G. McKinney, and Ruth Woo sit together in front of the bench.

At the CAPAA 40th anniversary celebration in SeaTac on May 15, Ellen and Eddie Abellera spend some time with Justice Yu.

Justice Mary Yu is sworn in to the Washington Supreme Court.

Justice Yu makes a speech.

Justice Yu applauds those who are applauding her.

This ad was sponsored by the men and women in our local community.

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Justice Yu signs some legal paperwork, with Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Madsen standing by, after the swearing-in on May 20.

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

OPINION

■ publisher’s blog On May 20, three women were invited by Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu’s swearing-in ceremony. One of them was political guru Ruth Woo. Many community members are aware that “Auntie Ruth,” now in her 80s, would do anything to help Yu win the Supreme Court position. For decades, Auntie Ruth has been helping Asian community leaders to get to where they are today. She has mentored and supported people, including Ambassador Gary Locke, Martha Choe, Dolores Sibonga, Sharon Tomiko Santos, and many others.

The battle to get Yu to the Supreme Court was not an easy one. When Yu first applied for the job, former Gov. Christine Gregoire picked another person instead. I remember Auntie Ruth was upset, as if she was being denied the appointment.

On May 20, Auntie Ruth was smiling so happily as her wish had finally come true. But she feels her job is not done yet. She dreams of having an Asian American in the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s about time, isn’t it?

Mary Yu’s Asian/Hispanic roots I met Yu’s brother, Richard, at the ceremony. He told me

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Women important in Mary Yu’s life

Ruth Woo, Hon. Phyllis G. McKinney, Justice Mary Yu, and Hon. Anne Levinson

Richard Yu and his sister, Justice MaryYu.

about their roots. Their dad was from an island close to Shanghai, China. A seaman, he jumped ship when he was 12 years old, in 1919, with a group of 11 men in New York.

Their dad met his Mexican bride in America. She had worked on a farm, but they met later, in a metal factory. They

settled in Chicago outside Chinatown. Richard said his dad spoke very little Spanish and English. Mary and Richard’s first language was Spanish because they lived with their mom’s mother. Neither sibling speaks Chinese. Yu has no Chinese name. 

What SeaTac tells us about $15 minimum wage

Bold idea from Chamber’s panel

While attending an event at a SeaTac hotel last week, I met two women who receive the $15/hour minimum wage.

SeaTac has implemented the new law on Jan. 1. I met the women while they were working. One was a waitress and the other was cleaning the hallway.

“Are you happy with the $15 wage?”

I asked the full-time cleaning lady.

“It sounds good, but it’s not good,” the woman said.

“Why?” I asked.

“I lost my 401k, health insurance, paid holiday, and vacation,” she

Immigrants often don’t use their voices in government politics for fear of their accents and language barriers.

Maiko Winkler-Chin, executive director of the Chinatown-International District Preservation Historical Authority, offers a suggestion. Use your native language Maiko Winkler-Chin to communicate with government officials, said Winkler-Chin. The City has translators. E-mail them in your native language regarding the $15 minimum wage, added Winkler-Chin at the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce panel.

If you don’t use your voice, you will lose it. Send your message to council@seattle.gov. 

responded. “No more free food,” she added. The hotel used to feed her.

Now, she has to bring her own food.

Also, no overtime, she said. She used to work extra hours and received overtime pay.

What else? I asked.

“I have to pay for parking,” she said.

I then asked the part-time waitress, who was part of the catering staff.

“Yes, I’ve got $15 an hour, but all my tips are now much less,” she said. Before the new wage law was implemented, her hourly wage was $7.

But her tips added to more than $15 an hour. Yes, she used to receive free food and parking. Now, she has to bring her own food and pay for parking.

Another staffer did not want to say anything, but he did say the $15 has a huge impact on the hotel.

The wait staff said the hotel across the street is unionized. Therefore, management is not required to pay the $15 wage.  {see BLOG cont’d on page 15}

Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents

Children’s Recycling Fashion Contest

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • 1 PM — Lining up • 1:20 PM — Judging begins • 1:40 PM — Parade begins • 2 PM — Contestants appear on stage • 2:45 PM — Results announced and presentation of awards • Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (1:50 PM).

• Finalists will be lined up in numerical order.

