Thailand bans Routledge handbook citing national security concerns

Thailand's authorities have moved to ban the latest edition of a major academic handbook on the country, citing national security as justification for the prohibition. The restricted publication is the second edition of the 'Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand,' a comprehensive reference work published by the international academic publisher Routledge.

The handbook was edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thailand-based scholar currently based in Japan who has established a public profile as a critic of Thailand's monarchy and political system. Chachavalpongpun has previously faced scrutiny from Thai authorities and has been vocal in international forums regarding governance and institutional issues in Thailand.

The ban marks another instance of content restriction in Thailand, a country that maintains strict laws protecting the monarchy and national security. Academic and publishing circles have expressed concern about the implications of such prohibitions on scholarly discourse and access to information.

Routledge, owned by Taylor & Francis Group, has not immediately commented on the ban. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Thailand's regulatory environment and international academic publishing standards.