<div> <div>Three social events organised by anti-junta groups have been forced to cancel after the authorities repeatedly intimidated the owners of the venues.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The three events are a new year party in Samut Songkhram, a friendly football match in Bangkok, and a folk music concert in Bangkok. </div></div>

<div> <div>The police have summoned Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, because of a Facebook post criticising a verdict.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7326/27256290186_ea102bdeb5.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 343px;" /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color:#ff8c00;">Anon Nampa (file photo)</span></strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <div>According to <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=5823">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights</a>, </div></div>

<div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;">The authorities have repeatedly denied access to a legal document which deals with the question of whether Princess Sirindhorn was an heir apparent to the throne of King Bhumibol, saying that the document could damage the monarchy if published.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="text-align: left;">On 12 December 2017, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=5810">reported</a> that the Office of the Council of State&nbsp;(OCS) had denied their lawye </div></div>

<div> <div>Pro-democracy activists gathered at the Democracy Monument on Constitution Day to remind the public that the junta’s constitution is undemocratic.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>At 4.50 pm on Thailand’s Constitution Day, 10 December 2017, about 100 people marched from Thammasat University to the Democracy Monument amid tight security.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The activity was led by pro-democracy activists Pansak Srithep, Payao Akhad and Rangsiman Rome. </div></div>

<div>A grassroot network last week blasted the government’s environmental bill, saying that it is aimed at helping investors rush through the environmental impact assessment process at the cost of the environment. They also vowed to propose a people’s version of the law.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The People’s Network for Sustainable Development on 7 December 2017 gathered in front of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) near Government House to protest against the Enhancement and Conservation of the National Environmental Quality Bill. </div>

<div> <div>The lone-wolf bomber of an army-administered hospital has been sentenced to a further 27 years in prison.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 6 December 2017, the Criminal Court found Wattana Phumaret, 62, guilty of attempted murder, planting a bomb, causing serious damage, and possessing explosives in public and sentenced him to life imprisonment, reduced to 27 years because of his cooperation with the prosecution.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Wattana, a former electrical engineer, was accused of planting a <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/7157">bomb on 22 May</a> at the ar </div></div>

<div>Five years after the abduction of the prominent, internationally acclaimed Lao development worker Sombath Somphone by Lao state agents, the Lao government has done very little to find the truth, experts said. Meanwhile, the enforced disappearance of Sombath has raised debates about the Lao government’s ambition to boost its economy through development projects, while it continues to suppress civil rights.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>15 December 2017 marks five years since Sombath was last seen by his family. </div>

<p dir="ltr">The director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) has clarified that the chemical required to complete the autopsy of the freshman cadet recently died in a military academy has not run out as reported in the media.</p> <p dir="ltr">CIFS Director Somn Promaros announced on 3 December 2017 that the delay in the autopsy of Cadet Phakhaphong Tanyakan was not due to a shortage of a formalin material used to preserve samples of his organs as reported on many media outlets.</p>

<div> <div>The police on Friday released a freelance environmental journalist on bail after arresting him for trespassing into a disputed gold mine in 2015.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Jamon Sonpednarin was released from Wang Saphung District Police Station in the northeastern province of Loei on Friday morning after a university lecturer offered her civil servant position as the bail.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The arrest warrant accuses Jamon of trespassing into a controversial gold mine in Wang Saphung District in 2015 which was operated by Tungkum Co Ltd before its closure. </div></div>

<p>The police are preparing to issue arrest warrants for 20 more protestors against the coal-fired power plant in Songkhla.</p> <p>On 30 November 2017, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthernThaiPBS/photos/a.576429142408040.1073741828.575717802479174/1701818463202430/?type=3&amp;theater">Thai PBS reported</a>&nbsp;that police of Mueang District of Songkhla Province are preparing to issue arrest warrants for 20 people who joined 15 key leaders of the network from Songkhla and Pattani provinces in a protest against the planned coal-fired power plant and deep sea port in Songkhla.</p>

<div> <div>Despite past antagonism, politicians from the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have raised the idea of forming a political coalition to prevent the junta from prolonging its power.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Ever since junta head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha promised an election in November 2018, political parties have made various efforts to start political discussions, despite the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s ban on political activity.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 26 November 2017, <a href="http://www.tnews.co.th/index.php/contents/383495">Nipit Intrasombat and Chatu </a></div></div>

<p dir="ltr">15 of the southern environmental activists protesting against the controversial coal-fired power plant in Songkhla have spent the night behind bars as they failed to obtain 1.35 million baht bond for bail request.</p> <p>On 28 November 2017, the court granted to the police the custody permission to detain 15 key leaders of of the network from Songkhla and Pattani provinces protesting against the planned coal-fired power plant and deep sea port in Songkhla, according to Khaosod.</p>