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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Welcome, new Americans!

Photos by Daria Kroupoderova

Your higher property tax should ‘make you feel good’

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara

From left, Kyung Ku Lee, Jedy Gillespie, Swaraj Pandey, and Jingying Lu are sworn in as naturalized U.S. citizens.

By Daria Kroupoderova Northwest Asian Weekly For several hundred immigrants, Fourth of July’s real blast arrived the moment they were sworn in as U.S. citizens during the 30th annual naturalizaion ceremony at the Seattle Center.

Hailing from 70 countries, 429 people took their oaths in front of a huge crowd

that included friends, family, and local diginitaries.

The ceremony began with introductory remarks and the Presentation of Colors by I Corps Honor Guard from Joint Base LewisMcChord, followed by the playing of the National Anthem by the Greenwood Concert Band.

The ceremony included a performance called “The Honor of All” by Native

American performers Gene Tagaban, Swil Kanim, and Peter Ali. Tagaban began by telling a story, then getting the audience members involved by giving a few of them musical instruments while he was dressed as a raven.

Local dignitaries in attendance included

spotlight cast on the transgender community, it may seem like progress is fast approaching,

The King County Department of Assessment (Assessor’s Office) has started mailing real estate valuations that will help set what taxes you pay on your property in 2015.

It will continue to mail to the 86 different residential areas through October. Last year, 76 areas saw an increase in valuation, and the Assessor’s Office expects to see continued growth this year.

“The market is coming around,” said King County Assessor Lloyd Hara. “That should make you feel good.”

As of press date, 21 areas have received their valuation notices.

All have seen increases. Rainier Beach, Tukwila, Seatac, and parts of Kent have seen increases of 20 percent or more.

Hara and his team of 200 employees valuate the 700,000 parcels of property each year and physically inspect one-sixth (about 125,000) of them to pick up any changes or improvements. This year, areas of Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Federal Way, Bellevue, and Mercer Island will be inspected.

“One of the things we are still seeing as value starts to go up, there are still areas where there is still true value for first-time home buyers,” said Hara about neighborhoods like Rainer Beach.

“Relative to other major metropolitan areas, Seattle is pretty strong, but still lower than others,” said Hara.

Real estate value isn’t the only thing that determines your

{see TRANSGENDER cont’d on page 15}

{see PROP TAX cont’d on page 12}

{see NATURALIZATION cont’d on page 16}

Fighting the taboo: Advocates support growing API transgender movement Part 1 of a 2-part series

Photo by Nate Gowdy (www.nategowdy.com)

By Tiffany Ran Northwest Asian Weekly The second annual Trans*Pride, organized by the Gender Justice League, kicked off the festivities for this year’s Pride weekend. The event drew nearly 2,000 attendees to a rally at Cal Anderson Park on Friday, July 27, where the rallying cry of advocates and community outreach groups reverberated through the crowd. The rally also paid tribute to Sun Kim, a young transgender Korean American activist who ended his own life early last month. Signs held by friends and fellow advocates read, “Rest in Power, Sun Kim.” This year’s Pride Parade on July 29 marked the 40-year anniversary of Seattle Pride and the pivotal Stonewall Riots that sparked the national movement for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) civil rights. While awareness of sexual orientation has become more widespread in the subsequent years since Stonewall, the transgender experience seemed largely overlooked until recently. Trans*Pride, an event which focuses largely on resources and outreach for the transgender community,

Gwen Yeh and members of the Gender Justice League at Seattle Pride 2014.

made its Seattle debut just last year.

In its May 29 issue, Time magazine heralded the “transgender tipping point” as the next civil rights frontier, which featured transgender actress Laverne Cox on the cover. With the

By Irfan Shariff Northwest Asian Weekly

The Inside Story NAMES People in the news » P. 2

■

SPORTS Tour de France & World Cup » P. 3

VILLAGE REPORT A new Cambodia » P. 5

WORLD NEWS Indonesian elections » P. 7

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asianweekly northwest

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Pramila Jayapal, a recognized leader in local and national efforts to improve the lives of immigrants, low wage workers, communities of color, and women, is a co-recipient of the inaugural Olga Vives Award from the National Organization of Pramila Jayapal Women (NOW).

In presenting the award, NOW President Terry O’Neill said, “Pramila Jayapal exemplifies the spirit and passion of NOW leader Olga Vives, an immigrant, a lesbian, and a single mom who worked for the rights of all women.

A “Women for Pramila” event will be held in Seattle on Aug. 1 in support of Jayapal’s campaign for Washington State Senate to represent the 37th District. Anyone interested in attending should contact info@electpramila. com.

Jayapal was founder and executive director for over a decade at the immigrant rights group OneAmerica. 

Poet Pai is OtB ambassador Seattle poet Shin Yu Pai is one of 15 cultural and civic leaders to be invited (out of 95 applicants) to serve as a 2014-2015 ambassador for On the Boards (OtB), a local arts organization that introduces audiences to international innovators in contemporary dance, theater, and music, while developing and presenting new work by Northwest Shin Yu Pai performing artists.

Ambassadors take an active role in shaping dialogue about the art presented at OtB and around trends, concepts, ideas, and opportunities arising in the creative community.

Ambassadors are selected by a community panel to represent the diversity of Seattle’s cultural community and to animate conversations across sectors.

OtB ambassadors receive complimentary tickets to use and share, access to artists and behind-the-scenes

opportunities, and an honorarium for their active participation.

Pai is also a nominee for the Stranger Genius Award. 

Seattle Synchro Swim Team makes a splash at nationals

and finished third in the 16-17 age group team competition.

Other swimmers, Jamie Chin, Alicia Wu, and Ivy Huang also swam on a team in the 11-12 age group and received 11th place in the team competition.

The USA Synchro Age Group Nationals is a yearly competition for the 12-19 age group.

It competes in synchronized solo, duet, trio and figures events. 

TAPS network, hike, and more

The 11-12 age group includes, front row, from left: Jamie Chin, Keana Hunter, Jessica Forcucci, Emma Kamb. Back row, from left: Meili Hobson, Leeza Polyakova, Alicia Wu, Ivy Huang.

Taiwanese American Professionals take a hike.

Photos courtesy of Amy Chin

Jayapal receives NOW award

Photo courtesy of TAP

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JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

The 16-17 age group includes, front row, from left: Abby Orler, Irene Gonzalez, Zoe Strand, Coach Yuki. Back row, from left: Coach Jocilyn, Lilly Cao, Shanaya Satterfield, Coach Lacey.

The Seattle Synchronized Swim Team swam to third place in the USA Synchro Age Group Nationals from June 27 to July 5 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Team member Lily Cao swam with five other members

The Taiwanese American Professionals of Seattle (TAPS) enjoyed a hike at Rattlesnake Ledge east of Seattle on June 14. The group, which began in 2004, plans frequent outings for members to network, socialize, and engage in community service projects. TAPS has more than 500 members. 

Send your exciting news to editor@nwasianweekly.c om with subject line: “Names in the News”

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ community news

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

■ SPORTS

3

CISC hosts forum for caregivers Cheng Ji

first Chinese rider in Tour de France

Photo from CISC

Chinese Information & Service Center (CISC) has received a contract from Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to research and understand the challenges that Asian American family caregivers face.

CISC provides information, referrals, early learning and youth services, health insurance counseling and enrollment assistance, in-home care case management, family and senior centers, family caregiver support, and naturalization classes for Limited English Proficiency immigrants.

On July 23, from 10 a.m. to noon, CISC’s advisory committee for the PCORI project will host a provider engagement forum at the New Hong Kong Restaurant located at 900 South Jackson St., #203. This forum is open to social, health, and human service providers who serve Asian Americans seniors, chronic patients, and family caregivers.

The advisory committee, comprising Dr. Mei Po Yip (University of Washington), Dr. Michael Woo (Kin On Community Healthcare), Amy Lee (volunteer and caregiver), Suzanne Pak (Cornerstone Medical Service), and Janice Kong and Stephen Lam (CISC), will facilitate panel

and group discussions to identify top educational and support solutions.  To attend the forum or learn more about this project, contact Janice Kong at janicek@cisc-seattle.org or 206-9578518.

