Bangkok (AFP) - Thai police have banned a British journalist's book about politics in Thailand for "defaming" the monarchy, an official said Thursday, in a country with one of the world's strictest lese majeste laws.

The sale and distribution of "A Kingdom in Crisis" by freelance journalist and author Andrew MacGregor Marshall, formerly based in Bangkok, has been banned in Thailand a month after it was published by London-based Zed Books.

"The content insults, defames and threatens Thailand's monarchy," said national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung in a statement. "The book is a danger to national security and peaceful and orderly society."

The statement added that anyone found breaching the ban imposed on Tuesday could face up to three years in jail, a fine of 60,000 baht ($1,800) and destruction of the book.

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 86, is protected by tough royal defamation rules under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Marshall's book, which explores Thailand's turbulent political landscape including the taboo issue of royal succession, has been banned under the printing act rather than lese majeste legislation -- seemingly widening the legal net to prevent debate about the monarchy.

Critics say the law, section 112 of the Thai criminal code, as well as the 2007 Computer Crimes Act, stifles free speech and is used to silence political opponents.

Since grabbing power in May, junta leader and now premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha has repeatedly vowed to crack down on anyone who insults the monarchy.

- 'Ridiculous' -

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run Thailand when the more than six-decade reign of the ailing king, currently in hospital after a gallbladder operation, eventually ends.

Discussion on succession is restricted in Thailand under the lese majeste law and authorities have previously banned other books deemed critical of the royals including an unauthorised biography of the king, "The King Never Smiles", by Paul Handley.

Phnom Penh-based Marshall told AFP it was "ridiculous" that Thailand was banning a book in the 21st Century.

"Restrictions on freedom of speech in Thailand can only worsen the country's political conflict. What Thailand needs is debate and discussion, not censorship and repression," he said.

The May coup was the latest chapter in a long-running political conflict that broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite, backed by parts of the military and judiciary, against rural and working-class voters loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin, the older brother of ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, was toppled in a previous coup in 2006 and lives in self-exile to avoid prison for a corruption conviction. Parties led by or allied to the telecoms magnate-turned politician have won every Thai election since 2001.

In September, rights group Amnesty International said there had been an "unprecedented" number of people charged with insulting the monarchy since the coup, echoing concerns raised by the United Nations.

Last week a 24-year-old student was jailed for two-and-a-half years for defaming the monarchy, after pleading guilty to posting an insulting Facebook message under a.....

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Banning books is nothing new. For example, Anna and the King of Siam has been banned for decades along with the musical and movies (The King and I) that are based on it.

The important thing is this other part:

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run Thailand when the more than six-decade reign of the ailing king, currently in hospital after a gallbladder operation, eventually ends.

This event has the potential to go very pear-shaped but few people, including ex-pats living there, seem to be willing to even acknowledge it. They seem to think that stocking up on beer and staying indoors will be a viable option.

Of course, there is also likely that there will also be a negative effect on the rest of ASEAN and the supposedly up-coming AEC. So, whether you live in Thailand or not, this is the big story you should be paying attention to, as things will certainly get worse.

sigmoid wrote:Banning books is nothing new. For example, Anna and the King of Siam has been banned for decades along with the musical and movies (The King and I) that are based on it.

The important thing is this other part:

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run Thailand when the more than six-decade reign of the ailing king, currently in hospital after a gallbladder operation, eventually ends.

This event has the potential to go very pear-shaped but few people, including ex-pats living there, seem to be willing to even acknowledge it. They seem to think that stocking up on beer and staying indoors will be a viable option.

Of course, there is also likely that there will also be a negative effect on the rest of ASEAN and the supposedly up-coming AEC. So, whether you live in Thailand or not, this is the big story you should be paying attention to, as things will certainly get worse.

If you decide not to leave Thailand then stocking up on beer and staying indoors sounds sensible. What else would you suggest ?
(And please don't say "move to Cambodia" )

sigmoid wrote:Banning books is nothing new. For example, Anna and the King of Siam has been banned for decades along with the musical and movies (The King and I) that are based on it.

The important thing is this other part:

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run Thailand when the more than six-decade reign of the ailing king, currently in hospital after a gallbladder operation, eventually ends.

This event has the potential to go very pear-shaped but few people, including ex-pats living there, seem to be willing to even acknowledge it. They seem to think that stocking up on beer and staying indoors will be a viable option.

i take it you do not live here?
cause this is total bullshit. All of us expats that live here are aware of what is going on alot more than those that do not live here

PS: i dont drink beer

Move to Cambodia.

[quote="phuketrichard
i take it you do not live here?
cause this is total bullshit. All of us expats that live here are aware of what is going on alot more than those that do not live here

PS: i dont drink beer[/quote]

That is a very sweeping generalisation in itself Richard ... I suspect that "all of [you] expats" is a very small percentage.

Considering a video of the author talking with the PP Post would never be allowed to be referenced in LOS, it is also now banished from other Thai forums for fear of retribution, so this limits those that live there from hearing / reading / informing themselves.

It is therefore feasible that those outside Thailand are actually more informed than you beer stockpilers living there.

Link to the video is here and well worth a look

watched the video;
dont agree with some of his assessment an he knows nothing that most of us already dont know and some he has gotten wrong.( his ideas about the key reason for the problems is way off)
true Thaksin controls huge money, the prince controls nada, he has had to borrow money from Thaksin over the years an this is what worries people

Do u seriously think we live in a vacuum here?

phuketrichard wrote:watched the video;


Do u seriously think we live in a vacuum here?

Ummm ... you can handle the truth ???

Yes I do ... just as expats/migrants who live anywhere other than their country of birth don't tend to engage in domestic issues in their adopted location as a general rule.

And if I use the expats in Pattaya as an example then I am sure you would have to agree

kgbagent wrote:

phuketrichard wrote:Do u seriously think we live in a vacuum here?

Ummm ... you can handle the truth ???

kgbagent wrote: Yes I do ... just as expats/migrants who live anywhere other than their country of birth don't tend to engage in domestic issues in their adopted location as a general rule.

From my experience, foreign residents are very much clued-in to what is going on in their adopted countries. Local politics are probably the most popular point of discussion at any gathering. Any opinions are usually backed up by personal anecdotes, local friend's and colleague's reports as well as whatever is being said in the media.