<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">In the midst of all the mainstream news on the political dealing, it is believable that the Khlong Dan case is becoming an important condition on the bargaining table. Will Puea Pandin, with 24 MPs, really join a government of one side or the other? This is a make-or-break issue for Vatana Asavahame, chief advisor of Puea Pandin, an important person with one foot already in prison since the NCCC published clear evidence and the case is under investigation by the courts.</p>

<p>- 86 journalists killed in 2007 - up 244% over five years<br />Iraq, Somalia and Pakistan the most deadly countries<br />- At least two journalists arrested each day in 2007<br />- More than 2,600 websites and blogs shut down in a year</p>

<p>From the freest to the most restricted<br />among them, the countries of Southeast Asia in 2007 suffered a<br />weakening of press freedom.</p>

<p>At approximately 6 pm on 23 December (election day), at the Political Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University (CMU), the results were presented of an exit poll taken in Chiang Mai Constituency 1, comprising Mueang, Hang Dong, Saraphi and San Kamphaeng districts, with a sample of 2,096 voters.</p>

<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"><span>Hoya Glass Disk Company's management yielded on 3 more </span><span>of the workers' demands. The remaining demands are tabled for the next round of negotiations early next year.</span></p>

<p>On Dec 21, Mae Ramphueng conservation group petitioned the National Human Rights Commission to look into the incident in which group members were attacked by supporters of the Sahaviriya Steel Group at the office of Mae Ramphueng Tambon Administrative Organization in Bang Saphan district, Prachuab Khiri Khan.</p>

<p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">In its third pre-election report released today, ANFREL expressed concern over vote buying and the lack of understanding of the new election system amongst voters.</font> </span></p>

<p>On Dec 19, proponents of Sahaviriya Steel Group beat up local conservation group members who have been campaigning against the steel giant's planned construction of a smelting plant in Bang Saphan district of Prachuab Khiri Khan, upper southern Thailand.</p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;"><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">On Dec 19, about 1,000 people from the civil society groups led by the NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) gathered in front of parliament to demand that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) stop passing laws.</font><span>&nbsp; </span></span></p>

<p>Five leading international human rights organizations today called upon the Cambodian government to respect its international human rights commitments as well as United Nations officials mandated to monitor them. </p>

<p><span>Jon Ungphakorn, Chair of </span><span>the NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD), said that the attempt on Dec 12 to halt the National Legislative Assembly, since it was not elected and did not represent the people, and thus could not legitimately deliberate laws that would affect the people's rights and freedoms, was successful.</span></p>

<p>The International Medical<br />organisation M&eacute;decins Sans Fronti&egrave;res<br />(MSF), called on the Thai government to step up<br />its efforts to improve access to healthcare to the<br />millions of migrants workers living in Thailand.</p>