By Associated Press PARIS (AP) ­– Cheng Ji was the first Chinese rider to race in the Tour de France when he lined up for Team Giant-Shimano at the start July 5 in Leeds, England.

Cheng was included June 25 on the team’s ninerider lineup for Cheng Ji the 101st edition of the Tour. He is a part of Giant-Shimano’s sprint formations attempting to deliver Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb to stage victories.

Giant-Shimano coach Rudi Kemna said riding the Tour “will be huge for him and his country, and we look forward to seeing the impact this has on the globalization of the sport.”

Cheng was the first Chinese rider to compete in a Grand Tour race when he finished the 2012 Vuelta a Espana. Last year, he became the first to start the prestigious Giro d’Italia. 

Angry fans: ‘South Korean soccer is dead’

By The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Disappointed South Korean fans have expressed their anger toward the national team as it made its return home following an early exit from the World Cup Coach Hong Myung-bo in Brazil.

Local media showed clips of a fan throwing Korean traditional taffy candy, known as ‘yeot,’ at the players who had lined up for a team photo at the international airport in Incheon on June 30. The thrower was heard as shouting “eat yeot” — a common curse in South Korea.

Other fans also held up a banner designed in funeral style that said “South Korean soccer is dead!!”

South Korea finished last in Group H at the World Cup after defeats against Belgium and Algeria, and a draw with Russia. South Korea was the last Asian team knocked out of the World Cup, leaving the continent without any representatives in the knockout stages.

South Korea has been to nine World Cups, more than any other Asian team, but it has failed to build on its performance as co-host of the 2002 World Cup, when it reached the semifinals.

Coach Hong Myung-bo, who was captain in 2002, apologized to fans for the team’s disappointing World Cup performance. 

asianweekly northwest

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JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

■ WORLD news

Review confirms basis of Japan’s sex slave apology

By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) – A Japanese panel confirmed the validity of a study that led to Japan’s landmark 1993 apology for forcing Asian women into wartime prostitution, even as South Korea blasted the review as a move that “picks again at the painful wounds” of victims.

The probe, whose results were released June 20, shows how even Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 70 years later, World War II history remains an extremely sensitive topic in East Asia, especially

when Japan’s relations with its two closest neighbors are soured by territorial disputes.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been criticized by South Korea and China for backpedaling from past Japanese apologies and acknowledgements of wartime atrocities, and the two countries saw the investigation into about 250 documents as an attempt to undermine the 1993 apology.

Historians say 20,000 to 200,000 women from across Asia, many of them Koreans, were forced to provide sex to Japan’s front-line soldiers.

Japanese nationalists contend that the so-called “comfort women” in wartime brothels were voluntary prostitutes, not sex slaves, and that Japan has been unfairly criticized for a practice they say is common in any country at war.

The five-member panel examined how the study, which

included interviews with 16 former Korean victims, was conducted. It did not evaluate its historical findings.

“We concluded that the content of the study was valid,” said lawyer Keiichi Tadaki, who headed the group.

But Seoul criticized the review as contradictory, meaningless and unnecessary, saying that Tokyo should know that any action “that again picks at the painful wounds of the victims will never be forgiven by the international society,” according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kwang-il.

He urged Japan to admit its responsibility and immediately propose a solution that the elderly victims can accept.

Many South Korean women have demanded a full {see ABE cont’d on page 12}

Filipino activists call for end to U.S. defense pact

By Associated Press

Vencer Crisostomo, chairman of Anakbayan youth group

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Protesters clashed on July 4 with police near the U.S. Embassy in Manila, where about 100 of them marched to mark Philippine-American Friendship day with a call to junk a new defense pact allowing thousands of U.S. troops to be temporarily based in the country.

A policeman and a protester were slightly

hurt as demonstrators pushed their way toward the embassy and riot police shoved them back with truncheons and shields.

Vencer Crisostomo, chairman of Anakbayan youth group, said the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed by the two allies in April was an “unequal agreement” that is a “sellout of our national sovereignty.”

He said the arrangement will not act as a

deterrent but will instead worsen tensions between China and the Philippines, which are embroiled in a territorial row in the South China Sea. “It’s not really about friendship,” said former Congressman Teddy Casino of the leftist New Patriotic Alliance. “It’s about exploitation, it’s about a neocolonial relationship.” Casino urged the Supreme Court to declare the defense pact unconstitutional. 

North Korea preparing to try 2 American tourists

By Eric Talmadge Associated Press TOKYO (AP) – North Korea said on June 30 it is preparing to try two Americans who entered the country as tourists for carrying out what it says were hostile acts against it.

Investigations into Americans Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Edward Fowle concluded that suspicions about their hostile acts have been confirmed by evidence and their testimonies, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said in a short report.

KCNA said North Korea is making preparations to bring them before a court.

It did not specify what the two did that was considered hostile or illegal, or what kind of punishment they might face. It also did not say when the trial would begin.

Though a small number of U.S. citizens visit North Korea each year as tourists, the State Department strongly advises against it.

Fowle arrived in the county on April 29. North Korea’s state media said in June that authorities were investigating him for committing acts inconsistent with the purpose of a tourist visit.

Diplomatic sources said Fowle was detained for leaving a Bible in his hotel room. But a spokesman for Fowle’s family said the 56-year-old from Miamisburg, Ohio, was not on a mission for his church.

His wife and three children, ages 9, 10, and 12, said they miss him very much and “are anxious for his return home,”

according to a statement after his detention that was provided by a spokesman for the family.

“It’s devastating,” Sergei Luzginov, a Fowle family friend who lives in North Port, Florida, said Monday. “We are praying for him. ... He loves his kids and he was very protective of his family, and it’s going to be tough for them to survive without Jeff if he’s going to be sentenced for a long time.”

Luzginov said he met the Fowle family in 2007 in Lebanon, Ohio’s Russian immigrant community. Both Luzginov and Fowle’s wife, Tatyana Fowle, 40, are Russian immigrants.

Fowle works in a city streets department.

Luzginov said Fowle’s family and friends are trying to be optimistic about the outcome of the case, “but at the same time, you know the track record that’s the (North) Korean government.”

KCNA said Miller, 24, entered the country April 10 with a tourist visa, but tore it up at the airport and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum. A large number of Western tourists visited Pyongyang in April to run in the annual Pyongyang Marathon or attend related events. Miller came at that time, but tour organizers say he was not planning to join the marathon.

North Korea has also been separately holding Korean American missionary Kenneth Bae since November 2012. He was convicted by a North Korean court {see NORTH KOREA cont’d on page 14}

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ national news

China gives a rare glimpse at Naval ships

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

5

■ travel The Village Report A new Cambodia emerging

By Dipika Kohli Northwest Asian Weekly

China’s hospital ship ‘Ark Peace’

By Marco Garcia Associated Press PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) – China gave Western journalists a rare look aboard two People’s Liberation Army vessels on July 5 during the Rim of the Pacific naval exercises in Hawaii, showcasing a hospital ship with complex medical facilities and a destroyer flying U.S. and Chinese flags.

China is participating for the first time in the exercises, despite tensions with the United States and other countries — including territorial disputes with U.S. allies like Japan and the Philippines.

Chinese naval nurse He Yun showed reporters around the hospital ship Ark Peace, with a trauma center, dental office and facility where acupuncture and other

treatments can be performed. Examination rooms were spread over several floors.

The destroyer Haikou featured multiple hatches on its deck, a large cannon and a helicopter. Inside, where no photographs were allowed, glossy pictures of sailors’ family and children lined the walls.

About a dozen other countries, including Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and Colombia also offered ship tours as part of the 22-nation drills.

A Japanese naval official on Saturday gave a Chinese counterpart a private tour of its Japan Maritime Self Defense ship, the JS Ise. The Ise was docked at Pearl Harbor directly across the water from the USS Arizona Memorial, the ship that still rests at the bottom of a lagoon after the 1941 attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor. 

Our giant French doors are open today.

There aren’t many other things in the room to distract, but even if there were, the balcony and the white rain beyond it command all of one’s attention. It looks and sounds like a television set that’s always on with loud static and no picture.

Ceilings are high here, and there tend to be second-floor mezzanine levels in most buildings in the city. But in this tiled room of our new Phnom Penh apartment, the double-hinged doors are the most exquisite feature.

