Democracy Monument, Bangkok Editorial Photo

Erected to commemorate the 1932 coup which brought about the end of the absolute monarchy in Siam, the Democracy Monument (Anusawari Prachathipatai) certainly isn’t one of Bangkok’s more attractive landmarks. It is, however, one of the most symbolic and has witnessed some of Thailand’s darkest days since it was commissioned in the 1930s. The monument represents the rights and freedoms of the Thai people and has proven to be a natural rallying point during various political protests over the years. Sadly, a number of these demonstrations have had fatal consequences giving the monument and location around it added poignancy.