• All contestants will receive a fortune cookie and a stuffed Panda.

Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest (Saturday, July 12) before 1:15 PM at the registration table. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave S. • Contestants are chosen on a first come first serve basis.

• Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 15 minutes prior to parade.

Sponsors:

Cathay Post 186

Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Children’s Parade Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104

Name: ________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________________

Rules/Guidelines: • Children ages 12 and under can participate in the contest • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • Children will be given a contestant number for order of Parade lineup • Children attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria.

• Prizes will be awarded to First ($100), Second ($50), and Third ($25) Place Winners, plus many other prizes.

• All decisions made by competition judges are final.

E-mail: ________________________________________________________

Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations.

Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ editorial

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

11

OPINION

‘But they did it anyway’

Danford Grant, the high-powered Seattle attorney who preyed on immigrant women, pleaded guilty to raping five Asian massage therapists and is going to jail, but not for long enough.

Grant is expected to be sentenced to five years per rape, but could have 10 years shaved off for good behavior.

In addition, he gets credit for the 18 months he’s been on electronic-home detention while awaiting trial.

The only reason he got five years per rape is because he was allowed to plead to lesser charges, so the women wouldn’t have to go through the trauma of facing him in court.

The five women he raped were courageous to come forward. Who knows how many other victims are out there that didn’t press charges?

Grant apparently had a thing for committing violence against Asian women. Four of the five women are Chinese — at least two don’t speak English — and the fifth woman is Thai.

■ education

Learn how to be a leader

A previous SYLP class

By Ivy Wong If you asked someone what you should spend $50 on this summer, they might suggest buying that new video game that recently came out or a cute pair of shoes. They might recommend buying tickets for a concert or movie. Or they might joke about buying as much candy as you can. There’s an infinite number of possibilities of what you can do with $50.

If you asked me, I would tell you to use that money to apply for the Summer Youth Leadership Program.

The Summer Youth Leadership Program, fondly called SYLP by past participants, is an unforgettable and unique program organized by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation.

Created in 1995, SYLP is an annual three-week summer program that helps students develop leadership and communication skills. Unlike other leadership programs, SYLP gives students the chance to meet with Asian American role models and leaders in our community. The program gives students a chance to explore Seattle’s International District and surrounding areas, and discover Asian community resources.

The free lunches and scholarship opportunity provided are just added bonuses to what SYLP already offers you.

Many times have I heard the misconception that SYLP is just like school because the program goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. That cannot be further from the truth. When you are in this program, you are doing more than just sitting there and taking notes like you do in school. One day, you might be learning about {see SYLP cont’d on page 15}

Grant chose as his targets the most vulnerable of women.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Grant chose these women because he “counted on them being too afraid to call police.”

The Seattle Times quoted Grant’s defense attorney, Richard Hansen, saying, “I don’t want to disparage the women in this case,” but there was “no force, no weapon, they just didn’t want to do it, but did it anyway.”

They didn’t want to be raped, but did it anyway? What does that even mean?

Hansen seems to think that this makes his client not such a bad guy, because the women “did it anyway.”

This is the culture of rape that is pervasive in our country and around the world. There are too many stories of women having to leave college campuses because their rapists are allowed to stay. Rapists serve time in prison and then are released, and rape again. Women in some countries are lashed or killed because they were raped.

What a world for women.

Even the prosecutor, Dan Satterberg, despite fighting for the victims and being on their side, had this oddly weird thing to say, according to the Times: “Even somebody who works in a massage parlor can be raped.”

The message there is: “You are the kind of person who is probably more deserving of being raped than other people.”

Danford Grant will be free one day, and he will rape again. Our judicial system practically guarantees it.

Between now and then, power up, Asian and immigrant women.

Learn self defense, and teach it to your daughters.

Practice up your loudest “No!” and be prepared to back it up with force.

Most importantly, work to change the laws — five years for destroying women’s lives is not long enough — and elect more women judges.

Enjoy your prison stay, Mr. Grant. 

asianweekly northwest

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

{MELODY cont’d from page 7}

{INDIAN PM cont’d from page 5}

Chinese descent to take on this role at the Festival in the past 48 years.

“Journey Through Asia” will feature 100 performers and will include dancers from Xie’s own dance group, the Melody Institute.

