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Drop hunt for plaque, junta tells activists


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Drop hunt for plaque, junta tells activists
By WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

 

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A woman who identified herself as Nattaa Mahattana says she intends to find out what happened regarding the mysterious replacement of a plaque marking the 1932 Siamese Revolution, which was embedded at the Royal Plaza.

 

BMA cameras were out of action when historic marker may have gone missing; police refuse to investigate the case

 

BANGKOK: -- THE JUNTA yesterday urged pro-democracy activists to end their mission to find the historic plaque that disappeared from the Royal Plaza days ago, asking them to cooperate in the interests of national reconciliation. 

 

“Now the country is moving forward as the new Constitution has already come into force. Things that could create chaos and disorder in the Kingdom should be stopped. We ask for cooperation from all factions in the interest of reconciliation,” junta spokesman Piyaphong Klinphan said.

 

The Pandora’s box was opened last week when people shared on social media that the 1932 revolution plaque was replaced by a new one, with different wordings that did not refer to the historic event. 

 

A group of activists and students yesterday filed a complaint with police at Dusit Police Station over the missing plaque and later asked the Bangkok Metropolitan Administra-tion (BMA) to scour footage of surveillance cameras in the area. 

 

All 11 cameras installed on traffic light poles in front of the Royal Plaza had been removed for maintenance on March 31, secretary to the Bangkok governor, Yutthapan Meechai, said.

 

Apisit Sapnapapan, an activist who launched a campaign to find the original plaque, suspected the historic marker might have been replaced some time between April 2 to April 8 based on oral and photo evidence.

 

If no footage of that period is available, Apisit doubted whether his campaign would be successful.

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The disappearance of the plaque ignited a big dispute in Thailand between pro-democracy citizens and the state authority and royalists.

 

The plaque was fixed on the grounds of the Royal Plaza in 1936 on the spot where People’s Party leader Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena stood to announce the end of absolute monarchy, paving the way for a constitutional monarchy.

 

While the activists wanted the authority to conduct an investigation to find the missing plaque and prosecute those who had replaced it, police and government officials argued that they did not own it, and the plaque had no historic value to necessitate an investigation or prosecution.

 

The Fine Arts Department said on its Facebook page that the missing plaque does not qualify as an antique as defined by the Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums Act as the plaque merely marked a spot where a revolutionary declaration was made.

 

Royal Thai Police refused to accept the case, saying there was no legal grounds to prosecute anybody, although Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said all citizens had the right to file a complaint over the missing historic plaque and ask police to conduct an investigation.

 

According to criminal procedure, a victim or sufferer could lodge a complaint with police for any loss of personal property while any “good citizen” could file a complaint for the loss of public property, said Wissanu, who is a legal expert. 

 

Deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said the legal meaning of the two technical terms – complaint and accusation – are different. Anybody could seek a police investigation into an accusation when there are some grounds to a case, but only the victim could file a complaint with police and ask for charges against somebody who had caused the suffering, he said. 

 

Since no state agency had claimed ownership of the plaque, the police could not proceed with the case in accordance with the law, he said. 

 

Activists argued that the plaque was built and installed more than 80 years ago and had been recognised by successive governments, therefore it was deemed to be an historic object and a national treasure. There is no reason for police to reject the case. 

 

Before Apisit’s group, student activists and an heir to a member of the People’s Party, known in Thai as Khana Ratsadorn, had also filed a similar complaint on Sunday to consider the disappearance as a theft.

 

“Still, we hope that our actions would encourage society and the media to continue with this fact-finding mission,” Nattaa Mahattana, another activist, said. “To keep filing complaints with the police is one way to make them look into the case. Also, I wish all officers would be honest in performing their duties.”

 

Far from taking up the case, government agencies warned of legal action against any movement or any comments over the plaque’s disappearance.

 

Police said they would file a complaint against former Pheu Thai MP, Watana Muangsook, for computer crime over his recent posts about the missing plaque, Srivara said yesterday.

 

Srivara said Watana’s posts could be misleading, as they urged the public to step out and help reclaim the plaque. He said this could also be deemed an attempt to instigate unrest, equivalent to sedition.

 

Activist Srisuwan Janya vowed to continue his campaign to seek an investigation into the disappearance of the historic plaque after being detained for 12 hours by the military.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30312745

 
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-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-20
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Return to your homes. Nothing to see here as nothing has happened. :ph34r::ph34r::ph34r:

No one's claimed it. no one owns it. no one's seen it. It's not historical. It was never there at all....article 44...it was never there at all.

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If the rhetoric is to not stir trouble, shouldn't they be looking for the people who stole the plaque? Stealing the plaque is causing all this trouble.  Not the people looking for it. Isn't stirring trouble a massive offence here? I'd be after the people who stole it and come down hard on them. They're causing unrest and that's the most serious crime in Thailand at the moment. 

 

Easiest thing would be to melt down the new one and remake it into the old one. That would go some way to appeasing all these upset people for the time being while you look for the people who took the original. 

