Democracy Monument

Democracy Monument

Introduction

The Democracy Monument is located in the heart of Ratcha Damnoen Klsing Road in Bangkok. It was built to commemorate the coup on June 24, 1932. This coup overthrew the absolute monarchy and established a constitutional monarchy, hence the monument is called the “Democracy Monument.” The monument was initiated on June 24, 1939, and completed on the same date the following year. Its design is highly distinctive, ingeniously conceived and uniquely crafted. At its center stands a fortress-like structure, with four wing-shaped pillars erected on each side, each 24 meters high and positioned 24 meters away from the central fortress, symbolizing the 24th day of the coup. The bases of the pillars are adorned with relief sculptures depicting scenes of the People’s Party’s activities during the coup. The central fortress is hexagonal, with a sword decorating each of its six sides, representing the six principles of the coup laid out by the People’s Party: independence, internal peace, equality, freedom, economy, and education. At the top rests a pedestal holding a constitution, signifying that the constitution is above all. The pedestal is 3 meters high, symbolizing the fact that the coup took place in the third month of the traditional lunar calendar. Originally, there were 75 cannons surrounding the monument, symbolizing the number “2475” in the Buddhist calendar—the year the coup occurred. These cannons have since been removed.

Bangkok, Thailand