Same Sky Books

Same Sky Books, also known by its Thai name Fah Diew Kan Publishing House, is a Thai-language publishing house associated with political activism, criticism of Thai politics, and analysis of Thai society. Its best-known publication was Same Sky, a quarterly journal that provided a platform for political writing and debate. The journal was published from 2003 until May 2022, when the publisher announced that the 56th issue would be its final edition because of difficulties obtaining sufficient articles. The announcement clarified that the end of the periodical did not mean the closure of the publishing house: Same Sky Books intended to continue releasing non-periodical books and other new titles. The publisher became especially prominent because of its relationship with contentious subjects in Thailand, including the role of the monarchy, political authority, state power, censorship, and freedom of expression. Its 2006 issue examining monarchy and Thai society became widely known as the “Coke cover” issue. Authorities ordered the issue banned and seized, describing its contents as contrary to public order or good morals without identifying a particular article as the legal basis. Same Sky Books challenged the action in court, arguing that publication was protected by constitutional freedom-of-expression guarantees. Despite the seizure order, the publisher subsequently issued an additional 6,000 copies, turning the episode into a notable example of its confrontational editorial stance. The publisher and its editor-owner Thanapol Eawsakul have also faced allegations and official actions connected with Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws and broader national-security concerns. In April 2006, Thanapol was accused of lèse-majesté by police in connection with the disputed journal issue. In 2008, the publisher’s website became inaccessible amid allegations that it contained lèse-majesté material. Thailand’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology denied direct involvement but acknowledged that the site had been closely monitored because of content characterized as violent during a period of national mourning following the death of Princess Galyani Vadhana. The publisher remained connected to political contestation during the 2020 protest movement. Police visited its premises in October 2020 and seized copies of publications. In January 2022, police obtained a search warrant for the publishing house, and Thanapol’s computer and mobile devices were taken. Later, in June 2022, Technology Crime Suppression Division officers arrested him on an allegation involving possession of a confidential government document said to threaten national security. He was released on bail later that day, with the bail supported by parliamentarian Rangsiman Rome. Thanapol said he did not know what document was alleged to fall within the accusation. Same Sky Books therefore occupies a distinctive place in Thailand’s publishing landscape. It is not primarily defined by mass-market retail distribution or commercial entertainment publishing, but by politically engaged books, journals, and articles that address subjects often subject to official pressure. The cessation of Same Sky as a quarterly publication reduced one recurring outlet, but the publisher’s continuing non-periodical program means that its broader publishing identity remains active. Publicly available information does not establish a precise founding date, corporate ownership structure, headquarters, financial scale, or a complete catalogue of its books.

Same Sky Books is a Thai-language publishing house whose public identity developed around politically engaged publishing and criticism of Thai politics and society. Its Thai name is Fah Diew Kan Publishing House. The publisher’s principal periodical was Same Sky, a quarterly journal first issued in 2003. Across its run, the journal addressed politically sensitive questions and became associated with debate over the monarchy, state authority, social structures, and freedom of expression in Thailand. The publisher’s most prominent early controversy concerned a 2006 issue titled Monarchy and Thai Society, widely referred to as the “Coke cover” issue. Police authorities ordered the issue banned and seized it, stating that it was contrary to public order or the good morals of Thai citizens. The authorities did not publicly specify which article constituted the violation. Same Sky Books appealed, maintaining that the publication was protected by constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech. The publisher later defied the order by producing a further 6,000 copies. Thanapol Eawsakul, identified with the publisher as its owner and editor, was accused of lèse-majesté by police on 1 April 2006. Pressure continued in the following years. In 2008, the publishing house’s website became inaccessible amid accusations that it contained lèse-majesté material. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology denied that it had directly caused the inaccessibility, although it said the website had been closely watched because of allegedly violent content during a period of mourning after the death of Galyani Vadhana. The episode reinforced the publisher’s association with contested political speech and official monitoring. Same Sky Books remained visible during the political protests that spread across Thailand in 2020. Police visited the publisher’s premises in October and seized some copies. In January 2022, officers searched the publishing house under warrant and confiscated Thanapol’s computer and mobile devices. In late June of the same year, Technology Crime Suppression Division police arrested Thanapol over an allegation that he possessed a confidential government document posing a threat to national security. He was bailed out a few hours later, with Member of Parliament Rangsiman Rome supporting the bail. Thanapol said he was unaware of what confidential document the authorities believed he possessed. In May 2022, Same Sky Books announced the end of the Same Sky quarterly journal. The 56th issue was the final edition, and the publisher attributed the decision to a shortage of articles. The announcement distinguished the periodical from the publishing house as a whole: non-periodical books and other new publications were still expected to appear. Thus, the end of the journal marked the conclusion of a significant publishing series rather than a confirmed shutdown of Same Sky Books. Available reference material does not establish a precise founding year, the publisher’s formal corporate structure, its headquarters, financial information, or a complete list of publications. Its documented significance rests primarily on its political publishing program, the Same Sky journal, and repeated encounters with censorship, surveillance, searches, seizures, and criminal allegations connected to Thailand’s regulation of politically sensitive speech.

