NEWSWEEK VS. THE ECONOMIST

Last week's Asia edition of Newsweek featured a story that, if it had appeared in The Economist, I feel sure would have caused the magazine some distribution issues.
With a dramatic cover and the headline 'How Thailand Blew It'. the story makes passing references to the political affiliations of the kingdom's highest institution. I've certainly seen The Economist withheld from distribution by its publishers for less innocuous reporting.
So does the fact Newsweek had no problems distributing this story in Thailand mean authorities are taking a more relaxed attitude to reporting from overseas, and does it mean the publishers of The Economist were too quick to withhold some previous issues from distribution in Thailand?