Up on the third floor, just by opening them half an inch, you’ll get a flood of the flavor and buzz below, especially at breakfast time when stalls go up for the on-the-way-to-work crowd, and again in the evenings, when the same people are on their way home. It’s all here — sugar cane juice stops, peanuts, coconuts, papaya salads, fried noodles, chicken on a stick.

As commerce stirs, it’s nice to have this room for respite. The patterns on the doors are especially exquisite — Khmer style, in a scheme I’ve been quietly admiring from a distance these past three months.

In an article about the world history of design by former University of Illinois art history professor Victor Margolin, there is lament that most of what we know of artists from non-Western countries is limited to ancient traditions. A trap many historians of art and architecture have fallen into, he says, is that of treating “cultures outside the Western mainstream as primitive, traditional, or exotic.”

Maybe that’s why I like the doors so much. And the book. A heavy, oversized hardcover about the design aesthetic of the Khmer people, specifically “kbach” ornament design, is part of the library in the shop on the first floor of our new place.

The book describes and gives context to the geometrical patterning you see on government documents, visa stamps, letterheads, logos, and more. Shifting its pages opens a new perspective on

how Cambodian people of the past have looked at the world and shaped its beauty in precise lines and curves. Buds, leaves, curls, and crowning crests inspired by natural shapes and small creatures are part of the visual story.

I happened to have brought with me from America a three-piece plastic orange set of French curves. It’s looking like these will come in handy in sketching with local designers and artists. I want to learn from them.

A contemporary aesthetic is emerging here — one can feel it palpably — but it’s yet unclear what direction this will take. “Emerging market” is on the lips of almost every business-minded expat, and it’s true, even though the place is too small for the giant corporations to make money (according to an international brand specialist who was vacationing here from Singapore), that something is abrew.

Whatever Cambodia becomes from this point forward, I’m almost positive it will be influenced by the returnees, those who fled ahead of the Khmer Rouge’s reign, and who settled in Europe and North America. Partly from guilt, I suspect, but maybe more out of hope, they’re coming back now, with foreign-born children who wear gel in their hair and are setting up French-style bistros or Danish-influenced schools, and more. So much is about to happen here, and that ripe feeling is what you sense in a whisper when the doors open just a little bit more. {see CAMBODIA cont’d on page 13}

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asianweekly northwest

6

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 7/10

WED 7/16

SUN 7/20

WHAT: 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act 1964 WHERE: Northwest AfricanAmerican Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., Seattle WHEN: 5-8 p.m.

WHAT: Support Judge Mark Chow & Judge C. Kimi Kondo WHERE: The Four Seas Chinese Restaurant, 714 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 5:30-7 p.m.

THRU FRI 7/11

WHAT: The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Grants. gov invite you to attend a webinar “Everything You Need to Know About Grants.gov” WHEN: 4-5:30 p.m.

RSVP: bit.ly/grants-whiaapi INFO: danny.qiao@ed.gov

WHAT: Wandering and Wondering WHERE: Kubota Garden, Renton Ave. S. & 55th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 12-2 p.m.

INFO: www.kubotagarden.org

WHAT: Asia Pacific Summer Camp WHERE: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

COST: $100/week INFO: asiapacificculturalcenter. org

SAT 7/12

FRI 7/18

WHAT: APIA Vote & APACE Education Fund present the Norm Mineta Leadership Institute WHERE: ACRS Gym, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

RSVP: www.apiavote.org/events

WHAT: City Hall screening of adoption documentary, “Closure” WHERE: City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue WHEN: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

INFO: www.bellevuewa. gov/news_releases. htm#ParksRecreation

TUE 7/22 WHAT: 2014 Korea-PNW It Forum by KACC-WA WHERE: Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue WHEN: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

WED 7/23 WHAT: Forum for social, health, and human service providers who serve Asian American seniors, chronic patients, and family caregivers WHERE: New Hong Kong Restaurant, 900 S. Jackson St., #203, Seattle WHEN: 10 a.m. – noon INFO: 206-957-8518, janicek@

cisc-seattle.org

FRI 7/25 WHAT: Yasujiro Ozu’s classic silent film comedy, “The Lady & the Beard” WHERE: Volunteer Park Amphitheater, 1247 15th Ave. E., Seattle (rain site: Asian Art Museum auditorium) WHEN: 9 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: www.visitsam.org/deco

SAT 7/26 WHAT: “Two Tickets to Paradise” recital, a brief journey to Guam & Hawaii WHERE: Asia pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 2:30 p.m.

COST: $15–$30 (under 4 free) INFO: 360-529-1793

WED 7/30

Hanji Paper Fashion Show WHERE: Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle WHEN: 7-9 p.m.

COST: $49/individual, $44/ members & students TICKETS: asiapacificculturalcenter.org INFO: 253-383-3900, asiapacificculturalcenter.org

EVERY THURSDAY WHAT: The Rotary Club of Seattle International District meets WHERE: New Hong Kong Restaurant, 900 S. Jackson St., Seattle WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

WHAT: Japanese Conversation Club WHERE: JCCCW, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle INFO: 206-568-7114, admin@ jcccw.org

WHAT: Korean Traditional

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King County Invitation to Bid Project: King County Administration Building Rewire, C00838C13 Sealed Bid Time/Date: 1:00p.m., July 24, 2014 Location Due: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: $1,000,000 Scope of Work: The work of this Contract shall consist of supplying all labor, materials, tools, permits, and equipment required to meet the requirements of the King County Administration Re-Wire project, including but not limited to the following: 1.

New construction, network infrastructure installations including vertical and horizontal copper and fiber optic data wiring for building backbones and local area networks; and other ancillary devices; mechanical installations including conduit, inner duct, rack, cable tray and backboard installations.

2.

Telecommunications infrastructure for the King County Administration Building which may include Interior communication consultation, walkthroughs, cabling (CAT 6, Coax, and Fiber Optics) in accordance with County standards. The

project also includes removal of existing data cable.

Work Site: King County Administration Building, 500 4th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104.

Contact Information: Contract Specialist Darren R. Chernick, 206-263-9321, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206-296-7675, or darren.chernick@kingcounty. gov. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing. No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County.

Pre-Bid Conference: July 16, 2014, 10:30AM, Room E-5, 8th Floor, King County Administration Building, 500 4th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104. A site tour will be conducted immediately following the conference.

Subcontracting Opportunities: Core Drilling and Fiber-Optic Installation.

Apprenticeship Requirements: No minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement.

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

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ world news

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

7

Both rivals claim victory in Indonesian election

By Niniek Karmini Associated Press

Joko Widodo

Prabowo Subianto

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – The rival candidates in Indonesia’s presidential election each claimed victory Wednesday, raising uncertainty about the political and legal landscape in a nation that made the transition from dictatorship to democracy less than two decades ago.

According to the three most reputable quick-count surveys, soft-spoken Jakarta Gov. Joko Widodo won the election in Southeast Asia’s largest economy with 52 percent of the vote, but his Suharto-era opponent, Prabowo Subianto, said other data indicated he had won. Widodo is the first candidate in direct elections with no connection to former dictator Suharto’s 1966-1998 regime and its excesses.

The quick counts tally a representative sample of votes cast around the country and have accurately forecast the results of every Indonesian national election since 2004,

including this past April’s parliamentary polls. It will be around two weeks before votes are officially tallied and the results announced in Indonesia, a country of 240 million people and the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

This is “not a victory for the party, not a victory for the campaign team, but this is a victory for the people of Indonesia,” Widodo, known by his nickname Jokowi, told supporters from a historical site in Jakarta where the nation’s independence was declared. Hundreds of his supporters later celebrated at a famous traffic circle in the capital, waving flags and setting off fireworks.

But Subianto — a general in the Suharto regime and the late dictator’s former son-in-law — said he had different quick-count data showing he had won.

“Thank God, all the data from the quick counts shows that we, Prabowo-Hatta, gained the people’s trust” Subianto told a news conference, referring to his running mate, Hatta Rajasa.

“We ask all the coalition’s supporters and Indonesian people to guard and escort this victory until the official count” by the election commission, Subianto said.

Outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged both camps to “restrain themselves” and not allow their supporters to publicly declare victory until the election commission decides the winner. Yudhoyono, also a general in the Suharto regime, was elected president in 2004.

He served two five-year terms and was prevented by the constitution from seeking re-election.

Widodo’s appeal is that despite a lack of experience in national politics, he is seen as a man of the people who wants to advance democratic reforms and is untainted by the often corrupt military and business elite that has run Indonesia for decades. Subianto, meanwhile, had a dubious

human rights record during his military career but is seen as a strong and decisive leader.

Just a couple of months ago, the election was considered firmly in favor of Widodo, 53, who rose from humble beginnings to become the governor of Jakarta in 2012.

But Subianto, 62, led a late surge after picking up the endorsement of most of the country’s largest and wellorganized political parties and running an efficient ground campaign.

Natalia Soebagjo, chair of Transparency International’s executive board in Indonesia, said it was reckless for either candidate to declare victory before the official results are announced. She said the three most reputable quick-count results showed Widodo as the leader, and that she did not trust the surveys Subianto had cited.

“If this continues, I predict in the next 10 days we might see trouble,” she said.

“They can contest it in legal terms and in social terms by creating unrest,” Soebagjo added. “It all depends on what these candidates really want. Is their thirst for power so great that they would want to fight it out to the death?”

The two candidates are vastly different in their policies and styles. Widodo is a soft-spoken man who likes to wear sneakers and casual plaid shirts, listen to heavy metal music and make impromptu visits to the slums.

Subianto is known for his thundering campaign speeches, a penchant for luxury cars and having trotted up to one campaign rally on an expensive horse. He has the support of the most hard-line Islamic parties and has sparked concern among foreign investors worried about protectionism and a possible return to more authoritative policies. {see INDONESIA cont’d on page 14}

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JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

■ arts & entertainment

Bodies in motion: Marie Chong brings summer dance to Seattle

Photo by Paul Sanders

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

Marie Chong is the founder of ARC Dance Co.

Some people find it difficult to balance their work and personal life. It requires a certain level of dexterity to maintain balance. For artistic director and former professional dancer Marie Chong, it’s a way of life in her work — literally.

Raised in Tacoma, Chong first found inspiration for recreational dance after watching her first Summer Olympic Games as a child. The movement and dance found in the gymnastics event inspired her to move from a young age. Her parents signed her up for a ballet class shortly after and she took to the form quickly.

When she became a teenager, Chong decided to pursue the art form as a whole, which led to exploring other genres and pursuing dance as an adult. Chong trained at ballet schools in Tacoma and Seattle, and eventually went on to chase a professional performance career for 10 years that took her across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Although Chong is a master in different types of movement, ballet is the genre that anchors all her passions and experiences.

“Realistically, ballet is the foundation for all movement,” she explained. “No matter what dance genre you go into, the reality is that you need a good comprehension of classical ballet. Classical ballet is like the ABCs of reading. It gives you the ability to spell words and to form sentences — or in this case, choreography.”

Chong’s fascination with movement evolved from the art of classical ballet to adopting a more scientific approach to dance through the study of biomechanics

and kinesiology. Dance kinesiology is the study of the human body in motion, particularly in regard to dance performance.

She currently has certification in Pilates and kinesis, and sees herself as a “movement specialist,” or someone who has a strong assessment of non-verbal communications. She has become more focused on the science behind movement, and her current work oversees helping people understand their movements.

“I would have a [client] walk in front of me and I’d make an assessment of what their specific movement was like,” said Chong of her thought process to biomechanics. “From a scientific standpoint, the human body has habituated patterns. We get out of bed the exact same way. We do the same things over and over. Some of these continued movements create pain, and that’s where I come in — to help people address that pain.”

Chong is personally familiar with pain and physical movement. She retired from professional performance 15 years ago, citing the physical demands of the profession as taking a toll on her body.

“It’s like the career of any professional sports player,” said Chong of her retirement. “Professional dancers live though 30- to 45-week seasons, which is basically a year, so they are essentially using their body every day. It’s grueling.”

Her retirement led her back to Seattle, where she realized that the city’s dance scene, at the time, was limited in its offering to professional dancers.

There were no companies that offered dancers a performance opportunity in a professional {see CHONG cont’d on page 13}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ arts & entertainment

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

9

Traveling cow moooves people to share stories How can a cow suit lead to helping people and sharing their stories?

Tan Vo, 36, received a cow suit from a friend around 2004. The friend used to travel a lot with his band and would have his picture taken in the cow suit at different places. When he gave the suit to Vo, he said, “Tan, I’m passing this on to you. You have to continue the tradition.”

The first cow sighting was on a peak in Zurich, Switzerland. Vo climbed up to the highest peak and put on the cow suit. After that, any time Vo traveled, she would bring the cow suit, put it on somewhere, and have her picture taken.

“I remember when I was in Italy, I put it on. All the shopkeepers...they were all running out of their shops going ‘Mooka, Mooka!’ and they started milking

Photo by Lia Chang

1-man-show tells story of Gordon Hirabayashi

Joel de la Fuente stars as Gordon Hirabayashi in “Hold These Truths.”

Joel de la Fuente stars in Jeanne Sakata’s one-man show, “Hold These Truths,” inspired by the true story of University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi as he fought the U.S. government’s forcible and unconstitutional removal and incarceration of all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast during World War II. The 90-minute play runs July 31 through Aug. 3 at ACT in Seattle. Show times are 7:30 p.m.

July 31 through Aug. 2, and 2 p.m. on Aug. 3. A discussion will be held after each performance.

On Aug. 1, there will be a special post-play panel with Stephen Sumida, Frank Abe, and Jeanne Sakata, presented in partnership with the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.

On Aug. 2, Sakata will share her experiences in researching and writing the play.  ACT is located at 700 Union Street in Seattle.

For more information, e-mail aubrey.scheffel@ acttheatre.org, call 206-292-7660 ext. 1336, or visit www.acttheatre.org.

me,” Vo said. “I just found that the cow suit was a great way to just break the ice with people, even people who didn’t speak English.” And everyone she met had a story to share.

The Traveling Cow idea was born after Vo’s mom died in 2013. Vo said she went into a spiral. She just wanted to sell everything and go be a hermit somewhere on a beach. Instead, she traveled home to Vietnam, where she emigrated from at a young age with her family, a process that lasted almost two years before she stepped foot in America.

Vo was in Vietnam for three weeks. She traveled to villages and saw people who were in worse situations than she was, and they all had stories to share. “I saw children whose mother and father have died and they are 5 and 6 years old,” Vo said.

According to Vo, she realized during the trip that {see COW cont’d on page 13}

Photo by Kathy Stenger

By Daria Kroupoderova Northwest Asian Weekly

Tan Vo poses with a North Korean soldier on the DMZ.

asianweekly northwest

10

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

■ PUBLISHER'S BLOG

OPINION

Photos by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Amazing 40 hours in Hong Kong

From left, Mike Mediros of Delta, Cherry Lee of Hong Kong Trade & Development Council, Robert Bourrier of Delta, and Ranjan Goswami of Delta.

What can you do on a 40-hour stay in Hong Kong?

Seriously, I didn’t expect much when I said yes to be part of Delta’s 12-member delegation for its inaugural non-stop flight from Seattle to Hong Kong on June 16. Nor did I expect to discover anything new in such a short trip because I was raised in Hong Kong. I visit the city every November.

But the moment I stepped on the plane, my assumptions were proved wrong.

I actually accomplished more than any of my previous trips to Hong Kong.

How I managed to do so is because Delta had worked with the Port of Seattle and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in order to produce one of the most efficient and interesting tour experiences for us.

Hong Kong has many admirable qualities. It is among the top five nations where people have the longest life spans. Also, the unemployment rate is extremely low (although the gap in income equality between rich and poor is mountainous).

Treated like a queen Delta is generous; they know how to impress their guests on a special mission.

The guests were invited to sit in business class. Each of us sat in a spacious, comfortable seat with a bigger television screen than other airlines. The seats are well designed and private. You need not worry about whether the person sitting next to you can see your face if you sleep or snore.

