Disrespectful to the royal family! Thai textbook talks about "monarchy" banned; author thanks for free publicity

The Thai police yesterday banned a textbook on the grounds of national security. The editor of the book, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a scholar currently in exile in Japan, said that the reason for the ban was that the content of the book related to the Thai monarchy system. Instead, he thanked the authorities for helping to print the book for free.

What has been banned is the second edition of the "Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand" written in English and published by the well-known academic publisher "Routledge" in August this year. The editor is Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a well-known critic of the Thai monarchy. Some chapters in the book discuss the Thai monarchy in the 21st century and how the Thai government uses lèse-majesté.

According to an order issued on the 4th and signed by Thailand's National Police Chief Samran Nualma, the book contains content that "has a negative impact on national security and may cause unrest in the country" and affects Thailand's security, public order or the good and morals of the people.

The order stated that the police have the right to seize and destroy the book; anyone found importing or distributing the book may be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison, a fine of 60,000 baht (approximately NT$59,200), or both.

The royal family enjoys a high status in Thai society and is protected by strict defamation laws; Thailand's lese majeste crime stipulates that anyone accused of insulting, defaming or threatening the king or royal family members and convicted can be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison for each count. But critics say the law has become a tool to suppress dissent.

Pavan, who has served in Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more than 10 years, posted on Facebook on the 5th that the book was banned because it was "full of content about the monarchy." Pavan also "thanked" the Royal Thai Police in another post for helping to print the book.

Parvin wrote that in the era of social media and the Internet, this ban is completely useless, because people may not buy paper books at all and just read electronic versions. "...Once the ban is issued, publishers make money, I make money, and Thai people (for the monarchy) have a clearer understanding. This is a win-win situation for all parties."