• 2022

  Same Sky journal concludes with issue 56

  [1]Same Sky Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The quarterly periodical ends because of difficulties obtaining articles, while the publisher says other books will continue.

• 2020

  Police seize publications during protest period

  [1]Same Sky Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Police visit the publishing house and take some copies of its publications amid widespread protests.

• 2008

  Publisher website becomes inaccessible

  [1]Same Sky Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The website becomes inaccessible amid allegations involving lèse-majesté content and official monitoring.

• 2006

  Monarchy and Thai Society issue seized

  [1]Same Sky Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Authorities ban and seize the issue commonly known as the “Coke cover.” The publisher challenges the action and prints additional copies.

• 2003

  Same Sky quarterly journal begins publication

  [1]Same Sky Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Same Sky Books begins publishing Same Sky, a Thai-language quarterly journal focused on political and social issues.

An independent Thai-language publisher positioned around political activism, critical social analysis, and debate about Thai political institutions and society.

• Quarterly political and social journal · 2003

  Same Sky

  A Thai-language quarterly journal published from 2003 through its 56th and final issue in 2022. It was associated with political activism, criticism of Thai politics, and discussion of society and political institutions. Its end did not represent the stated closure of Same Sky Books as a publisher.

• Political analysis issue · 2006

  Monarchy and Thai Society

  A Same Sky issue examining the relationship between the monarchy and Thai society. The issue became known as the “Coke cover” edition and was banned and seized by authorities in 2006. Same Sky Books later printed additional copies in defiance of the seizure order.

• Books and political writing

  Non-periodical books and articles

  The publisher’s continuing output outside the Same Sky journal consists of Thai-language books, articles, and other publications dealing with politics, society, activism, and criticism. The available reference material does not provide a complete catalogue or standardized product-line names.

• 2022

  Search, device seizure, and arrest of Thanapol Eawsakul

  Police searched the publishing house, seized Thanapol’s electronic devices, and later arrested him over an allegation involving a confidential government document and national security. He was subsequently released on bail.

  Source

• 2020

  Police seizure of publications during protests

  Police visited the publisher during the 2020 protest period and seized copies of publications.

  Source

• 2008

  Website inaccessibility and alleged lèse-majesté content

  The publisher’s website became inaccessible amid allegations concerning lèse-majesté content and statements that the site had been monitored by authorities.

  Source

• 2006

  Censorship of the “Coke cover” issue

  Authorities banned and seized Same Sky’s issue on monarchy and Thai society, while Thanapol Eawsakul faced a lèse-majesté accusation connected with the publication.

  Source

Read more

• 2022

  End the Same Sky quarterly journalStrategy

  Background

  The publisher reported difficulty obtaining enough articles for the periodical.

  Action taken

  Same Sky Books ended the journal with issue 56 while stating that non-periodical publications would continue.

  Aftermath

  The journal ceased publication in May 2022, but the publisher’s broader non-periodical publishing activity was not announced as closed.

  Source

1. 1Same Sky Booksen.wikipedia.org