National Police Chief Samran Nualma authorized the prohibition of the updated "Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand," alleging it endangers national stability and public morals. The book is edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Japan-based exiled academic who has previously faced lese-majeste charges. Pavin observed that readers can easily circumvent physical enforcement by obtaining digital versions of the text. Meanwhile, the government maintains that safeguarding domestic security must be balanced against academic freedom.
Key points
Thai authorities are actively targeting academic publications that critically address the…: Thai authorities are actively targeting academic publications that critically address the role of the royal family and political dissent.
Penalties for distributing restricted materials reflect Thailand's broader legal environm…: Penalties for distributing restricted materials reflect Thailand's broader legal environment, where lese-majeste convictions carry up to 15 years in prison per charge.
Digital publishing formats provide readers with viable avenues to bypass physical governm…: Digital publishing formats provide readers with viable avenues to bypass physical government bans and import restrictions.
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The book, a second edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand, contains chapters on Thailand's monarchy in the 21st century and the government's use of the lese-majeste law.
BANGKOK: Thailand has banned a textbook about the country on national security grounds, with the tome's exiled editor saying on Thursday (Nov 5) it was outlawed over its content on the Thai monarchy.
The royal family holds revered status in Thai society and is shielded from criticism by a strict defamation law that critics say is used to muzzle dissent.
The book, a second edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand published in English in August, was edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a prominent academic and critic of the Thai monarchy who is based in Japan.
It contains chapters on Thailand's monarchy in the 21st century and the government's use of the lese-majeste law.
The book's first edition, released in 2019, was not banned, Pavin told AFP.
He said it was updated to "reflect changes in Thai politics" since 2020 youth-led pro-democracy protests, which featured unprecedented calls to reform the monarchy…
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