The Royal Plaza, or formally Dusit Palace Plaza (Thai: ลานพระราชวังดุสิต; RTGS: Lan Phra Ratchawang Dusit), and also known among Thais as Equestrian Statue Plaza (Thai: ลานพระบรมรูปทรงม้า; RTGS: Lan Phra Borommarup Song Ma), is an important public square in the palace and government quarter of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn at the Royal PlazaThe Royal Plaza with a glimpse of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, completely sealed off by a fence as of 2022
It is located in front of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Dusit Palace, Dusit District, Bangkok, which was the former reception hall of the palace where King Chulalongkorn (Rama V; r. 1868–1910) once lived, and was later used as the first parliament building. At the center of the plaza is the Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn, the "Great beloved king". The square is rectangular shaped, about 500 metres long and 150 metres wide.[1]
The Royal Plaza forms the northeastern end of Ratchadamnoen Avenue that presents a 1.5-km long vista towards it and links the plaza with the Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace in Bangkok's old town.[1] Next to the plaza is Suan Amporn Park, the venue of the annual Red Cross Fair. On the northern corner of the square is Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, the primary residence of current King Vajiralongkorn, on its southwestern edge is Paruskavan Palace which hosts the headquarters of National Intelligence Agency and Metropolitan Police Bureau. To its south is the headquarters of the Royal Thai Army's 1st army region. Dusit Zoo is also located near the plaza.
It is often used for rallies, parades and ceremonies, for instance students of Chulalongkorn University traditionally celebrate their graduation on this square.
Historyedit
Siamese revolution commemoration plaque, removed in 2017
The Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn the Great was erected in 1908 two years before his death from a fund raised by the Thai people. The statue was cast in Paris by Georges Saulo, a French craftsman well known at that time. The remainder of the fund was spent by King Rama VI on the establishment of Chulalongkorn University, which was named after the eponymous king.
On 24 June 1932, the plaza and the throne hall witnessed one of the most important events in Thai history as the People's Party staged a bloodless revolution that transformed the country from absolute monarchy to democratic constitutional monarchy. The plaza was the rally site for People's Party supporters demanding the constitution. The first permanent constitution was ceremoniously granted in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on 10 December 1932.
The plaza has frequently been used for rallies organised by the government or palace as well as civil protests throughout the Thai history. On 6 October 1976, the day of Thammasat University massacre, some 30,000 adherents of the right-wing Village Scouts movement rallied here, calling to "Kill the communists, kill the three leftist ministers, defend nation—religion—monarchy", until they were dispersed by then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn after the military had seized power.[2]
The Royal Plaza was also one of the sites of the May 1992 mass protests against a purportedly illegitimate government, that led into the violent "Black May" unrest.[3] In February 2006 tens of thousands supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (also known as "yellow shirts") gathered to protest against Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.[4] In June of the same year, up to a million Thai subjects assembled here to celebrate the diamond throne jubilee of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.[5]
A brass plaque, 30 centimeters in diameter, commemorating the Siamese revolution of 1932 was embedded in the pavement next to the statue. It was removed during the dictatorial rule of Prime minister Sarit Thanarat (1959–63) but later reinstated. Under the military rule of Prayut Chan-o-cha, it disappeared again in April 2017 and was replaced by a plaque that highlights the importance of the monarchy without any reference to the revolution or constitution. The government refused any explanation for this exchange.[6]
In 2022, The Royal Plaza was completely sealed off by a fence. As a result, the area was included as part of the Dusit Palace.[7]
Thai Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Rueang Sang Phraborom Rup Song Ma [Construction of the Equestrian Statue] by Prince Damrong
Referencesedit
^ abKim Dovey (1999). Framing Places: Mediating power in built form (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 101.
^Paul M. Handley (2006). The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej. Yale University Press. p. 236.
^George Katsiaficas (2013). Asia's Unknown Uprisings: People power in the Philippines, Burma, Tibet, China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, and Indonesia, 1947–2009. Vol. 2. PM Press. pp. 315–316.
^Arthur S. Banks; William Overstreet; Thomas Muller, eds. (2008). Political Handbook of the World 2008. CQ Press.
^Michael J. Montesano (2007). Thailand: A Reckoning with History Begins. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 319. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^James Buchanan (26 April 2017). "History Uprooted in Thailand". The Diplomat.