The showcase will also feature dancers from other local Asian performance groups, such as Huong Viet Performing Arts Group, Minyou Japanese Folk Dance, and Siam Smile Dance.

There will be 33 performances at the showcase.

Xie created the Melody Institute in response to her work with Families with Children from China (FCC), an organization that provides support to families with adopted children from China.

Twenty years ago, when Xie first came to the United States, she performed for a Chinese New Year show hosted by the FCC and admired the families she met through the organization. At the time, Xie worked at the Lakeside School, a private school in Seattle where she launched a Chinese language program. Due to her work in education, the FCC parents encouraged Xie to start her own school that would enrich the lives of adopted Chinese children. Xie founded the Melody Institute in 2005 as a result.

At the Melody Institute, Xie teaches Chinese dance — everything from folk to modern to traditional. Her dance classes focus on style, music, and costumes. Although she primarily instructs children and teens, Xie also provides dance exercise classes for adults. Her students range from 2 to 60 years old.

Xie also teaches Chinese language classes, though she notes that for younger students, it is important to breed an interest in the culture first, before engaging them in learning the language itself.

“Kids need to be interested in the culture first. Otherwise, you force them to learn something they aren’t invested in, and kids just hate that,” explained Xie about her teaching method. “Learning about their culture will help them become more interested in learning new things about China. This will then give them the confidence and desire to learn Chinese.”

Around 70 of Xie’s students will perform at Folklife Festival this year. Her students have long performed at the event and, because of her longstanding relationship with the Folklife Festival, the board offered her this year’s coordinator role for the Asian culture showcase.

Xie decided to refine the showcase’s goals this year. Previously, the show was known simply as the “Asia Show,” and each group routinely performed in front of an audience with little explanation between acts. This year, Xie restructured the show to focus more on education.

“I want to create a real journey for viewers — one where it feels like they’re moving from culture to culture, from East to West,” said Xie. This year, there will be an emcee running the showcase that will act like a tour guide between performances. The emcee will introduce the audience to each performance, and inform them with relevant cultural facts.

“The audience will have a chance to learn something from our show,” said Xie. She hopes to thank the audience in the finale by distributing small gifts to viewers whose birthdays fall in May or June. The purpose of these gifts is to reward and celebrate people for watching the showcase.

Xie will also get on stage during the showcase’s finale and teach spectators a few basic dance moves.

“I want the audience involved in our performance,” said Xie. “The goal is for ‘Journey Through Asia’ to be as fun as it is interactive. It’s a celebration of all cultures.” 

two years. Prices of food have spiraled, as has unemployment.

For voters, the priorities in this election were no longer bound by old traditional religious and caste allegiances. Instead, jobs and development were their main priority, and after having promised them that, Modi’s real challenge lies ahead.

The BJP has promised to change tough labor laws that make foreign manufacturers reluctant to set up factories in India.

Manufacturing makes up only 15 percent of India’s economy, compared to 31 percent in China. Attracting manufacturing investment is key to creating jobs, and foreign investors have been pouring billions of dollars into Indian stocks and bonds in anticipation of a Modi victory.

Modi himself was looked forward, confidently promising to start work on his agenda quickly and thanking voters for giving

The Melody Institute will perform at the Bagley Wright Theatre at Seattle Center on Saturday, May 24 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The event is free. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/MelodyInstitute or www.nwfolklife.org/festival.

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

{LAO cont’d from page 5} the government and the ruling party.

“It seems inevitable that the deaths of these officials, especially the two ministers, will have an impact on the power structure of the party and in Laos more generally,” said Simon Creak, a historian of Laos and Southeast Asia at Japan’s Kyoto {NG cont’d from page 1} U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Wai Chiu “Tony” Ng, 57, was escorted by two officers on a multi-segment commercial flight that left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport the morning of May 13 and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport the next evening (local time).

Ng had been held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma since his parole from Washington state prison in December 2013.

The exact date of Ng’s removal had been kept secret for security reasons, according to ICE public affairs officer Andrew Munoz. When the Asian Weekly made a routine inquiry into the status of the deportation on the morning of May 14, Munoz replied, “I’m not able to comment on his case yet.” In fact, Ng had been placed on a plane to Hong Kong the morning before.

“I thought, ‘Is she reading my mind?’” said Munoz, when he was later asked about the coincidental timing of the question.