For a 13-hour flight, I would normally get sick, have back pain, and lie awake the whole time had I not sat in the business row. I felt like a queen during the flight, pampered with fine food and plenty to eat, while watching the most current American movies and HBO programs.

In the 1990s, when Northwest Airlines (Northwest later merged with Delta) invited my friend to join the inaugural Seattle-Hong Kong flight, she had to pay for everything, including airfare and hotel.

I don’t know why Delta picked me as a guest. I was the only member of the media on the flight. I felt blessed to be part of such a historical flight, experiencing a side of Hong Kong that I had never been able to before.

Delta was on time. We arrived about 7:40 p.m. at the HK airport. If I had needed to transfer to another plane, I would likely get there after 10:30 p.m.

From left, Seattleites Tom Norwalk, Kazue Ishiwata, and Benjamin Lee, with Mandarin Hotel manager Kristin Charbo, of Los Angeles.

Eden Woon of HK University, Mark Michelson of IMA ASIA, and Alan Turley of FedEx.

Prawns being served at the Man Wah Restaurant.

Tuesday

cities, Delta has invested a lot, not only in Seattle, but Hong Kong, too.

“What are you (HK) going to do for Seattle?” asked Medeiros.

A smart response would be: “What do you suggest? I can pass your ideas to my boss.”

I learned ages ago that when you open doors for other people, you open doors for yourself, too. Creating a win-win for both cities, rather than taking Seattle for granted, would serve Hong Kong well.

We also visited the American Chamber of Commerce. It was delightful to see a former Seattleite, Dr. Eden Woon, vice president for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, on the Chamber’s panel.

After meetings, some were bussed to Maxim Palace at City Hall for dim sum.

Four of us decided to walk, not realizing the boiling sun was flexing its muscles.

In my decades of living in America, I had forgotten Hong Kong’s heat and humidity.

Before my head was about to spin, thank God, we were inside the air-conditioned Maxim.

Dim sum lunch was welcome, especially sitting next to Brian Marks, who works for Brigham Young University in Utah. This was his first time to try dim sum, and he loved it.

It’s appetizing to dine with someone who enjoys his meal so much, especially the steamed BBQ pork hum bow. After he ate two, I asked him, “Want to split another hum bow with me?”

“Sure,” he said. You won’t have this in Utah for sure!

The group then went sightseeing, including riding the tram to the peak, while

At the Mandarin “Wow!” was the reaction when my relatives found out that I was staying at the five-star Mandarin. I couldn’t believe I was in such a luxurious hotel. My room had a day and night view of the harbor.

Hong Kong is ranked third globally for its colorful nightlights.

The room spares no detail or luxury. A built-in kettle was there for me to enjoy tea in the morning. The tea selection has five fancy kinds to choose from. Too bad my husband didn’t join me. He would love that espresso machine with quality espresso available. The tea, espresso, and bottled water are free for guests.

A pair of slippers was waiting for me at bedside. The television is connected to a CD player with relaxing Zen music, inducing me to sleep.

Management thought of everything, didn’t they!

Wednesday

Business and family At 8:30 a.m., the bus took us to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to meet with its manager, Cherry Lee. Armed with impressive stories and statistics, she knew exactly what to say to promote Hong Kong as the gateway to China after the British returned the city to China. Instantly, Hong Kong developed a strong adaptability under China’s One Country Two Systems.

It proclaims itself as the best link between the East and West.

However, she stumbled on a question from Delta’s vice president, Mike Medeiros.

With its non-stop flight between the two

I rode the subway to another part of town to see my mother.

Mandarin’s location is excellent, only one block from the subway. Anywhere I travel in the world, I prefer hotels close to the subway. It saves time and avoids traffic jams, which is common in Hong Kong.

“Ahyah! Daughter, daughter,” said mother, jumping with joy, screaming and clapping like a kid when the door opened as I hugged her on the doorstep. I had called her a few days ago to tell her that I would be home. Obviously, she had forgotten the whole conversation; she has Alzheimer’s.

Dinner was at the Man Wah Restaurant on the 25th floor of the Mandarin. With a classy and elegant setting, Man Wah serves refined Cantonese cuisine. The dining room has a valuable collection of traditional Chinese artwork. Some guests came just for its priceless art.

We sat with the Mandarin sales staff and key Delta leaders in Asia. I skipped dessert as my son, who works in Hong Kong, had arrived in the hotel. I was happy to see him. We chatted for two hours before I hit Mandarin’s 24-hour fitness center. It came free with the room. I took advantage of it every day.

It’s remarkable that I could engage in six different meetings, without fatigue, in one day. There’s something magical about being in Hong Kong to watch its people being resilient, flexible and thriving. It motivated me to follow their spirit.

As Al Hess, owner of Hess Travel and one of the Delta delegates, said, “Hong Kong has a special spirit; it is both chaotic and comforting. I love the sounds, the smells, and the energy that I always find there.”  Continued next week: Part II World’s highest bar, Ozone!

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.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ editorial

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

11

OPINION

Why you gotta be so mean?

The annual Independence Day naturalization ceremonies in cities across the United States, including here in Seattle, are inspirational and moving. According to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, 9,000 people became U.S. citizens during more than 100 ceremonies in the week up to and including July 4.

Immigrants becoming U.S. citizens is the thing that defines us. We are the most colorful and culturally diverse nation on the planet because of it. That should bring us pride and joy, but unfortunately for too many, it brings fear and loathing, all rooted in ignorance.

We have serious immigration policy flaws in this country. Currently, there is the heartbreaking crisis in the form of tens of thousands of children making their way into the United States from Central America all by themselves — 52,000 just since October. The Obama administration has stated that most will be sent back, and several U.S. lawmakers are demanding that it happen immediately. You would think lawmakers would know the law regarding child immigrants, who have certain procedural rights now that they are here — rights that Obama now says he wants to eliminate.

What’s ugly is the groups of protesters on the border, blocking busloads of children, yelling at them to go home, and holding signs with messages of hatred. One such sign

Photo courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

America yells ‘go home’ to children at border

A border patrol agent guides a child through the Texas brush.

read, “This is not Ellis Island.” Incidentally, according to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Inc., 40 percent of Americans can trace at least one of their ancestors to Ellis Island. Everyone else, save Native Americans, is also either an immigrant or descended from immigrants.

These protesters, essentially screaming at children to

“get off my lawn,” are an embarrassing stain on America.

Why you gotta be so mean? Maybe we can’t let 50,000 children move in this year, but we can at least be humane about it. We need to work with the governments of Central America. Let’s do a scientific study of this mass migration, and find its causes and solutions.

We also need to consider the kind of person who struggles through immense hardship to come to the United States’ little corner of America. In most cases, these people understand citizenship even better than those who were born here. Often they work harder, participate more fully, and contribute more meaningfully to their new country than the ones who are throwing temper tantrums in front of buses filled with children. What immigrants understand is that opportunity is a thing that is earned, and to be used responsibly, not a thing that is handed to them, to be used as a barrier to blind them to the plight of others.

But maybe it’s a tactic with a purpose. Showing the neighbor children that we are a nation of bullies might be just the ticket to send them home thinking America would be a terrible place to live. So, instead of welcoming them into a country that is friendly and kind, we send them home thinking America is a hateful country and one to be feared.

Is that how we want our neighbor children south of the border growing up to think of us? 

■ LETTER

Japan needs to acknowledge WWII actions

Dear Editor, The Abe government in Japan is acting against the international community in recently questioning Japan’s pledge in the Kono Statement of 1993, in which Japan acknowledged its wartime sexual slavery during World War II. During a time of increasing tensions throughout Asia, Japan is stirring up tensions with the Republic of Korea and other Asian nations who seek dignity and respect for the women during the wartime years who were forced against their will into systematic sexual slavery by Japan’s military.

Nearly 70 years have passed since the end of the Second

World War. There are 54 survivors in Korea who still give living testimony to the abuses they suffered. United Nations reports have recorded the particular statements of 16 victims who were under the authority of the Japanese Imperial Army. Their statements demonstrate that their circumstances were established as a matter of historical fact.

The Korean government also has expressed its profound disappointment with the Abe government, which appears to be allowing a revisionist history that cannot be accepted.

World opinion recognizes the serious humiliation of the wartime sexual slaves. The Abe government should not seek to diminish the significance of the Kono Statement.

