Thai cops 'baffled' over missing plaque

[webfact]

Cops 'baffled' over missing plaque
By The Nation

 

 

Srivara says he has ‘no idea whom to chase’ or even if a crime was committed by the removal

 

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY NATIONAL police chief Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul admitted yesterday that he had no idea how to proceed with the case involving the mysterious removal of a plaque marking a 1932 revolution that ended absolute monarchy.

 

Srivara said he believed that the plaque – which marked Thailand’s shift to a constitutional monarchy – was a personal inheritance, and legally speaking only its owners or their heirs could file a complaint to police to kick-start an investigation.

 

However, if the complainant was a true heir of the plaque owners, he wondered why they left the plaque in the Royal Plaza area.

“Whether or not this [placing the plaque in the plaza] is forbidden, whether or not this is illegal, I don’t know,” said Srivara. “And you ask for the case to be proceeded. I have no idea whom to chase or even who owns it. We don’t know yet.”

 

Police confirmed yesterday that they have not proceeded with the case and have only taken a note of the incident.

 

Parit Ratanakulserirengrit, a nephew of Luang Seriruangrit, lodged a complaint and notified police that the plaque went missing on Sunday. 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. 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,” Parit said.

 

“I want to know how it went missing and where it is now. The plaque does not belong to any particular individual, but to all Thai people.”

 

Parit said he was told by Police Captain Mo Rana, who took the complaint, that since the plaque was deemed state property, he would report the matter to his superior for it to be investigated.

 

In the first speech made by Phraya Phahol Phonphayuhasena, in his capacity as the first Prime Minister, he instructed the Interior Ministry to produce the plaque, before it was fixed on the ground of the Royal Plaza, where he read out the speech to end the absolute monarchy regime.

 

The inscription on the plaque reads: “At dawn on June 24, 1932, the People’s Party on this spot gave birth to the constitution for national prosperity.”

 

The plaque was called the Constitution Plaque.

 

It has been replaced by a plaque, which 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.”

 

Some student activists and academics, meanwhile, have invited the public to help reclaim the missing plaque.

 

They plan to meet in front of Dusit Police Station at 9am tomorrow, file a complaint to the police, revisit the site around the Royal Plaza, and go to City Hall to request CCTV footage for the end of last week.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30312537

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-18

[PatOngo]

DEPUTY NATIONAL police chief Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul admitted yesterday that he had no idea how to proceed with the case.

 

To all you doubters, there ARE some honest cops!

[tracker1]

If it was just stolen I could understand but someone replacing it with another well thats different !

[starky]

Cops "baffled" in other news sky remains blue and water is still wet.

[Nigeone]

How many committees will it take to reach any conclusions in this 'crime' .

A Thai cop confused , now there's a thing ..who would have thought !!! 

[jerojero]

Pretty damn obvious the police don't want to get anywhere involved.... because we all know who swapped out the plaque.

[Moonmoon]

Cops 'baffled' over missing plaque - Why am I not baffled... 
 

[jonclark]

Guess there is no CCTV footage available from the myriad of cameras in that area then. 

[Thechook]

I would guess the powers that be have sent a very clear warning to the police, walk away or else.  Article 44 can crush you and your families.

[YetAnother]

so just replace it with a copy of the original

[Thechook]

Just curious can this Deputy Chief now be arrested for tarnishing the reputation of the force and publically displaying thier incompetence by saying he hasn't a clue how to start an investigation?  

[RichardColeman]

Give you a clue - scrap metal !

[starky]

2 hours ago, Moonmoon said:

Cops 'baffled' over missing plaque - Why am I not baffled... 
 

Not a cop? 

[PatOngo]

33 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Just curious can this Deputy Chief now be arrested for tarnishing the reputation of the force and publically displaying thier incompetence by saying he hasn't a clue how to start an investigation?  

More likely rewarded for giving the correct response.

