After confrontation with Bangkok, the residents of the old community behind Pom Mahakan asked the authorities to keep their promise not to demolish more houses, maintaining that their community is also a part of Bangkok’s history.
At 11 am on Tuesday, 6 September 2016, residents of the community behind Pom Mahakan, an ancient fortress opposite to Ratchanatda Temple in the old town of Bangkok, told media they fear that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) might demolish every house in the community on the coming weekend.
Thawatchai Woramahakun, the community leader, said that if the rumour is true it will be detrimental to the community because many of its residents are children and elderly people.
“We were born here and have been living here all their lives. Where will they go to,” said Thawatchai.
Pornthep Buranabureedech, community representative, after the demolition of 12 houses on 3 September whose occupants agreed to relocate, there are still 44 houses left in the community.
The community representatives urged that the BMA should maintain its promise to solve the conflict with the community via peaceful means and not to demolish more houses in the community for the time being, saying that
In support of the community, the Communities Network for Social and Political Reform issued the a statement calling on the BMA to halt the eviction of the community and retract its policy to find a solution where the community residents could coexist with the BMA beatification program of the Mahakan fortress.
The network argues that the eviction of the community is against human rights and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals– SDGs, which Thailand last year has agreed to follow.
The community of Pom Makasan, at least 318 people strong, is almost as old as Bangkok itself. But the BMA, citing a 2002 cabinet resolution and a 2004 Administrative Court order, wants to demolish the cluster of wooden houses behind the fortress wall and develop the area into a public park.
Representatives of Pom Mahakan Community urge the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) not to demolish more houses in the community on 6 September 2016
Pom Mahakan Community, Bangkok (file photo)