It is important that Japan provide a public apology for their pain and sorrow. Monetary compensation would never be enough to remove the deep pain and sorrow.

The memories of the Japanese occupation are still well remembered by many Koreans whose parents and other family members were affected by the Japanese wartime experience. Pope Francis will be meeting with some of the victims when he comes to Korea for an official visit to Korea. The world will be watching his visit. The world also will closely watch whether the Japanese government gives appropriate respect to the victims. 

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JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

{PROP TAX cont’d from page 1} property taxes for the next year. Hara said that Washington state is different than other states because it assesses based on revenue. In addition to property value, “the tax rate is based on the adopted budgets of the taxing districts, new construction, and voter-approved levies.”

There are 165 taxing districts and 594 levies in King County. Depending on which taxing district you live in and which levies are in place there, your levy rate is set. The levy rate multiplied by the assessed value of your property (property value divided by 1,000) will give you an estimate of your property taxes.

It is quite possible that your taxes can increase even if your property value decreases, because in some areas, voterapproved levies can account for 50 percent or more of your tax rate.

“It depends upon where your property is located,” said Hara. “The tax rate varies quite a bit throughout King County.”

{ABE cont’d from page 4} apology accompanied by official government compensation.

In 1995, Japan provided through a private fund 2 million yen ($20,000) each to about 280 women in the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea, and funded nursing homes and medical assistance for Indonesian and former Dutch sex slaves.

In South Korea, only seven women accepted the money out of more than 200 eligible recipients.

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga reiterated Abe’s pledge not to revise the 1993 apology, offered by thenChief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono and known as the “Kono Statement,” which acknowledged that many women were forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers.

Suga added that evaluation of the historical evidence should be left up to historians and scholars.

“South Korea is one of Japan’s most important neighbors and we continue to seek to improve our relations through various levels of dialogue,” Suga said.

As the Korean women grow older, they and supporters have stepped up their protests, including building statues in the United States to gain international support for their cause, upsetting the Japanese rightists.

The panel started its review in April

Constitutionally, however, the tax levy rate is limited to a 1 percent annual increase.

Compared to the rest of the county, the “City of Seattle has the simplest way of figuring tax rate and is limited to four taxing districts,” said Hara.

Over half of property taxes in King County go to support K-12 school programs and only about 17 percent goes to support the county itself. Another 17 percent goes to cities, 2 percent to the port, and, depending on where you live, some goes to programs such as libraries, fire departments, cemeteries, or parks.

Property tax forms are mailed to landowners in February by the King County Treasurer and paid in two halves to King County Treasury Operations in April and October, which then distributes funds appropriately.

Hara said there are a couple major programs to get help with paying property taxes—one for senior citizens aged 62 or older and one for the disabled and veterans.

Both require an annual income of $35,000

or less. If your income is $25,000 or less, you can qualify for a portion of your property value or tax reduced. In some cases, senior citizens can get back credit for up to three years if eligible.

“I encourage those that meet the threshold to come in,” said Hara.

The Assessor’s Office website offers access to a database of the 700,000 parcels in King Count via eReal Property Search.

It gives estimates on value, tax levy rate, transaction history, and more.

As the Assessor’s Office continues to notify property owners of revaluations, the eReal Property Search database offers a chance to compare your property to others in your area or neighbors. If you feel your property is under- or over-valued, state law puts the responsibility on the property owner to file an appeal and go before the Board of Equalization, which can raise or lower you property value.

“You have 60 days from the date of notice to make an appeal if you feel your property value is incorrect,” said Hara. The

process should be started online through the eAppeals application on the Assessor’s Office website.

In general, Hara is hopeful for the area and sees the property value increase as a good thing.

“There is almost a one-to-one correlation between employment and real estate value,” said Hara. “It shows the economy is improving.”

“When I walked in the doors in 2009, you not only lost value in your home, but also a decrease in your net worth by about 25 percent,” said Hara. “This has all turned around. Hopefully, people are back to where they were in 2008.”

For more information, visit the King County Assessor’s website at http://www. kingcounty.gov/Assessor. 

after Nobuo Ishihara, a top bureaucrat who helped in the 1993 study, questioned the authenticity of the interviews, while suggesting Seoul possibly pressured Tokyo into acknowledging the women were coerced. Ishihara spoke at parliament as a witness for a nationalist lawmaker who demanded the review.

Tadaki, who briefed reporters on the contents of the report, said Japan had enough evidence from other documents to produce the apology and that the interviews with the women were supplementary and intended to show Japan’s compassion rather than to verify historical evidence.

His team’s report acknowledged Tokyo and Seoul negotiated at length over the wording, and that it did not distort historical facts or cause either side to compromise its position, he said.

The report said Seoul urged Tokyo to show sincerity and acknowledge coercion to make an apology acceptable to the South Koreans.

The two countries agreed to keep secret their negotiations over the apology statement.

The report noted Ishihara had insisted Japan should never acknowledge all “comfort women” were forced. It said Japan was initially reluctant to meet the women due to fear it would create an uncontrollable and endless situation.

The United States counts both Japan

and South Korea as key allies. The State Department said it took note of Suga’s statement and the Abe government’s position to uphold the apology.

“Because South Korea and Japan have so many common interests, it’s important they find a way to resolve the past in the most productive manner and look to the future on how they can work together on issues they share,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington.

Relations are already strained in the

region, and adding to the ire, the South Korean navy on June 20 conducted livefire exercises in seas near islands that are claimed by both countries. Top Japanese officials protested the drills, but South Korean officials said the exercises were routine and rejected Tokyo’s demands to cancel them. 

TAITUNG

To learn more about filing an appeal, visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/eappeals.

Irfan Shariff can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com

Associated Press writers Jung-yoon Choi in Seoul and Elaine Kurtenbach in Tokyo contributed to this report.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

13

For the week of July 12–July 18, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — While not so impressive now, an investment for the future has the potential to be just that further down the line.

Dragon — The alarm has sounded, but you are not yet ready to jump into action. There is another cue that you are waiting for.

Monkey — The final countdown has started and the moment you have been waiting for is almost here. Let the celebration begin in earnest.

Ox — Take the warning signs seriously when you receive them, as they could save you some heartache later on.

Snake — A stolen moment here and there just isn’t enough for you. Set aside time that is really dedicated to that special someone in your life.

Rooster — You are eager to move on, but there are reminders that hold you back. While a clean break isn’t in the cards, you can still go forward.

Tiger — Something tells you that this is going to be important. Put your lesser projects aside and focus on what is before you.

Horse — Some people chafe under the glare of the spotlight. However, you tend to thrive under its warmth.

Dog — Despite the many demands on your time, it is in your best interest to give yourself the space you need to thrive.

Rabbit — You have stumbled onto what could be a great find. Don’t get too excited as that could elicit unwanted attention.

Goat — A gentle nudge will be far more effective than a big push, as the latter could be received quite negatively.

Pig — Feeling a bit scattered this morning? Spend a few minutes ordering out your day, so that you have a plan to keep you centered.

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.

{CHONG cont’d from page 8}

{COW cont’d from page 9}

environment and across a range of genres.

Chong launched ARC Dance Company in 1999 to address these needs. The dance company aims to educate and foster wellrounded dance professionals through the foundation of classical ballet and performance.

ARC Dance Company is gearing up for its upcoming program titled “Summer Dance at the Center,” a mixed bill repertoire featuring emerging dancers from ARC Dance Company, as well as work from other directors.

“It’s a great opportunity to make dance accessible to audiences that may not be very familiar to it,” said Chong of the production.

Despite running her own dance company, Chong also found time to pursue her longtime dream: Working for the theatrical and circus arts entertainment company Cirque du Soleil.

In 2011, Chong was the artistic assistant and director of Cirque du Soleil’s “KOOZA” show, which took her all over the world. For 16 months, Chong oversaw and maintained the artistic integrity of the show, from integration of artistic staff to stage production to artists.

“It’s great to say that I ‘ran away to the circus,’” joked Chong about achieving her dream.

“Working with Cirque du Soleil was fascinating because I was exposed to several different languages daily, and at least 20 different ones from around the world. So I think there’s more for me with travel,” said Chong, of how she sees her directing and dance career evolving.