But ICE couldn’t release the information until it had gotten confirmation that Ng had landed on Hong Kong soil, and until the U.S. State Department had reviewed the press release announcing the deportation. The news was announced on May 15.

Ng was sent to ICE custody after serving 28 years in prison. After his release, it took five months for ICE to obtain the required travel documents from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, paving the way for Ng’s removal. Ng is a citizen of Hong Kong and was never naturalized in the United States.

In February 1983, Ng, then 27 years old, and two other accomplices went to the Wah Mee Club in Seattle’s International District, where they hogtied, robbed, and shot 14 people, leaving 13 dead. The Wah Mee was an exclusive gambling club located off Maynard Alley in the basement of the Louisa Building, which burned last Christmas.

him a clear mandate.

A new government will take office sometime after the BJP’s newly elected lawmakers formally appoint Modi as prime minister on May, but no date has been set, party President Rajnath Singh told reporters.

Outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on May 17 and gave him his resignation.

U.S. President Barack Obama called Singh to express his gratitude for the outgoing prime minister’s “critical role in transforming and deepening the U.S.-India strategic partnership and our cooperation on global challenges,” according to a statement released by the White House. Obama also told Singh that he “looked forward to further expanding the strong relationship between the United States and India” with Modi. 

University. “Especially with the next party congress, which will select the next generation of leaders, less than two years away.”

The plane crash was the second for Laos in less than a year.

In October, a Lao Airlines ATR-72 turboprop crashed during a heavy storm as it approached Pakse Airport in southern Laos, killing all 49 people on board. 

After the murders, Ng fled to Canada, but was found and deported to the United States by Canadian authorities in October 1984. In July 1985, he was convicted of 13 counts of first-degree robbery and one count of second-degree assault. Ng was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.

During his 28 years in prison, Ng professed to be a changed man, apologizing to the family members of his victims and living as a model inmate.

In an exclusive 2009 interview with Amy Phan of the Northwest Asian Weekly, he detailed the events that led up to his participation in the heinous crime, beginning with his own gambling debt.

“During his trial, Ng said he acted under duress, claiming he felt his life would be in danger if he did not participate in the crime,” Phan reported.

Despite asking for forgiveness, relatives of the victims continuously spoke against Ng’s parole each time he came up for it, all the way up to and including when he was finally granted parole last December.

While in prison, Ng said a cellmate “introduced him to the prison church program,” Phan reported. “There, he discovered the peace of forgiveness.”

Ng took college courses and built furniture during his imprisonment. A Seattle pastor told the Asian Weekly in earlier interviews that he connects reformed inmates with Christian business owners in Hong Kong, and that he would like to help Ng find work upon his release.

According to a Seattle community leader who also traveled to Hong Kong and met Ng there, Ng said upon his arrival, “I hope some day the victims’ families will forgive me.” Ng hasn’t been back to Hong Kong since he left there more than 30 years ago, at age 13. He plans to visit his father in China.

According to Munoz, deportees such as Ng generally cannot apply to re-enter the United States for 10 years.  Sue Misao can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

13

For the week of May 24–May 30, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — The first time around didn’t go as you had expected. Try again and you will be pleased with the results.

Monkey — The unknown can be scary for both young and old. Ease your fears by learning more about that which you don’t understand.

Dragon — Good habits need to be sustained to have the best effect. If you veer off track, get right back on.

Ox — While you’re used to sharing your feelings, it might not be to your benefit to let too much show at work.

Snake — Even the best of intentions does not guarantee that things will work out as you wish.

Increase your chances of success with solid planning.

Tiger — Are you getting annoyed by noise that you would rather not hear? Perhaps turning on some music that you enjoy would help.

Horse — If you have taken some time off lately, it could take a while to get back in the swing of things.

However, you should be back to your old form soon.

Rabbit — Loading your day with too many activities can leave you feeling burned out. Make sure to schedule some down time to recharge.

Goat — Has the weather gotten you a little down?

Think of something happy, or better yet, go out and do something fun to instantly change your mood.

Rooster — Does the atmosphere seem too serious for your taste? Add some frivolity to lighten your surroundings.

Dog — Why make the same mistake that others do?

Learn what not to do, so that you can avoid it entirely.

