BANGKOK: The Economist magazine said Friday that it would not publish this week's issue in Thailand because of an article regarding the sensitive subject of the revered monarch's succession.

Matters surrounding King Bhumibol Adulyadej -- the world's longest reigning monarch, who is currently in hospital -- are delicate as the royal family is protected by a tough lese majeste law, punishable by up to 15 years in jail.

"Due to the sensitive nature of our coverage on the Thai monarchy, we decided not to distribute the March 20, 2010 issue of The Economist in Thailand," said an email to subscribers.

A spokeswoman for the magazine in London confirmed it was the publication's decision not to come out in Thailand this week.

It is the fourth time since December 2008 that the magazine has not been distributed in Thailand, owing to sensitive articles relating to the country's royal or political matters.

The latest story in question discussed the matter of royal succession in light of mass protests in Bangkok since Sunday which have drawn more than 100,000 anti-government protesters to the capital.

"The Economist have notified us today that they will not send the latest issue to us," said a staff member at Asia Books, the sole distributor for the magazine in Thailand.

King Bhumibol is regarded as a demi-god by many Thais, and seen as the only stabilising force in a country that has been rocked by four years of rival political protests.

Late in February the 82-year-old returned to hospital after a brief outing to his Bangkok palace, one of his few appearances in public since being admitted on September 19 with a lung infection and fever.

Critics of the lese majeste law say it is being used for political ends amid a growing crackdown on alleged violators.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has set up a new advisory board on the law, said in a speech in January that the country would be better off if it stopped relying on the king to intervene in times of difficulty.