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The Royal Plaza or formally Dusit Palace Plaza Thai lanphrarachwngdusit RTGS Lan Phra Ratchawang Dusit and also known among Thais as Equestrian Statue Plaza Thai lanphrabrmrupthrngma RTGS Lan Phra Borommarup Song Ma is an important public square in the palace and government quarter of Bangkok the capital of Thailand Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn at the Royal Plaza The Royal Plaza with a glimpse of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall completely sealed off by a fence as of 2022 It is located in front of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Dusit Palace Dusit District Bangkok which was the former reception hall of the palace where King Chulalongkorn Rama V r 1868 1910 once lived and was later used as the first parliament building At the center of the plaza is the Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn the Great beloved king The square is rectangular shaped about 500 metres long and 150 metres wide 1 The Royal Plaza forms the northeastern end of Ratchadamnoen Avenue that presents a 1 5 km long vista towards it and links the plaza with the Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace in Bangkok s old town 1 Next to the plaza is Suan Amporn Park the venue of the annual Red Cross Fair On the northern corner of the square is Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall the primary residence of current King Vajiralongkorn on its southwestern edge is Paruskavan Palace which hosts the headquarters of National Intelligence Agency and Metropolitan Police Bureau To its south is the headquarters of the Royal Thai Army s 1st army region Dusit Zoo is also located near the plaza It is often used for rallies parades and ceremonies for instance students of Chulalongkorn University traditionally celebrate their graduation on this square History edit nbsp Siamese revolution commemoration plaque removed in 2017 The Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn the Great was erected in 1908 two years before his death from a fund raised by the Thai people The statue was cast in Paris by Georges Saulo a French craftsman well known at that time The remainder of the fund was spent by King Rama VI on the establishment of Chulalongkorn University which was named after the eponymous king On 24 June 1932 the plaza and the throne hall witnessed one of the most important events in Thai history as the People s Party staged a bloodless revolution that transformed the country from absolute monarchy to democratic constitutional monarchy The plaza was the rally site for People s Party supporters demanding the constitution The first permanent constitution was ceremoniously granted in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on 10 December 1932 The plaza has frequently been used for rallies organised by the government or palace as well as civil protests throughout the Thai history On 6 October 1976 the day of Thammasat University massacre some 30 000 adherents of the right wing Village Scouts movement rallied here calling to Kill the communists kill the three leftist ministers defend nation religion monarchy until they were dispersed by then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn after the military had seized power 2 The Royal Plaza was also one of the sites of the May 1992 mass protests against a purportedly illegitimate government that led into the violent Black May unrest 3 In February 2006 tens of thousands supporters of the People s Alliance for Democracy also known as yellow shirts gathered to protest against Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra 4 In June of the same year up to a million Thai subjects assembled here to celebrate the diamond throne jubilee of King Bhumibol Adulyadej 5 A brass plaque 30 centimeters in diameter commemorating the Siamese revolution of 1932 was embedded in the pavement next to the statue It was removed during the dictatorial rule of Prime minister Sarit Thanarat 1959 63 but later reinstated Under the military rule of Prayut Chan o cha it disappeared again in April 2017 and was replaced by a plaque that highlights the importance of the monarchy without any reference to the revolution or constitution The government refused any explanation for this exchange 6 In 2022 The Royal Plaza was completely sealed off by a fence As a result the area was included as part of the Dusit Palace 7 See also editDusit Palace Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn nbsp Thai Wikisource has original text related to this article Rueang Sang Phraborom Rup Song Ma Construction of the Equestrian Statue by Prince DamrongReferences edit a b Kim Dovey 1999 Framing Places Mediating power in built form 2nd ed Routledge p 101 Paul M Handley 2006 The King Never Smiles A Biography of Thailand s Bhumibol Adulyadej Yale University Press p 236 George Katsiaficas 2013 Asia s Unknown Uprisings People power in the Philippines Burma Tibet China Taiwan Bangladesh Nepal Thailand and Indonesia 1947 2009 Vol 2 PM Press pp 315 316 Arthur S Banks William Overstreet Thomas Muller eds 2008 Political Handbook of the World 2008 CQ Press Michael J Montesano 2007 Thailand A Reckoning with History Begins Institute of Southeast Asian Studies p 319 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help James Buchanan 26 April 2017 History Uprooted in Thailand The Diplomat karsrangrwbriewnphralanphrarachwngdusit ekhtphrarachthan ephuxthwaykhwamplxdphyaedxngkhphrapramukh aelarksakhwamplxdphyphrathinnginekhtphrarachwng odyyngepidihprachachnsycrpkti aelathwayskkarra r 5 id 13 46 8 N 100 30 44 E 13 76889 N 100 51222 E 13 76889 100 51222 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal Plaza Bangkok amp oldid 1101840211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
