Call for probe over swapping of Constitution plaque

[webfact]

Call for probe over swapping of Constitution plaque
By THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- THE HEIR of a People’s Party member and students yesterday lodged a complaint with police demanding an investigation into the missing historical plaque marking Thailand’s shift from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, claiming state agencies have ignored the case.

 

Parit Ratanakulserirengrit, a nephew of Luang Seriruangrit, went to Dusit Police Station yesterday afternoon to lodge a complaint and notify police the plaque is missing.

 

Seriruangrit was among 115 members of Khana Ratsadon (People’s Party) that staged the revolution to turn Thailand, then known as Siam, from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932. 

 

Some members of the party as well as their heirs and relatives are concerned over the missing plaque, which marked the change of the country’s government, Parit told reporters. 

 

“Many of them are senior and some of their heirs also served the country as military, police and other civil servants,” he said. “They might not be comfortable to say something about this. Therefore a younger-generation person like me has to come out to speak for them.

 

“I want to know how it went missing and where it is now.” 

 

As a junior classmate of former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Sathi Chulalongkorn School and Oxford University, Parit urged the ex-premier and leader of the Democrat Party to speak out about the case.

 

“The plaque does not belong to any particular individual but to all Thai people,” he said.

 

Three students from Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart and Ramkhamhaeng universities joined Parit in lodging the complaint with police. 

 

Police Captain Mo Rana took the complaint since the plaque was deemed state property and said he would report the matter to his superior for it to be investigated.

 

Historians and pro-democracy activists cried foul after the plaque, called “Mhud Khana Ratsadon” in Thai, was replaced by a new one, which makes no reference to the Siamese |revolution. 

 

The original plaque, which had been fixed on the grounds of Royal Plaza where the leader Phraya Phahol Phonphayuhasena read out the first statement to end the absolute monarchy regime, said: “At dawn on June 24, 1932, the People’s Party on this spot gave birth to the constitution for national prosperity.” It was also called the Constitution Plaque.

 

The new plaque, first observed missing on Friday, reads: “It is good to worship the Buddhist trinity, the state, one’s own family, and to be faithful to one’s monarch and allow oneself to be the engine that brings prosperity to the state.”

 

In a statement, the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights urged all relevant agencies and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the chief of National Legislative Assembly to prosecute those who switched the plaque.

 

“The change of the plaque showed disrespect to our ancestors who established democracy,” it said. 

 

The new plaque reflects nothing about the constitution and also |contradicts the basic principles |in the charter as it calls on Thais to worship only to the Buddhist trinity and thus discriminates against other religions, the group said.

 

Some royalists yesterday praised the removal of the Constitution Plaque, saying in social media posts that it was a symbol of half-baked political change in the Kingdom. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30312427

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-17

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“The change of the plaque showed disrespect to our ancestors who established democracy,” it said.

Quite .   People of notoriety have been rather silent over this, the good general for one.  He loves to talk.  Wonder why he is so mum. 

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Some royalists yesterday praised the removal of the Constitution Plaque, saying in social media posts that it was a symbol of half-baked political change in the Kingdom. 

This is a half-baked comment on the above statement: if the shoe fits, take it off

[Charlie1]

There is no such thing as a Buddhist trinity. That's just the copy from an idea in Christianity. I am more and more convinced that Thais know nothing about Buddha at all.

[NCC1701A]

photo caption. cop on the right:

 

"Let me get this straight, you want us to find and arrest the people who replaced your plaque with one that says 'It is good to worship the Buddhist trinity, the state, one’s own family, and to be faithful to one’s monarch and allow oneself to be the engine that brings prosperity to the state?'

 

OK. No problem. We will call you if we get any leads."

Edited April 17, 2017 by NCC1701A

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“It is good to worship the Buddhist trinity

Muslims, Jews and Christians, please take notice of your new standing in Thai society.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

allow oneself to be the engine that brings prosperity to the state.

Wherein the State is not synonymous with The People.

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Quite .   People of notoriety have been rather silent over this, the good general for one.  He loves to talk.  Wonder why he is so mum. 

Cats got his tongue. I like the term ancestors who established democracy. Better check their graves for a roll over. I am constantly amazed how many Thai's really think that they live in a "democracy" Truly amazing. 

[jonclark]

It should be obvious to all that changing such and object in such a prominant geographical location is either a very very ballsy and brazen action by a small group of independent individuals. Or it was approved by someone very high up in the government. 

 

Designing, producing and installing said object clearly of the two options indicates state involement. And the silence from the state is very noticable. 

 

A historical rewrite as part of the reform process perhaps?

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, jonclark said:

And the silence from the state is very noticable. 

 

 

Deafening. 

[CantSpell]

1 hour ago, jonclark said:

 Or it was approved by someone very high up in the government. 

 

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