Man claims responsibility for removing 1932 Revolution plaque

Police officers have detained a man claiming to have removed the historical plaque commemorating the 1932 Revolution. He will be subject to a mental health check, according to the police.
 
On 25 April 2017, Wichan Phuwihan, a member of a group called People's Peaceful Revolution, visited the Secretariat of the Prime Minister’s Office and read a 27-page statement claiming that he was the one who removed the brass plaque commemorating the 1932 Democratic Revolution.    
 
Asked by the media where the plaque is, Wichan said that after removing the plaque, he put it where it was. He does not know where the plaque is right now. 
 
After Wichan read the statement, police officers tried to arrest him but he resisted by meditating. The authorities, therefore, had to lift him up and carry him away. He also asked the officers to hand his statement the junta head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
 
Pol Col Attawit Saisueb, Deputy Chief of Metropolitan Police Division One, told the media that anyone who claims responsibility for a crime has to undergo normal interrogation. But in this case, Wichan will be subject to a mental health check. The police have not yet pressed any charges against him.
 
On 26 July 2016, Wichan also underwent a psychological examination after the police arrested him for shouting at people not to turn up for the 7 August national referendum on the draft constitution. However, the doctor concluded that Wichan has no mental disorder. The police then detained him on suspicion of causing instability and violating the controversial Public Referendum Act.    
 
The brass plaque at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok commemorating the 1932 Revolution reportedly went missing before 14 April. It was installed by the first political party of the nation, the People’s Party (Khana Ratsadon), who staged the bloodless coup d’état on 24 June 1932 that ended the Chakri Dynasty’s 150 years of absolutist rule.
 
The message written on the old plaque read, “At this spot at dawn on 24 June 1932, the People’s Party gave birth to the constitution for national prosperity.”
 
The old plaque was replaced with another etched with the message, “May Siam prosper forever [with] happy fresh-faced citizens as the force of the nation”. The rim reads, “Respect and loyalty to the Buddhist Triple Gems and to one’s family clan, and honesty towards one’s King are tools for making the state prosper.” 
 
 
Wichan meditates to resist arrest (Photo from Chanikant Kengnok’s Facebook page)

 

Since 2007, Prachatai English has been covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite the risk and pressure from the law and the authorities. However, with only 2 full-time reporters and increasing annual operating costs, keeping our work going is a challenge. Your support will ensure we stay a professional media source and be able to expand our team to meet the challenges and deliver timely and in-depth reporting.

• Simple steps to support Prachatai English

1. Bank transfer to account “โครงการหนังสือพิมพ์อินเทอร์เน็ต ประชาไท” or “Prachatai Online Newspaper” 091-0-21689-4, Krungthai Bank

2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”