Police will help track down the missing 1932 Siamese Revolution memorial plaque only if its real owner shows up to file a complaint, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul says.
He made the remarks after Prit Rattanakul Serireungriddhi, a 30-year-old grandson of Luang Serireungriddhi, who was part of the Khana Ratsadon group of military and civil officers which staged the 1932 revolution, changing the country's absolute monarchy to a constitutional one, on Sunday filed a complaint at Dusit police station asking them to find the plaque which mysteriously disappeared from the Royal Plaza and has been replaced by a new one.
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Pol Gen Srivara questioned if the complainant owns the plaque or was a damaged party. If he has proof of ownership, police are ready to act on his request, Pol Gen Srivara said.
"I want to ask if the area [the Royal Plaza] belongs to anyone who placed the plaque [in 1932]? In fact, the area is not a spot where anyone can place their personal items," Pol Gen Srivara said.
He also warned those calling for the plaque's return to avoid organising symbolic activities at the Royal Plaza otherwise they will breach the law regulating public assembly and the National Council for Peace and Order political gatherings ban.
Responding on Facebook, Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat, of the anti-coup New Democracy Movement, asked who the new plaque belongs to.
"If there is no owner, I will remove [the new plaque] and will put a replica of the old one in its place until the old one returns," he wrote.
Responding to criticism that removal of the plaque would jeopardise democracy and history, Thepmontri Limpaphayom, an independent historian, wrote on Facebook Monday that democracy had nothing to with the plaque.
"It is about the essence of the constitution and depends on how much we contribute to the country. Some kicked up a fuss and went so far as to say this has destroyed the history of the 1932 revolution. I think it is only rhetorical exaggeration," he wrote.
He also noted some of those who cried foul over the disappearance of the plaque are people who have been involved in underground political activities, anti-government elements and those wanted on lese majeste charges.
The brass plaque, fitted into the road surface near the King Rama V statue, marks the spot where Khana Ratsadon announced the revolution on June 24, 1932.
The inscription on the plaque reads: "Here at dawn on June 24, 1932, Khana Ratsadon brings into being the constitution for the sake of the country's prosperity."
It was replaced with a new plaque which bears a distinctly different message: "May Siam be blessed with prosperity forever. May the people be happy and cheerful and become the strength of the country."
The disappearance came to light after the matter went viral on social media on Friday.
Mr Prit on Monday urged Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to take action or say something about the matter because the party was founded by a member of Khana Ratsadon -- Khuang Aphaiwong, who was premier between 1944-1948.
Democracy activists wash their faces in a satirical gesture aimed at the message on the new 1932 Siamese Revolution memorial plaque, which wishes that Thai people have 'cheerful' faces. The protest is in front of the statue of Pridi Banomyong, who co-led the revolution that ended the absolute monarchy. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)