Thailand has banned an academic textbook on the country, citing national security concerns.

The editor of the textbook has claimed that the ban is linked to chapters examining the monarchy and its role in Thai politics .

The second edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand , published in English in August, was edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic and outspoken critic of the monarchy who is based in Japan.

The revised edition includes discussions of the monarchy in the 21st century and the authorities’ use of Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, commonly known as the lese majeste law.

The book’s first edition, published in 2019, was not prohibited.

Mr Pavin told AFP that the latest edition was updated to “reflect changes in Thai politics” following the youth-led pro-democracy demonstrations of 2020, during which protesters made unprecedented demands for reforms to the monarchy and military.

An order signed by National Police Chief Samran Nualma and issued on Wednesday…