Democracy Monument
The Democracy Monument has an interesting history (see the
Wikipedia article)
Commissioned in 1939 to commemorate the June 1932
military coup and subsequent constitutional monarchy,
the monument has since been the site of many protests
in support of democracy in Thailand.
During our stay in Thailand, the military were in charge,
having deposed the elected rulers in a bloodless coup on
September 19th, 2006. We were there not long after
martial law was revoked earlier in January, 2007.
One night, watching CNN news, the story on Thailand
was censored, replaced by a "technical difficulties"
banner. Most Thais I talked to were not
happy with the military takeover, but neither had they
been happy with the corrupt government.
But everyone was happy for the King, celebrating his
60th year of rule, guiding Thailand safely through the
colonial and war years to prosperity. Thailand was one
of the few states in southeast Asia that was not a colony
of the west.