Pig — You are not one to follow the crowd, but would rather make your own way. Doing so will reveal options that are not available to others.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

{SHINSEKI cont’d from page 1} resigned Friday amid a firestorm over reported delays in care and falsified records at veterans hospitals.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said he has accepted the resignation of Robert Petzel, the department’s undersecretary for health care, effective immediately.

Shinseki had asked for the resignation, a department official later said on condition of anonymity.

Reports of long waits for appointments and processing benefit applications have plagued the VA for years. The agency has shortened backlogs, but allegations that veterans have died while awaiting VA care have created an election-year uproar.

A former clinic director at the VA’s medical center in Phoenix told a House committee last month that up to 40 people may have died while awaiting appointments and that VA officials kept a secret appointment list to mask the delays.

Shinseki asked the VA’s inspector general to investigate the clinic director’s charges.

An initial review of 17 people who died while awaiting appointments at the Phoenix hospital found that none of their deaths appeared to have been caused by delays in treatment, acting inspector general Richard Griffin told senators Thursday. But he also said new complaints about wait lists and falsified patient appointments had surfaced at other VA hospitals and clinics after the Phoenix allegations came to light.

At least 10 new allegations about manipulated waiting times and other problems have surfaced in the past three weeks, he said.

Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, mocked the announcement of Petzel’s resignation, calling it “the pinnacle of disingenuous political doublespeak” since Petzel had been scheduled to retire this year anyway.

The American Legion, which has called for Shinseki to resign, said pretty much the same thing, “This move

by VA is not a corrective action, but a continuation of business as usual.”

The White House said President Barack Obama supports Shinseki’s decision on Petzel and thanks Petzel for his service.

“As the president has said, America has a sacred trust with the men and women who have served our country in uniform and he is committed to doing all we can to ensure our veterans have access to timely, quality health care,” said a White House statement.

The announcement of Petzel’s resignation came a day after Shinseki and Petzel were grilled at a four-hour hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where lawmakers and veteran groups expressed exasperation over long-standing problems at the department.

Meanwhile, House Republicans scheduled a vote for Wednesday on legislation that would give Shinseki more authority to fire or demote senior executives and administrators at the agency and its 152 medical centers.

When senior leaders in the VA “fail the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our country, they deserve a pink slip — not a bonus,” House Speaker John Boehner said Friday. While some Republicans in Congress have joined the call for Shinseki to resign, Boehner is not among them.

Petzel was scheduled to retire this year, and Shinseki last fall had convened a commission to recommend candidates for presidential appointment to be the new undersecretary. The VA is required by law to convene a commission to seek and review candidates for the position.

Petzel had agreed to remain until the Senate confirmed a replacement. Obama this month announced his intent to nominate Dr. Jeffrey Murawsky to be undersecretary for health.

“As we know from the veteran community, most veterans are satisfied with the quality of their VA health care, but we must do more to improve timely access to that care,” Shinseski said in a statement announcing Friday that Petzel was leaving.

In his position, Petzel oversaw what officials say is the largest health care delivery system in the United States.

The VA operates 1,700 hospitals, clinics, and other facilities around the country.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employs about 300,000 people and serve about 6.5 million veterans and other beneficiaries each year. 

King County Invitation to Bid Project: Carkeek CSO Plant Flow Measurement Improvements, C00744C12 Sealed Bid Time/Date: 1:30pm, June 12, 2014 Location Due: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: $245,000.00 - $300,000.00 Scope of Work: Modifications to the flow measurement systems within an intermittently operating CSO treatment plant, including installation of one underground concrete manhole on the plant's influent sewer pipe to create an influent flow meter vault; modifications to an existing concrete box structure on the plant effluent sewer to create an effluent flow meter vault; installation of PVC drain piping at both meter vaults; removal of a steel v-notch weir and installation of an aluminum v-notch weir; modifications to the interior surface of an existing concrete effluent channel; installation of two owner-furnished submersible magnetic flow meters; installation of four level transmitters; installation of two local control panels; installation of conduits and cable for electrical power and telemetry systems; trench excavation; and pavement restoration. Engineering disciplines needed for

signed and stamped contractor submittals include a Civil or Structural Engineer Professional Engineer’s stamp and signature for excavation shoring design, and a Professional Land Surveyor stamp and signature for as-built survey information. Work site: The work location is within King County’s Carkeek CSO Treatment Plant near Carkeek Park, 1201 NW Carkeek Park Road, Seattle, Washington.