Edited by rkidlad
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Making international news now.  Was on ABC Australia this morning saying tensions rising over authorities refusing to investigate and people being ordered by government not to speak of the plaque.

 

I notice a lot of foreign media stories about this have been blocked in Thailand.  Why does this plaque scare the junta so much?

Edited by Thechook
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With the newly 'updated' Computer Crimes Act it is relatively easy for the "authorities" to prosecute anyone even posting a picture of the old plaque on-line for "computer crimes".

 

The Regime seems ultra-defensive these days, and still focused on prosecuting the messenger rather than the criminal. Ah the beauty of rule-by-law.

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 Police said they would file a complaint against former Pheu Thai MP, Watana Muangsook, for computer crime over his recent posts about the missing plaque, Srivara said yesterday.

 

Srivara said Watana’s posts could be misleading, as they urged the public to step out and help reclaim the plaque. He said this could also be deemed an attempt to instigate unrest, equivalent to sedition.

 

So they won't investigate the disappearance of the plaque but are prepared to charge people who speak about it.

 

Keep poking the hornets nest.

Edited by Thechook
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It seems readily apparent that the Government took it, thinking no one would notice. They clearly want the new constitution to be the only one people refer to.

They have been caught and are being aggressive on the matter to try and make it go away. I suspect however, it will not.

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

THE JUNTA yesterday urged pro-democracy activists to end their mission to find the historic plaque that disappeared from the Royal Plaza days ago, asking them to cooperate in the interests of national reconciliation.

Sadly, they do not understand that this is in the interest of reconciliation.  That is why it is likely never to happen under the junta or their puppets. 

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Hmmm... so the historical set-in-concrete-since-1936 plaque was "stolen"?  Geez, it couldn't have been simply replaced under direct orders from Elmer Fudd Jong-un Jr. because of its anti-absolute-monarchy symbolism/message, could it?  Methinks the protestors will all be rounded up shortly for a little "attitude adjustment".  Problem solved.

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

Things that could create chaos and disorder in the Kingdom should be stopped

 

That's rich.

 

Did they really think that the population is stupid and no one would notice the new plaque sitting in fresh new cement? Of course the people of Thailand have a right to ask and to know what happened.

 

Removing it and the subsequent whitewashing was the first event that could create chaos and disorder.

 

Telling people to stop - with no reasonable explanation is just going to be "Streisand effect" and make them want to push the issue to know even more.

 

It scares me - this could blow up into a massive problem for the kingdom. Perhaps an event like the original plaque commemorates.

Edited by bino
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2 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

clear message

the people are not the beneficiaries of a nation

just slaves

what's new? it's the same the world over, in boom years you are made to work all the overtime God sends,in a turn down you are unemployed, in a war you are sent 'over the top' to defend 'your' country.

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"BMA cameras were out of action when historic marker may have gone missing..."  Pure coincidence, I am sure.

Perhaps police could arrest themselves, as their response (or lack thereof) is inciting unrest.

In a related story, the Statue of Liberty has gone missing. Unconfirmed reports indicate she was seen walking across the Atlantic towards original owner, France. Some say they heard her mutter "My work here is done...."

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7 minutes ago, hansnl said:

I am afraid this might become a problem for Thailand.

They could put the whole thing to bed if they just showed some honesty and respect for the citizens.  Just say yes we replaced it and this is the reason why.  Ordering people to shut up and threatening them with arrest if they speak of it doesn't help.  What happened to the road map of reconcilliation and restoring happiness to the people.  Who's reading the map?

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4 hours ago, webfact said:

Things that could create chaos and disorder in the Kingdom should be stopped. We ask for cooperation from all factions in the interest of reconciliation

It is quite clear by the combined, coordinated reaction of Police, BMA, Fine Arts Dept., Government and the convenient removal of cameras that the replacement of the plaque was sanctioned. Further, it is evident that whoever removed the plaque knew in advance about what kind of reaction this would create. Therefore, i.m.o., that group wanted to achieve this kind of reaction... Why? option 1: they are stooopid. option 2: a few more similar incidents will give the junta a quasi-legit standing to postpone elections because of "disorder in the kingdom", no matter if they instigated it.

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It seems that democratic memorials are being obliterated nation-wide. Things that make you go "Hmmmm".

 

Historic Constitution Monument Torn Down In Buriram

 

Constitution Monument Pushed Aside for Rail Line

 

 

Some more  interesting stories in Khaosod English news.

 

Why Was the 1932 Revolution Plaque So Important?

 

Why is Popular Culture Afraid of the 1932 Revolution?

 

Tiny, Faded Marker Looms Large Over Thailand’s Democracy Debate

 

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4 hours ago, webfact said:

“Now the country is moving forward as the new Constitution has already come into force. Things that could create chaos and disorder in the Kingdom should be stopped.

You mean things like removing antique plaques?

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