''Same Sky Books'' ( th, สำนักพิมพ์ฟ้าเดียวกัน; ) is a Thai language publishing house focusing on

political activism Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

and criticism of politics and society of Thailand. It published ''Same Sky'' ( th, ฟ้าเดียวกัน; ), a quarterly journal from 2003 to 2022, in addition to other books and articles. The quarterly journal has seized publishing in May 2022 due to article shortages with the 56th issue being the final edition. The publishing house stated that only the periodical has terminated, whist other non-periodical new covers will continue to be released. The publishing house was accused of

Lèse-majesté Lèse-majesté () or lese-majesty () is an offence against the dignity of a ruling head of state (traditionally a monarch but now more often a president) or the state itself. The English name for this crime is a borrowing from the French, w ...

leading to its website being inaccessible in 2008. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology declined involvement. The ministry, however, stated that the site had been under a close watch due to "violent" contents that were in contrary to the national atmosphere filled with mourn of

Galyani Vadhana Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Naradhiwas ( th, กัลยาณิวัฒนา; ; 6 May 1923 – 2 January 2008) was a princess of Thailand and the elder sister of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). She w ...

's recent death.

Censorship

In 2006, the journal's "Monarchy and Thai Society" edition (or commonly known as the " Coke cover") was banned and seized following an order from then police general

Kowit Wattana Kowit Wattana ( th, โกวิท วัฒนะ; born 11 March 1947 in Phak Hai) is a Thai Police General and politician. From 2004 to 2007 he was the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police. In 2008, he was Minister of the Interior, a ...

. This was due to its content being "contrary to public order or good morals of Thai citizens." The authority never stated which article in specific violated the law. The publishing house appealed to the court claiming its freedom of speech being protected under the constitution. It later defied the order by publishing other 6,000 copies. Editor and owner Thanapol Eawsakul was accused of

by a police station on 1 April 2006. Thanapol told ''Prachatai'' that the police did not provide any information on which specific part of the issue was problematic. The publishing house was visited and some copies were seized by police officers in October 2020 following the widespread protests. In January 2022, the publication house received a search warrant by the police. The owner and chief editor Thanapol Eawsakul also had his computer and mobile devices seized following the search. In late June 2022, Thanapol was arrested by

Technology Crime Suppression Division Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, science, ...

police for "possessing a confidential document of the government; which poses a threat to the national security". A few hours later on the same day, he was bailed out by MP Rangsiman Rome using Rangsiman's political position. Thanapol stated that he had no idea what "national security-threatening confidential documents" he has possessed.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official site
Works about Thai politics Magazines published in Thailand Publishing companies of Thailand Defunct journals Quarterly journals 2003 establishments in Thailand