Contact Information: Kelly McKeever, Contract Specialist, (206) 263-9389, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: (206) 296-7675, or kelly.mckeever@kingcounty. gov. Submit all bidder questions in writing via email.

No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County.

Pre-Bid Conference: A pre-bid conference/site tour IS NOT scheduled.

Subcontracting Opportunities: Electrical & Telemetry System Apprenticeship Requirements: No minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement.

SCS Utilization Requirements: 10% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS).

Bid Bond: Not less than five percent (5%) of the Total Bid Price.

Bid Documents Electronic copies of the plans, specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation are available on the King County Procurement website shown below. Printed documents may also be ordered by contacting United Reprographics at 206-382-1177. Copies of documents are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M thru F. at the Contracts Counter: Chinook Bldg, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104.

To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this solicitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following internet link: Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in response to this Invitation to Bid.

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

{CHERRY TREES cont’d from page 4} goes back for more than 100 years,” said UW professor of American Ethnic Studies Tetsuden Kashima. Kashima has been a visiting professor at two of Japan’s most prominent universities. He won the 2008 Japanese American of the Biennium Award in education and humanities given by

{CYBERSPYING cont’d from page 4} China’s army and China-based hackers have launched attacks on American industrial and military targets, often to steal secrets or intellectual property. China has said that it is the nation that faces a major threat from hackers, and the country’s military is believed to be among the biggest targets of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command.

The indictment will put a greater strain on the U.S.China relationship and could provoke retaliatory acts in China or elsewhere.

“What we can expect to happen is for the Chinese government to indict individuals in the United States

the National Japanese American Citizens League.

“That’s just part of our life being at the University of Washington, and cherry trees are only a symbol of that,” Kashima said.

The gift of trees coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the time when Japan sent 3,000 cherry trees to the United States.

who they will accuse of hacking into computers there,” said Mark Rasch, a former U.S. cybercrimes prosecutor. “Everybody now is going to jump into the act, using their own criminal laws to go after what other countries are doing.”

Rasch said the indictments attempt to distinguish spying for national security purposes — which the United States admits doing — from economic espionage intended to gain commercial advantage for private companies or industries, which the U.S. denies it does. Classified documents disclosed by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden described aggressive U.S. efforts to eavesdrop on foreign communications that would be illegal in those countries.

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“The cherry blossom represents the fertility and beauty of life,” Kashima said. “In their country, the blossoms are a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful, but it is also tragically short. When the cherry blossoms bloom for a short time each year in force, they serve as a visual reminder of how precious and precarious life is.” 

“These five people were just doing their jobs. It’s just that we object to what their jobs are,” Rasch said. “We have tens of thousands of dedicated, hard-working Americans who are just doing their jobs, too.”

Unlike in some countries, there are no nationalized U.S. industries.

American officials have flatly denied that the government spies on foreign companies and then hands over commercially valuable information to American companies.

In recent months, Washington has been increasingly critical of what it describes as provocative Chinese actions in pursuit of territorial claims in disputed seas in East Asia.

Beijing complains that the Obama administration’s attempt to redirect its foreign policy toward Asia after a decade of war in the Middle East is emboldening China’s neighbors and causing tension.

“If we were trying to make things smoother in this region, this isn’t going to help,” said Richard Bejtlich, chief security strategist at FireEye, a network security company.

Despite the ominous-sounding allegations, at least one of the firms minimized the hacking.

“To our knowledge, no material information was compromised during this incident, which occurred several years ago,” said Monica Orbe, Alcoa’s director of corporate affairs. “Safeguarding our data is a top priority for Alcoa, and we continue to invest resources to protect our systems.”

Last September, President Barack Obama discussed cybersecurity issues on the sidelines of a summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“China not only does not support hacking but also opposes it,” Premier Li Keqiang said last year in a news conference when asked if China would stop hacking U.S. websites. “Let’s not point fingers at each other without evidence, but do more to safeguard cyber security.”  Associated Press reporters Matthew Pennington and Ted Bridis in Washington, Joe Mandak in Pittsburgh and Didi Tang in Beijing contributed to this story.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014

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{BLOG cont’d from page 10}

I love cooking oysters, but hate all the work involved. It becomes a family affair when I cook oysters. Hey, you want to eat? I tell my family, you have to contribute and do your share of the work.

