via Bangkok Post, 28 September 2023: This editorial in the Bangkok Post argues that while Si Thep’s recent UNESCO World Heritage Site designation is a milestone, the government’s conservation plan overlooks the well-being of local residents. The current plan, which focuses on tourism and heritage conservation, risks displacing the community without adequate compensation or involvement.
Unfortunately, much of the community will be forced to relocate under the current plan. Moving the locals out is a quick but disruptive way of managing a heritage site — officials clear a zone and turn it into a tourist-focused “park”. This has been happening for the last 30 years in Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai.
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Under the government’s current conservation plan, the core zone contains a few hundred houses as well as several shops, farms and a temple. Eventually, all of this will be removed, and the government will expropriate all private property linked to monuments. Landowners with title deeds will receive compensation as per their rights under the constitution.
Due to overlapping land rights, many landowners lack title deeds, potentially complicating fair compensation. These people are already suffering because they lack basic needs, such as public water pipelines. In addition, landless citizens pay electricity rates at double the usual cost. Even those with title deeds may have their rights challenged if the deeds were issued after the heritage listing in 1963.