[Loaded]

1 hour ago, jonclark said:

Guess there is no CCTV footage available from the myriad of cameras in that area then. 

There's a photo on FB of a blue/green tent placed above that area on the night of the 'swap'. It was in full view of the authorities. It was allowed to happen. jerojero's post should give enough of a hint as to who is believed to be behind this.

[YetAnother]

thai cops 'baffled'; what a shocker

[jaltsc]

 "DEPUTY NATIONAL police chief Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul admitted yesterday that he had no idea how to proceed with the case..."

 

That's because  every solution to a problem is the same here. Utilize the same actions that don't work. Just put more effort into them. Sitting down, brainstorming, and creating a different approach based on the facts and desired outcomes is something that is not taught in the education system here. Following orders is the modus operandi. However, if the person giving those orders is incompetent, the result is the blind leading the blind. Sound familiar?

Edited April 18, 2017 by jaltsc

[mtls2005]

Srivara says he has ‘no idea whom to chase’ or even if a crime was committed by the removal
 

 

But if someone from the "wrong" side removes the new plaque that would be a crime, I'm certain.

 

It was removed once before, under the rule of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, but was retained and then put back.

 

Amazing that a small plaque is viewed as a "threat" to the powers-that-be; if "their" "rule" is so fragile as to be threatened by a plaque then they clearly know they are on the wrong side of progress.

 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2017 by mtls2005

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Police confirmed yesterday that they have not proceeded with the case and have only taken a note of the incident.

Nothing new there, then. 

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

However, if the complainant was a true heir of the plaque owners, he wondered why they left the plaque in the Royal Plaza area.

“Whether or not this [placing the plaque in the plaza] is forbidden, whether or not this is illegal, I don’t know,” said Srivara. “And you ask for the case to be proceeded. I have no idea whom to chase or even who owns it. We don’t know yet.”

Somebody needs History lessons. 

 

Or a better excuse writer. 

 

That one is up there with, "the dog ate my homework". 

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, tracker1 said:

If it was just stolen I could understand but someone replacing it with another well thats different !

Yes. 

 

Considering the change in content, tone and intent from the original, this crime is much worse than mere theft. 

[Eric Loh]

It seem that the rightest nuts were emboldened with recent events and confident that the military will dominate the next 20 years with the highly skewed charter and following the German 'MMA" election system. They now act without fear to erase any references of the 1932 events. This is only the beginning and I see more to follow of similar actions. Following the German election system help the rise of Hilter. Junta posters should be happy with this.

[TKDfella]

2 hours ago, Thechook said:

I would guess the powers that be have sent a very clear warning to the police, walk away or else.  Article 44 can crush you and your families.

Yes, I read this morning that police have '...refused...' to investigate.

[harada]

My guess is that no one wants a bar of this from fear of suddenly becoming suicidal or contracting a rare blood disorder, followed by a quick cremation. 

[Smarter Than You]

There seems to be very little interest shown by the general public in the vandalism of a significant piece of Thai history, sort of explains why there has been so many coups..........apathy.

[pogal]

"Srivara says he has ‘no idea whom to chase’ or even if a crime was committed by the removal"

So..... "if" "Someone" went down there tonight and removed this new one..... no crime? ..... ok :) 

[AGareth2]

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

so just replace it with a copy of the original

not sure you are getting the point of the switch

[mok199]

i see it on ebay,bidding starts at 299 bt..

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, Smarter Than You said:

There seems to be very little interest shown by the general public in the vandalism of a significant piece of Thai history, sort of explains why there has been so many coups..........apathy.

More due to fear that lock up people for the slightest of protest or expression. You should know by now that Thailand is a police state with harsh laws against freedom of speech and expression. 

[robblok]

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Somebody needs History lessons. 

 

Or a better excuse writer. 

 

That one is up there with, "the dog ate my homework". 

Yes clearly an excuse not to do his job... incompetence.. or like an other poster said warned not to investigate.

 

Big shame.