Thailand: Protesters’ new democracy plaque removed overnight

  • The new plaque symbolising democracy that was installed on 20 Sep 20 by protesters of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration at Sanam Luang has been removed overnight.
  • “I’ve received a report that the plaque is gone but I don’t know how and I don’t know who did it,” Bangkok’s Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Piya Tawichai told Reuters.
  • “Police are checking with the BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) and checking who took it out as the plaque is part of the evidence to charge the protest group (for this wrongdoing),” Pol Maj Gen Piya said.
  • The plaque was intended to replace an old one commemorating Siam’s transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional democracy in 1932. The old plaque mysteriously disappeared in 2017and was replaced by one bearing a pro-monarchist slogan.
  • The plaque was embedded in cement at Sanam Luang in a ceremony led by protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak at 6.39am on 20 Sep 20 to mark “a new era of the people’s power” and declare “Thailand belongs to the people.”

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1989039/new-democracy-plaque-installed-by-protesters-removed

21-Sep-2020