Three ways of looking at the June 24 anniversary

In 1932, a group of Western-educated military and civilians calling themselves The Promoters, seized control of the power of King Rama VII and introduced parliamentary democracy with the King as head of state. Today, 81 years later, at least three groups are holding events on the date which for three decades – until 1957 – was Thailand’s national day.
 “This is a struggle to define democracy that stemmed from ordinary citizens and a reminder that Thailand is no longer under an absolute monarchy system,” said political activist Vipar Daomanee.
Vipar was among the 60-plus members of a committee to advance democracy which held an activity yesterday, running into the early hours of today, to launch their group, made up mostly of red shirts, and to mark the occasion.
Another group holding an event today is the Network of People affected by the lese majeste law, which will include the reading of the declaration by The Promoters – a damning document describing and criticising the exploitation of ordinary Siamese by the then absolute monarchs.
Then, there’s the selection of June 24 as the date to start public screening of a much-debated documentary film about Thai democracy called Paradoxocracy by award-winning director Pen-ek Ratanaruang and his colleague Passaskorn Pramoolwong.
 Vipar said it’s no coincidence that separate yet similar efforts were made to remind the public, particularly the younger generation, about the significance of the date.
“The history of June 24 is not settled yet,” said Vipar, acknowledging the existence of argument about what really took place 81 years ago. Vipar insisted that this often spray-brushed part of history is the fact that the 1932 revolutionists had to resort to threatening violence to convince King Rama VII, also known as King Prajadhipok, to relinquish his absolute power. “Guns were involved,” said Vipar. “But history has been reinterpreted saying the royals were about to grant a constitution to the people anyhow. That means the power of royalists who have been overthrown is still alive.”
Royalist multi-coloured-shirt leader Tul Sitthisomwong is living proof of this unsettling historical episode. He believes that although June 24 is an important date in history, The Promoters were not altruistic and merely looked to overthrow one system to establish a new one to enrich themselves. “I don’t think those who promote June 24 understand democracy at all,” Tul said. “I think they have to re-study the past. I think we have always been fooled [about the establishment of parliamentary democracy]. In fact it was the overthrow of the monarchy system [with the lands going] into the hands of the [revolt’s] leaders.”
He said the vast majority of Thai citizens today do not truly understand democracy. “Voters are not truly free to choose,” he said, adding that promotion of democratic understanding should be undertaken year round and not just every June 24.
He even suspects those using June 24 to hold activities are in fact anti-monarchists who want to turn Thailand into a republic. “They just want to destroy the monarchy institution.”