Metropolitan Police sent a letter dated Jan 18, 2008, to the Rector of Thammasat University, seeking his cooperation to withhold sales of ‘A Coup for the Rich' by Giles Ungphakorn in the university's book centre. The police claim that ‘the book contains passages containing lèse majesté offences, and may lead the Thai people to misunderstand the King'.

On Jan 24, Thammasat Rector Prof Dr Surapon Nitikraipot countersigned the letter and ordered ‘the book centre to comply with the police request.'

‘A Coup for the Rich' was written by Assoc Prof Giles Ungpakorn of Chulalongkorn University's Political Science Faculty, criticizing the Sept 19 coup in 2006 with analyses of the monarchy's political role, civil sector politics, and the crisis in the deep south. It was also banned by the Chulalongkorn book centre last year. Over 900 copies of the book, however, have been sold since its release in January, 2007.

Giles said that banning academic books is an infringement of rights and freedom, and undemocratic. There had been many violations after the Sept 19 coup. However, the newly elected government does not carry much hope, as it is led by the very person who banned many books when he was Interior Minister after the Oct 6, 1976 massacre.

‘Banning academic books reflects the elite's fear that the people can access information, and can think for themselves through the lies they've been given. Academic issues and topics should be discussed in public. I myself always welcome others to make arguments against me.'

‘It can be concluded that the banning is an attempt by the government and the elite to conceal their ugliness from the people,' Giles said.

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