She also expressed interest to one day direct a musical on Broadway, or even to continue exploring her biomechanical movement interests in some greater capacity with the Olympic Games.

Should Chong find her way to the Olympic Games, it would be a full circle for her and her dance career. 

she had a great life and wanted to do something for others. She had been working on a documentary about how her family came to America and finally decided to finish it. She sat down with her photographer friend, Kathy Stenger, and they realized it would be too expensive to pay for a crew to travel and film, so they decided to do a traveling blog instead. The Traveling Cow was born and the blog launched on Feb. 11, 2014.

“We started doing local stories and it was just a great way to heal for me,” Vo said. She said she got to share whatever she wanted, from stories from her childhood to stories of people she met.

“We got so much positive feedback,” Vo said. She and Stenger decided to travel to Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand for two and a half weeks. On their trip, they collected stories from people.

“It’s been really amazing meeting so many different people and hearing their stories,” Stenger said. “It amazes me constantly how every single person out there has something really interesting, funny, heartbreaking, inspiring...every person!”

One story was about a woman in Thailand, Sangduan Chailert, who is the founder of Elephant Nature Park and is known as an

“Summer Dance at the Center” will run from July 17 to July 19 at the Leo Kreielshemier Theatre at Seattle Center.

All performances begin at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.arcdance.org and www.brownpapertickets.com.

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

{CAMBODIA cont’d from page 5} But for now, it’s nice to have some space to observe what’s here. Really here, not just in a book about Cambodia that will tend to show too many “poverty pictures,” and not enough of what it — really — is.

The new history is coming and it’s going to be important to pay close attention if we are to record the conversation in

elephant whisperer. Vo got to experience sitting under an elephant, which is their way of cuddling, said Vo. “[Chailert] was singing to the elephant and the elephant actually purred like a cat...that was one of the best experiences of my life,” Vo said. Her friends took notice of her stories — especially stories about people in a Vietnamese hospital. On Vo’s birthday, she received a card from her friends filled with money for the patients in the hospital.

“One-hundred dollars…(can buy) a couple of dinners or a new pair of jeans, but $100 to those people means the world to them,” Vo said. This project has helped Vo heal, she said, and she feels proud when she can give back to her village.

“You don’t need Bill and Melinda Gates’ millions to make a big difference, you just need kindness and the willingness to share,” Vo said.  To read the Traveling Cow blog, visit www.facebook.com/ LeTravelingCow or www.thetravelingcow.com.

Daria Kroupoderova can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com. full. Superficial tweets or social shares elsewhere, and stories about this part of the world tend to focus way too much on dogood sorts of things and less on what’s actually starting to look like a smart, sophisticated, and exciting whirl of an “anything can happen” style and culture. Young people are open. They welcome the new.  Dipika Kohli writes at www.kismuth.com.

asianweekly northwest

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JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

{INDONESIA cont’d from page 7} The campaign period was marred by smear tactics, known here as black campaigns, from both camps. But Widodo blamed his fall in opinion polls from a lead of more than 12 percentage points in May to just around 3.5 points before the election on character assaults that accused him, among other things, of not being a follower of Islam. He has denounced the charges as lies, but says it’s hard to undo the damage it caused.

At the same time, Subianto’s campaign has been more effective and better financed. He also enjoyed the support of two of the country’s largest television stations.

“I think these black campaigns were effective enough to convince communities,” said Hamdi Muluk, a political analyst from the University of Indonesia. “And that has directly ruined Widodo’s image.”

But he added that Subianto’s past, including ordering the kidnappings of pro-democracy activists prior to Suharto’s fall in 1998, has not gone unnoticed and some voters fear a return to the brutal dictator’s New Order regime. Details about the abductions surfaced recently after the official

findings of an army investigative panel were leaked.

The election — Indonesia’s third direct presidential vote — has played out with fury in the social media-crazed country. There has been a frenzy of “unfriending” on Facebook pages belonging to users who support different camps.

Subianto, of the Great Indonesia Movement Party, has been gaining allies. Outgoing President Yudhoyono’s ruling Democratic Party, which earlier in the campaign said it was neutral, openly endorsed Subianto just two weeks before the election.

Subianto’s vows of tough leadership and promises that “Indonesia will become an Asian tiger once again” have also gained footing with some voters fed up with Yudhoyono, who has been criticized for being ineffective and weak on some issues, including those involving neighbors Australia and Malaysia. Yudhoyono’s party has also been plagued by a string of recent high-profile corruption scandals.  Associated Press writers Margie Mason and Ali Kotarumalos contributed to this report.

{NORTH KOREA cont’d from page 4}

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and is serving 15 years of hard labor, also for what the North says were hostile acts against the state. Bae’s Seattle-area family has been trying desperately to have him freed. More information about him can be found at freekennow.com.

The latest arrests present a conundrum for Washington, which has no diplomatic ties with the North and no embassy in Pyongyang.

Instead, the Swedish Embassy takes responsibility for U.S. consular affairs in the North. State Department officials say they cannot release details about the cases because they need a privacy waiver to do so.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was aware of the reports the Americans would be tried, but had no independent confirmation. She urged North Korea to release the pair on humanitarian grounds.

“There’s no greater priority for us than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad,” Psaki told reporters in Washington.

She said Swedish diplomats visited Fowle on June 20 and Miller most recently on June 21.

Despite the Americans having agreed to a privacy waiver, Psaki said the department would not describe the charges they are facing or provide other information on their cases. 

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

{TRANSGENDER cont’d from page 1} but for the many advocates engaged in the struggle, the silent wait times equate to the cost of human lives.

“One of the things that people forget is that when someone is dealing with stuff around their identity, whether it’s being transgender or other things, it takes up a lot of space. Once you’re able to be who you are, folks want to do some amazing things.

Because of discrimination or violence against us, we’ve lost somebody who could cure cancer or come up with some other invention,” said Gunner Scott, director of programs at Pride Foundation, an organization supporting the advancement of equality for the LGBTQ community.

Sun Kim’s family gave permission to API Chaya to share Kim’s last words in an announcement about Kim’s passing with the hope that it would lead to more conversations about suicide prevention and supporting transgender youth.

In his last words, Kim spoke of moving to Seattle, where he explored and learned about the different intersections of his identity, discovered his ability to make things better for himself and others facing similar struggles.

“Once I started hormone replacement therapy, I knew that every single day was worth it because I got to experience all these new changes of my body, and I was finally physically becoming who I was meant to be,” wrote Kim in his final letter dated June 11, 2014. “It’s ironic even now that I’m mostly worried about people who will still misgender me after my death, the usage of ‘she’ and other feminine pronouns to describe me, and the memories held by many who still know me as ‘Jennifer’ or just refused to adapt to my preferred name,” he said.

Gwen Yeh, a Taiwanese-born transgender activist currently working on media and design at Gender Justice League, shares a similar experience. She began her physical transition and hormone replacement therapy after moving to Seattle and starting a job as an artist at a video game company. Before her transition, Yeh had lived 25 years of her life as a male with another name, and a very different life.

“The artificiality of living as someone you are not is feeling like you’re constantly lying. It’s lying to protect yourself, not to purposely hurt people,” said Yeh. “I was stuck being the guy that I kept trying to tell people I was since I was a teenager. I say teenager because that’s when I started hiding [my identity]. …At the age of 25, I was still practically a 13-year-old boy, keeping up the perception I had kept going, laughing at jokes I didn’t find funny, hanging out with guys at places I didn’t want to go to, doing things I didn’t want to do, and living the life I didn’t want to live.”

By the time Yeh turned 8, she was trying on her mother and cousin’s clothes in secret.

Late into her teenage years, she suspected her family must have noticed that clothes were moved around, but their suspicions were too taboo to discuss, and were never talked about.

“It wasn’t something I could stop. It’s

not about the clothing. That wasn’t enough.

It’s about being seen. It was the need to be validated as a female,” said Yeh, who believes that many other transgender youth, notably API transgender individuals like herself, are likely struggling in silence.

“Why couldn’t I just be ‘normal’?” Why did I have such unfortunate luck to be born the way I did. It seems like every day, it was only getting harder and harder to cope with who I am,” Kim wrote in his final letter.