On Mother’s Day, I cooked oysters. Why oysters? They are fresh, delicious, and nutritious. You can buy them while they’re alive. You can buy all kinds of oysters, from big to small. We chose the medium and big oysters. Cooking oysters is not hard, but the preparation is time-consuming and labor-intensive. You can get canned oysters, or the ones without shells in jars, but they don’t taste as good and aren’t as fresh. I like live oysters, the ones you buy when they are still in the

water tank. You have to crack open the shell with a special knife. If you are not careful, you could cut your own fingers or hand.

Luckily, my son did the dirty job. After he opened the shells, standing by the sink, my husband stood next in line to wash and rinse the sand off the oysters. Then he placed them on a paper towel to soak out the excess water. I took the oysters and marinated them on the other side of the kitchen. Marinating the oysters with EastWest style of ingredients is the best way to do it. The big oyster has more meat than the little oyster. After this experiment I would not pick the little ones. 

Want to get the inside scoop on the latest happenings of Seattle’s Asian American community?

Follow Publisher Assunta Ng’s blog at nwasianweekly.com under the Opinion section.

{SYLP cont’d from page 11} Asian American stereotypes in the media and how to dance to “Wedding Dress” by Taeyang. On another day, you might be meeting with news anchor Lori Matsukawa at KING or spoken word artist Troy Osaki and hear how they got to where they are today. You could be hearing from executive director of Scholarship Junkies Samson Lim and community activist Bob Santos about their stories on perseverance and success. You are being inspired to pursue and find your passions no matter what they may be. You are networking with both professionals and other students.

You are looking at your identity and heritage in a new perspective. You are forming lifelong friendships with other students across the Puget Sound area. When you get home, you are not tired from having done class work or waking up early — you’re tired because of how much fun you had.

I joined SYLP in 2011 after my mom saw the program being advertised in the Northwest Asian Weekly. Having nothing better to do that summer, I agreed to participate and filled out the application. In three weeks, I made more progress on developing my skills thanks to the approach and supportive environment SYLP provides. From someone who always shied away from roles that required having to be in front of other people, I surprised myself in volunteering to play the piano during the talent show. To some, this might seem insignificant, but my stage fright

{LEE cont’d from page 1} recruited to run for the position. It was, aside from running for senior class president at Franklin, the first time he had actually ever run for office.

The Hall of Fame was started in 1992 as part of Franklin High School’s

and shyness correlates heavily with my avoidance to leadership roles. A few days in SYLP motivated me to take that first crucial step in stepping out of my comfort zone. Since I took that first step, I have been gradually volunteering for and accepting opportunities, even if they scare me.

In fact, writing this article is a bit out of my comfort zone. SYLP gives everybody, no matter how quiet or loud, the chance to grow. This is why applying for SYLP is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Since graduating the program, I, along with many others, have volunteered to come back every summer to mentor. We want the new participants to get as much out of the program as we did. From when I was a participant in 2011, to the past two years I mentored, I have yet to meet a participant who regretted taking part in SYLP, even if their parents were the ones to have signed them up in the first place. Each year, strong bonds are formed between all the participants. The students identified themselves as a family by the time the three weeks have ended. They always ask why the program is not for a longer period, for they could not believe that three weeks flew by.

This year, the program runs from June 23 to July 10. Applications are due June 6, and I strongly encourage any of you that are free those weeks to apply.

For $50, SYLP is worth every penny and more, for it will be an experience that you will never forget.  Ivy Wong is a student at UW, majoring in informatics and computer science.

80th anniversary. Forty members have been inducted in the past 20 years, including community activists Bill Speidel, Victor Steinbrueck, and Jim and John Ellis; Nobel Prize winner George Kozmetsky; baseball greats Fred Hutchison and Ron Santo; and Governor/Ambassador Gary Locke. 

{ACTIVISTS cont’d from page 1} solidarity campaigns and promote Asian American consciousness,” according to the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project.

It disbanded three years later, but started mobilizing Asian Americans again in 2013.

