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Thai distributor bans Economist over king article
AFP - 2 hours 8 minutes ago
BANGKOK (AFP) - - The Thai distributor of The Economist said Tuesday it had banned this week's edition of the magazine because it contained a story that was critical of the country's widely revered king.
Asia Books said it had taken the decision because the article, which discussed the alleged role in politics of the 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, "risks insulting the monarchy."
Thailand has the strictest lese majeste law in the world, under which anyone who insults the mainly Buddhist nation's king or the royal family faces a jail term of up to 15 years.
"We received excerpts of the magazine beforehand and we considered that it's sensitive and not appropriate, and also risks insulting the monarchy. So we decided not to import that edition," an Asia Books staff member said.
Thai police said the importer had agreed to a self-imposed ban on the story -- an article which the magazine itself admitted would make many Thais "squirm" because of its stance on the monarchy.
"Police have talked to importers and distributors who agreed not to import the issue of December 6-10 because an article in the magazine criticised the monarchy," said Lieutenant General Thiradet Rodphothong, commander of Special Branch Police.
"Therefore the police do not have to officially ban the magazine," he said.
The royal family's role in politics has been a touchy subject in recent months because of street protests by an anti-government group claiming loyalty to the monarchy.
The protesters occupied Bangkok's airports between November 25 and December 3, only giving up when a court banned the prime minister from politics and outlawed the ruling party.
King Bhumibol has not commented on the political crisis and was unable to make his traditional birthday eve address to the nation last Thursday because he was "mildly ill", according to his son.
During his 62-year reign, the king has cultivated an image as a constitutional monarch above political tussles, only wading in during the 1970s and in 1992, when he ordered military dictatorships to end bloody crackdowns.
Thailand made headlines around the world last year when it blocked the popular video-sharing website YouTube after clips mocking the king started appearing.
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