<p>Despite reports from Russian intelligence about ISIS members hiding in the country, security experts said that Thailand still has minimal risk of a spread of violence from the troubled Middle East. However, given the rise of Buddhist hardliners and security officers distracted by political dissidence, this might change. &nbsp;</p>

<p>An ultra-royalist has urged the police to investigate the US Ambassador to Thailand over his criticism of the lèse majesté law, saying the police should proceed if the criticism breaches the law. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A suspect in a thwarted terrorist plot around the Bike for Dad event has denied police claims that he was involved in planning the plot from prison.</p>

<p>Thai academics have kicked off an online campaign, demanding that the junta ‘unconditionally’ end the persecution of political dissidents.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has prohibited Yingluck Shinawatra, a former elected Prime Minister from the Pheu Thai Party, from flying to Europe. &nbsp;</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=1449048886">Khaosod News Agency</a>, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, denied a request from Yingluck Shinawatra to travel to Europe to share her views on Thai politics.</p>

<p>A network of people from marginalised communities countrywide has urged the military government to halt plans to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs), claiming that the plans violate the rights of the poor.</p> <p>A network of seven organisations from different regions including the Love Mae Sod Group, the Sa Kaew Environmental Protection Network, the Northern Development Foundation, the Citizen Council of Chonburi Province, and the Community Leaders Network on Monday, 30 November 2015, submitted a petition addressed to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister.</p>

<p>A Thai publishing company has removed from the front page of the International New York Times an article about a dismal Thai economy under military rule. &nbsp;</p> <p>News kiosks in Thailand offered the 1 December 2015 issue of the International New York Times on their shelves with an article at the centre of its front page missing.</p> <p>Instead of a headline and text, an empty space contains the simple message “The article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal.”</p>

<p>The Criminal Court has sentenced an elderly leftist to six years in prison for distributing lèse majesté leaflets in 2007.</p> <p>The Criminal Court of Nonthaburi Province on Tuesday morning, 1 December 2015, sentenced Charnvit J., a 60-year-old self-proclaimed leftist, to six years’ imprisonment for an offence under Article 112 of the Criminal Act, the lèse majesté law.</p>

<p>Thai police have charged a 61-year-old woman with sedition for criticising the military government over the army’s royal park corruption scandal.</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tnamcot.com/content/345094">Thai News Agency</a>, on Monday, 30 November 2015, Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathaworn, acting commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, held a press briefing on the arrest of Jutathip Verochanakorn, a 61-year-old woman who posted information about corruption allegations surrounding Rajabhakdi Park.</p>

<p>Administrative Court officials have said that Thai governmental agencies accused of failing to safeguard the public interest by giving the green light to the construction of a controversial hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River should be acquitted. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The Administrative Court, on Monday morning, 30 November 2015, held the final hearing on a case over the Xayaburi Dam, a controversial hydroelectric dam on the main stem of Mekong River, east of Xayaburi Town in northern Laos.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Update: <a href="http://news.voicetv.co.th/thailand/292509.html">Voice TV</a> reported on Monday at 9:46 am that many police and military officers were deployed at Mahachai Muang Mai Market in Samut Sakhon Province where Jatuporn, Nattawut, and other UDD members planned to meet before travelling to Rajabhakdi Park. The officers have reportedly taken both Jatuporn and Nattawut into a military van. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div>Agricultural groups have sparked concerns over a newly approved Biological Safety Bill, saying it will have a highly detrimental impact on Thailand’s food security through widespread Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) contamination of farm crops.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The move follows cabinet approval on Wednesday 25 November of the bill proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. The bill will now to pass to the National Legislative Assembly for final consideration. </div>