The Fine Arts Department (FAD) will begin restoration of the Democracy Monument, the bridges of Rajdamnoen Nok and Rajdamnoen Klang avenues, the Mahakarn Fort and Chamaimaruchet bridge early next month, Khemchat Thepchai, FAD's deputy director general said yesterday.
He headed a team of officials from FAD yesterday to inspect damage to the monument, the worst affected historical site following the April 10 clashes between red-shirt protesters and soldiers.
"Our officials will take a week to complete the inspection process at the monument and other places the red-shirts used as their main protest site and clashed with soldiers before moving to Rajprasong intersection," Khemchat said.
He added that FAD would take a week to write the restoration plan and propose it to Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch before starting work early next month.
The other sites include the Phan Fa, Phan Phiphop Lila, Makkhawan Rangsan and Chamaimaruchet bridges, as well as the Mahakarn Fort.
The monument was reportedly damaged by stray bullets and grenade shrapnel during the clashes.
Around 10 holes were found in the monument. It was also painted in i red and blue colours. A number of carved wooden flowers have disappeared.
Khemchat expected restoring of these historical places would cost hundreds of thousands of baht.
Asked if FAD would await the clashes' fact finding committee to inspect the monument before starting restoration, Khemchat said the officials would record the damage thoroughly and provide photographs of the damage to the committee if requested.
