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Democracy Monument
Democracy Monument (Thai: อนุสาวรีย์ประชาธิปไตย) pronounced "à-nú-săa-wá-ree bprà-chaa tí-bpà-dtai", commemorates the 1932 Siamese coup d'état which led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. The monument is positioned at the center of a traffic roundabout on Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang, at the intersection of Thanon Dinso.
The relief sculptures at the base of the monument are propagandistic in their design. They depict the armed forces both as the champions of democracy and as the personification of the Thai people. In the version of events depicted in these sculptures, the coup of 1932 was carried out by a united and idealistic Thai armed forces on behalf of the people, and had both the intention and effect of making Thailand a democracy. In the reliefs, civilians appear only as the grateful recipients of the heroism and benevolence of the armed forces.
The story represented by these sculptures was a considerable distortion of the truth. In fact the 1932 coup was planned and executed almost without bloodshed by a small group of officers and some civilian collaborators, while the king was on holiday at the seaside (see History of Thailand (1768-1932)). The coup was followed by the promulgation of Thailand's first constitution, but this was far from fully democratic. In the mid 1930s there was an attempt to progress to full democracy, but this broke down amid a split between the military and civilian elements of the government, and by 1939, when the Democracy Monument was built, Thailand was in effect a military dictatorship.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Monument
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Crossing the road to Democracy Monument
Jaywalking or crossing busy roads in Bangkok may lead to problems with the police and a possible fine or payment of "tea money". The enforcement of laws in Thailand is somewhat random, and if you choose to visit Democracy Monument then you should bear in mind that it may not be easy to access (i.e. within touching distance) on foot. As Bob Harris said of Bangkok traffic, "Pedestrians are hunted and killed as large game." If you do try to cross the road, be careful of the traffic and watch out for the police.
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