Michael Stewart is the marketing chair of APISA, a student organization that “welcomes students of any nationality, from all over Asia and beyond.”

“We just started, so we focus right now on gaining visibility at Bellevue College, then hopefully through that, we can do more community events,” he said. “We’re really excited and hopefully this [event] will continue for years to come.”

Ng said to the civic leaders, “For me as an Asian American, it’s really inspiring to see all of you who have really paved the way for us and really shown us what we can do and what we can become in the future.”

During the networking portion of the dinner, the students asked the civic leaders such questions as, “Who is your biggest role model?”

“What advice do you have for young activists today?” “How can we build and support community?”

They also asked, “How have you practiced self-care during your activism?” “How has your civic work influenced your life?” “What do you think is the next step in the Civil Rights movement?”

Linh Le, 22, is Vietnamese and a senior at the University of Washington. She is concerned about Asian American teenagers not having a connection to their ethnic community.

She met and spoke to seven civic leaders, the most out of all the students. For her effort, she won a Starbucks gift card.

“Learning from them is very important, to know the history, how they got involved in what they do for our community,” Le said. “It’s good

{THAILAND cont’d from page 5} review passport applications and oversee driver’s license exams. And for almost all of the country, no military is in sight.

On May 21, Prayuth assumed the role of mediator by summoning the country’s key political rivals for face-to-face talks. But the meeting ended without resolution, underscoring the immense challenges the army will face in trying to broker an end to the conflict.

Thailand has been plagued by major bouts of political turmoil since 2006, when the army toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, unleashing a deeper societal schism that continues to this day.

Now, two weeks after the Constitutional Court ousted Yingluck and nine Cabinet ministers for abuse of power for transferring a senior civil servant two years earlier, the army has imposed martial law. The army intervention dealt another severe blow to what’s left of Thailand’s increasingly cornered civilian leadership, now led by acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Cooking live oysters is a family affair First, I put two drops of olive oil on each oyster (three drops on the big ones). The same principle I applied for soy sauce on the oysters. Then I shredded some cheese on each oyster, and sprinkled on a little pepper.

Last, I put chopped green onions and shredded ginger on top. I broiled the small oysters for three minutes, and four to five minutes for the big ones.

to know what struggles they got into and how to overcome them.”

Yukimi Mizuno, 23, is Chinese, but was raised in Japan. Attending Bellevue College, she is the director of APISA and will graduate this quarter.

After speaking to several civic leaders, she said, “Based on their efforts, we have an easier life, I would say.

“We have a responsibility to look back at history, what older generations have been through, and then appreciate them. I think we have to get together and then raise awareness and then do something about it,” Mizuno added.

Civic leader Frankie Irigon and his wife, Felicita, spoke to several of the students. He is a former chair of the Renton Technical College Board of Trustees.

He says issues of social justice – racism against Asian Americans in particular – have not changed much since he was a member of Concerned Asians for the International District in the 1970s and a student activist who participated in Kingdome demonstrations.

Irigon said, “The best advice that I could give them is listen to where their heart takes them to. Becoming involved means different things.

They don’t have to demonstrate. They don’t have to get arrested.”

“All they have to do is be supportive of those involved in the movement,” he emphasized.  For more information about the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, go to www. facebook.com/apisa.bellevue.

For more infor-mation about the Asian Coalition for Equality, go online to students.washington. edu/acequal/wordpress.

James Tabafunda can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

On May 20, Niwattumrong said, “The government will continue its job in running the country” and would work with the army to peacefully resolve the crisis, which has killed 28 people and injured more than 800.

It can do little else.

“The only thing the caretaker government has left is electoral legitimacy, the fact that it came into power by elections,” Sunai said. “But otherwise it has no power. Only the day-to-day bureaucracy is still functioning. No policy level decisions are being made.”

Despite the imposition of martial law, protesters led by former lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban say they will not give up. Since last week, they have pressed the army, the Senate and the nation’s courts to install a “neutral” prime minister — something the government says is a threat to the nation’s democratic system and would be tantamount to a judicial coup.

There are fears that if that happens, the government’s Red Shirt supporters, who are now massing on the edge of Bangkok under the watchful eye of the army, will rise up and there will be more bloodshed. 

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MAY 24 – MAY 30, 2014