“People of color in coming out face such different obstacles that mainstream advocacy doesn’t address. In English, we have so many ways to describe being trans, but in Mandarin, there are only three, two of which are kind of offensive and one of which is not entirely accurate,” said Yeh. When it came time for Yeh to come out to her traditional Taiwanese grandparents, she found she lacked the words to do so. She hopes with more time and agency that she’ll be able to make a difference in helping others tackle these problems.

Among the crowd gathered for the larger Pride Parade stood Tanya Rachinee, who appeared poised in a see-through beaded gown, altered from a dress she purchased 13 years ago. Rachinee immigrated to the United States from Thailand with her family when she was 19 years old. By then, she had long thought about the woman she hoped to someday become. She attended Seattle’s Franklin High School, where she began her transition to live openly as a female. By her last semester of school, her teachers and peers had come to know her as Tanya.

“Before I started transitioning, I talked to my dad. He knew how I wanted a family and he brought that subject up to kind of make me feel bad, and [told me] how disappointed he was that I’m not what a man should be.

I just told him that it was time for me to be happy with my life,” said Rachinee.

That was the day before the 2000 Pride Parade. The following day, she marched in the parade fully dressed as a woman. About a year later, Rachinee would purchase the white crystal beaded gown that would withstand the test of time and show off her female form, which had evolved with the help of hormones and surgery. By the time the Seattle transgender community would have its first Trans*Pride parade, Rachinee would jokingly refer to her decade-old gown as “vintage.”

In 2011, Rachinee won the title of Miss UTOPIA, at a pageant hosted by UTOPIA, an organization working to combat discrimination against people with different sexual preferences. She continues to be involved with UTOPIA and currently serves on its board of directors. Rachinee recalled the widely known and accepted transgender community in Thailand. She was surprised to find, while transitioning here, how little was known in the United States about the transgender community.

“Even though I knew that the U.S. is a fast moving, progressive society, there are a lot of people who don’t know about transitioning at all. That really surprised me, how invisible the transgender experience is to the public. We’re really not exposed to society and no one really knows about it,” said Rachinee.

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

Transgender or not, Scott explains, gender expression is at the heart common issues faced by the LGBT community as a whole.

“When we look at hate violence, the violence directed at people assumed to be gay, lesbian, or possibly transgender is based on the way they’re expressing their gender. The negative stereotypes about gay people are usually based on gender and not who they’re holding hands with. At the end of the day, the people who hate us, they don’t see the difference between the L, the G, the B, and the T. For transgender individuals, Scott adds, the issues are nuanced and layered, especially when ethnicity comes into play.

A National Transgender Discrimination Survey conducted this year by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality noted that a staggering 56 percent of API transgender and gender non-conforming people have attempted suicide due to discrimination. Many are also reported to be living in extreme poverty as a result of facing unemployment, discrimination, or homelessness. Based on the survey, API transgender and gender non-conforming people who were accepted by their families are less likely to attempt suicide, experience homelessness, or get diagnosed with HIV compared to those who weren’t.

Rachinee and Yeh consider themselves among the lucky ones. Yeh continues to work at the same company where she began her transition, and Rachinee currently owns and manages a restaurant in Seattle.

Both have continued to maintain good relationships with their family members, despite initial difficulties in accepting their transitions.

“Surprisingly, my parents still kept me in the house, even though I thought I would get kicked out. After a while, they came around and began to understand. They admitted that I’m still their child. It’s very lucky for me to have such understanding

15

parents because I’ve heard many stories about transgender individuals who are disowned by their families,” said Rachinee.

“It is a very difficult and hard life to be a transgender individual, but for me, my transitioning is a metamorphosis.

It’s like you become your own person, it’s a liberating feeling. I’ll never regret that moment, period. I am so happy that I did this, even though it brings a lot of difficulties and judgment from people. I would not change this for anything,” she said.

With the transgender movement being recognized for so many years as only a letter in the greater LGBTQ movement, the rather young movement has developed its own voice, largely thanks to advocates like Kim who led community training, leadership groups, and workshops that shed light on the way assumed gender and sexual norms impact the way sexual assault survivors are treated. Going forward, Yeh has a lot of hope for the trans* community at large.

“I fully expect the trans* community to be where the mainstream LGB community is at today. Maybe five or 10 years from now, the Trans*Pride will be as large as the Pride Parade on Sunday,” said Yeh. “It’s picking up speed, but I would certainly want for these changes to happen sooner, because the longer we take with these changes, the more people die.”  Read part 2 in next week’s issue.

Tiffany Ran can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com. *An asterisk is added behind the term “trans” to indicate a use of trans* as an umbrella term to expand the boundaries or limitations of the word to include transgender, transsexual, gender queer, gender fluid, agender, and more possibilities within gender expression.

NOTICE OF UPCOMING CONSULTING & CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES PUGET SOUND EMERGENCY RADIO NETWORK (PSERN) The King County Department of Information Technology and its regional partners are planning to replace the existing King County regional 800 MHz trunked Emergency Radio System (ERS) with the PSERN. The PSERN will be built on some existing radio system sites and other new sites located mainly throughout King County, with a small number in neighboring counties. The goal of the PSERN Project is to obtain a system vendor to develop a system design and construct the PSERN within Central Puget Sound.

The County is currently in the process of selecting a PSERN vendor who will assist the County with specific design services, installation of associated radio tower equipment, and transition services associated with the transfer of existing ERS to PSERN. The upcoming construction and consulting activities will be to assist the County with completion of the design and construction of the new government radio sites and modifications to existing radio sites owned by both the government and private entities.

The associated radio site work will include such items as: • Site Viability Verification Environmental Compliance Services • Real Estate Services • • Preliminary Site Design Services • Final Site Design Services • Construction Management Site Construction • Consultants and Contractors with interest in this upcoming work are encouraged to attend the Open House for the project on July 17, 2014, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM in Conference Center Room 121, Chinook Building, 401 5th Ave, Seattle WA 98104. Questions can be directed to the Contract Specialist, Darren Chernick by telephone at 206-2639321 or by email to darren.chernick@kingcounty.gov.

asianweekly northwest

16

JULY 12 – JULY 18, 2014

Young Abigail Liang, already a citizen, watches as her mom, Epay Leu, and dad, Kevin Liang, become naturalized citizens.

‘The Honor of All’ dance was performed by Gene Tagaban.

Ethnic Heritage Council board president JoAnne Lee welcomes the audience.

Photos by Daria Kroupoderova/NWAW

Lily Liao, left, and David Guo become Americans.

{NATURALIZATION cont’d from page 1} Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, King County Executive Dow Constantine, U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, Gov. Jay Inslee, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.

Speakers, including Constantine, Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams, and Ethnic Heritage Council Board President JoAnne Lee gave welcomes and personal greetings to the audience.

The Spirit of Liberty was awarded to Danish American Jens Lund by McDermott.

Afterwards, there was a special mention by Murray of the oldest candidate to be sworn in, Kyung Ku Lee, who is 80, from Korea.

In addition, two active duty military candidates, Jedyleeh Gillespie from the Philippines and Swaraj Pandey from Nepal, were acknowledged by Murray.

Finally, the moment that everyone was waiting for came when U.S. Circuit Judge Richard C. Tallman administered the oath.

Congratulatory addresses were made by Cantwell and Murray, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by

Children of the World.

The ceremony came to a close with remarks from Murray and the retiring of the colors by the I Corps Honor Guard.

The ceremony was presented by The Ethnic Heritage Council, Seattle Center, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Daria Kroupoderova can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents

Children’s Recycling Fashion Contest

Saturday, July 12, 2014 — This free event is part of Dragon Fest

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

Sponsors:

Cathay Post 186

• 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.

• Everyone is welcome to come to Northwest Asian Weekly’s office to pick up old copies of the papers for free.

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 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.

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.

• Recyclable materials must be used in contestants’ outfits. (Materials are listed online.)

• If you don’t have a recycling outfit, don’t worry. Come in 12 p.m. and our volunteer designer will make you one.

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 there will be many other prizes.

• All decisions made by competition judges are final.

Jade Garden Restaurant

Jim Doane

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: ________________________________________________________

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.