Thailand bans Routledge handbook on Thailand, citing national security
Thai police banned the second edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand on national security grounds. Its exiled editor, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, says the ban is over its content on the monarchy.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Thailand has banned a textbook about the country on national security grounds, and its exiled editor said on Thursday 5 November that it was outlawed over its content on the Thai monarchy. South China Morning PostN “Thailand has banned a textbook about the country on national security grounds, with the tome’s exiled editor saying on Thursday it was outlawed over its content on the Thai monarchy” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “Thailand has banned a textbook about the country on national security grounds” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2The book is the second edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand, published in English in August, and was edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an academic and critic of the monarchy who is based in Japan. It contains chapters on the monarchy in the 21st century and the government's use of the lese-majeste law. South China Morning PostN “edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a prominent academic and critic of the Thai monarchy who is based in Japan” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “contains chapters on Thailand's monarchy in the 21st century and the government's use of the lese-majeste law” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2An order signed by National Police Chief Samran Nualma, released on Wednesday, said the book included articles that "adversely affect national security and might cause unrest in the country". It also said the content "affects the security of the kingdom, public order or the good morals of the people", and that police could seize and destroy the book. South China Morning PostN “An order signed by National Police Chief Samran Nualma released on Wednesday said the book included articles that “adversely affect national security and might cause unrest in the country”.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “Police have the authority to seize and destroy the book, it added.” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 1Anyone found guilty of importing or distributing the book faces up to three years in prison, a maximum fine of 60,000 baht (US$1,800), or both. South China Morning PostN “Anyone found guilty of importing or distributing the book faces imprisonment of up to three years, a maximum fine of 60,000 baht (US$1,800) or both.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 2Pavin said the book was banned "because it is packed with material on the monarchy", and told AFP the first edition, released in 2019, was not banned. According to Pavin, the new edition was updated to reflect changes in Thai politics since the 2020 youth-led pro-democracy protests. South China Morning PostN ““because it is packed with material on the monarchy”” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “The book's first edition, released in 2019, was not banned, Pavin told AFP.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2Pavin also said "Thailand's democracy is backsliding, and book bans are a clear indicator of that". In social media posts the editor mocked the ban, thanking police for helping promote the book and saying such a ban "doesn't work" in the internet era because people could switch to an e-book. CNAN “"Thailand's democracy is backsliding, and book bans are a clear indicator of that."” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN “he thanked the Royal Thai Police for helping promote the book” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Centre · 1Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana told AFP in a statement that Thailand "prioritises maintaining national security and public order alongside respecting freedom of expression and academic freedom". CNAN “Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said in a statement to AFP that Thailand "prioritises maintaining national security and public order alongside respecting freedom of expression and academic freedom".” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2Pavin's 2023 book "Rama X: The Thai Monarchy under King Vajiralongkorn" was banned in a similar way; a 2023 police order said it was deemed insulting to the monarchy. Pavin is a former diplomat who has been out of Thailand since a 2014 military coup, and said they were charged in 2020 over a Facebook group with more than 2 million members. South China Morning PostN “In 2023, his book, Rama X: The Thai Monarchy under King Vajiralongkorn, published by Yale University Southeast Asia Studies, was banned in a similar fashion.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ CNAN “Pavin is a former diplomat who has been out of Thailand since a 2014 military coup.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said in August that Pavin was among three people charged with lese-majeste over Facebook posts in the group the previous month. Under the law, anyone convicted of insulting, defaming or threatening the king or his family can face up to 15 years in prison per offence, and critics say it is used to muzzle dissent. CNAN “campaign group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said Pavin was among three people charged with lese-majeste over Facebook posts in the group the previous month.” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN “can face a prison sentence of up to 15 years per offence” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run AFP-sourced reporting that leads with the ban and the exiled editor's view that the monarchy content is the reason, and frames the lese-majeste law as one critics say muzzles dissent. SCMP's headline stresses the editor mocking the authorities; CNA's headline is a plain statement of the ban.
- Emphasis
- The police order's wording and penalties, Pavin's claim that the ban is about the monarchy, the earlier ban of Rama X, and (in CNA) Pavin's own lese-majeste charges and the 'democracy backsliding' remark.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The SCMP version has no government response and no background on the 2020 protests or Pavin's charges; the CNA version includes both. Neither gives a view from the publisher, Routledge.
- Charged language
- “tome”“mocks authorities”“backsliding”
- For example
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“Exiled Thai critic mocks authorities after textbook banned on national security grounds” — South China Morning Post
“"Thailand's democracy is backsliding, and book bans are a clear indicator of that."” — CNA
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Thailand banned the second edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand on national security grounds.
- The order was signed by National Police Chief Samran Nualma and released on Wednesday.
- Importing or distributing the book carries up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both.
- Editor Pavin Chachavalpongpun says the ban is over the book's monarchy content.
- Pavin's 2023 book Rama X was banned in a similar way.
Where accounts differ
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Why the book was banned
- Centre
- The police order cites national security, public order and good morals. Pavin says the real reason is the book's material on the monarchy. A government spokeswoman says Thailand balances security with freedom of expression and academic freedom (CNA, quoting AFP).
Thailand place
Police said the book harms national security and public order. A deputy government spokeswoman said Thailand prioritises national security and public order alongside freedom of expression and academic freedom.
“Thailand "prioritises maintaining national security and public order alongside respecting freedom of expression and academic freedom"” — CNA
“adversely affect national security and might cause unrest in the country” — South China Morning Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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South China Morning PostN · · via AFP
Exiled Thai critic mocks authorities after textbook banned on national security grounds
Mixed AFP copy that leads with the exiled editor's mocking response to the ban and his claim that the monarchy content is the cause.
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CNAN ·
Thailand bans textbook on national security grounds
Neutral AFP-sourced report that sets out the order, the editor's backsliding critique and the government's statement on security and academic freedom.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 5 Nov 09:25 First South China Morning PostN Exiled Thai critic mocks authorities after textbook banned on national security grounds via AFP
- 5 Nov 11:57 +2h 32m CNAN Thailand bans textbook on national security grounds
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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