Case

Case name

Banned Book “A Kingdom in Crisis”

Lèse-majesté

Name of persons / Name of Media

“A Kingdom in Crisis”

Status of Accused

No information

Offense / order

Printing Act

Summary

The Royal Thai Police ordered to prohibit the ordering and the importing of a book "A Kingdom in Crisis" under the Printing Act. The police stated that content of the book was considered to be the defamation against the monarchy. Moreover, content of the book might also effect to national security, peace, and public moral.

Basic information

Background of accused

The book named “A Kingdom in Crisis” which written by Andrew MacGregor Mashall, former Reuters journalist and blogger.

This book was published in 2014 by Zed Book publisher, United Kingdom.

The content of this book contained Thailand's deep-rooted political conflict between yellow shirt and red shirt, It also mentioned about the monarchy.

Complainant / Plaintiff

The Royal Thai Police

Legal Claims

Offence against security, Lèse-majesté, Offence against public order and good morals

Form of restriction on freedom

Blocking / Ban
Type of media

Print media
Province

Bangkok
Arrest warrant

คำสั่งสำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ ที่ 609/2557

Details of offence according to charge

Content of a book “A Kingdom in Crisis” was deemed to defame, insult, or threaten against the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent.

Moreover, it might affect national security, peace, and public moral.

Progress of case

4 October 2014

South China Morning Post, an online newspaper, published a review of “A Kingdom in Crisis” written David Eimer

8 October 2014

The Independent, an online newspaper, published the review of “A Kingdom in Crisis” written by Andrew Buncombe’

11 November 2014

Pol. Gen. Somyod Poompanmuang signed an order of the Royal Thai Police to prohibit the ordering and the importing of a book “A Kingdom in Crisis” in to the Kingdom of Thailand. Offender can be sentence up to 3 years or fine up to 60,000 Baht, or both.

The book was baned from ordering and importing as its content deemed to defame, insult, or threaten against the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent.

The order was issued after two foreign news agaencies had published the reviews of the book. The reviews discussed about the political conflict in Thailand as well as mentioned about the monarchy.

12 November 2014

The Royal Thai Police order no. 609/2557 was published in the Royal Gazette.

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