'New' Sanam Luang To Open

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'New' Sanam Luang to open

By Mayuree Sukyingcharoengwong

The Nation

After undergoing a grand renovation, Sanam Luang will be officially opened next Tuesday, at the beginning of a five-day exhibition to mark Her Majesty the Queen's birthday.

Previously Sanam Luang was freely accessible around the clock to homeless people, prostitutes and others. Now the ground will be open for public use from 5am to 10pm, with only the main walkthrough road in the middle open to pedestrians for 24 hours.

Political rallies or demonstrations are not allowed without permission of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which is now authorised to slap a maximum sentence of 10-years' imprisonment and/or a Bt1-million fine on violators under the amended regulations.

Loiterers are subject to a Bt1,000 fine during off hours, while the sale of food and drinks on the ground and surrounding sidewalks is prohibited.

Sanam Luang will be guarded around the clock by 100 municipal police, working in three eight-hour shifts. There are another 42 surveillance cameras installed to keep watch on intruders and streetwalkers.

A numbers of spotlights are now installed to the north of Sanam Luang to drive away prostitutes.

In the opening ceremony next Tuesday, alms-giving for 1,985 monks is scheduled at 6 am and a deity worship at the auspicious time of 08.09 am.

The exhibition venue is located on Sanam Luang and on sidewalks along a long section of Rajdamnoen Avenue.

'New' Sanam Luang can be seen in a video-clip on www.nationmultimedia.com.

-- The Nation 2011-08-04

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Facelift for Thai capital's historic Sanam Luang

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will officially open the Thai capital’s Sanam Luang to the public on August 9 following 300 days of renovation to make the historic royal events field more appealing to both the city’s own population and tourists alike.

Once the dignified ceremonial centre of the city, Sanam Luang has for some time been littered with refuse, mounds of dirt, and even serving as a temporary shelter for the city’s homeless and displaced persons, as well as a sales venue for small traders struggling to make ends meet by selling food and beverages, now the 74-rai (30 acre) historic royal ground has been transformed into a fresh and inviting open space filled with fresh green grass against the magnificent backdrop of the illuminated the temple of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace.

For several decades, Bangkok’s historic Sanam Luang has witnessed many of Thailand’s major political changes. It also served as venue for royal ceremonies and entertainment for the public.

The historic ‘Royal Field’ is also officially known as Thung Phra Mane (Royal Cremation Ground) and has been used as a site for royal cremations since the reign of King Rama I, founder of the Chakri dynasty in 1782.

The last cremation there was for the late princess sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX), HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana in 2008.

In the early 20th century King Rama IV, King Vajiravudh, established a site for performing the Royal Ploughing Ceremony until present during the reign of the world’s longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej .

Linking the contemporary city with living memories of the early days of the Ratanakosin period, the lovely foliage of slow-growing but long-lived tamarind trees line the giant square to witness the change of time.

Kite-flying, a favourite recreational activity here in the past, offers opportunities to lift the past into life along with other leisure activities for those who love the traditions of Sanam Luang.

Gone are the flocks of noisy pigeons which formerly filled the field as their home and seeming ‘convention centre’ are no longer on stage. Nowhere to be seen, the former avian occupants no longer annoy visitors and passers-by with droppings or disease.

Political activities, overnight stays and trading are prohibited.

With a budget of 180 million baht (US$6 million) for the facelift, the city administration also installed an LCD lighting system with spotlights and 42 closed-circuit televisions to prevent trespassers enter off-limits zones between 10pm and 5am. Only the walkway will be opened 24 hours.

Some 100 city officials will keep a close watch round the clock to ensure no intruders with folding metal fences and automatic gates around the site.

Violators could face jail terms of up 10 years and/or a fine of one million baht (over $1,600), warned Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Mamomaipiboon. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-08-04

[Jimjim]

If the noisy pigeons are gone does that mean the scammers putting bird seed in your hands and inviting you to throw it for the pigeons and then asking for 100 baht apiece are gone, also? Hope so!

And wow, nice grass, I think it's amazing that they have cleaned up the place. Hope it lasts.

I once saw a virtual riot start there when they had some concert and there were a bunch of young, drunk kids who started throwing a bunch of bottles at the stage after the ultra popular pop singer of the moment went off stage and the next up was one of those folksy Luk Thung singers. The kids did not like that! The concert ended and the police cleared everyone out as I saw some poor teenage girls walking out with blood on their faces. I told my two lady colleagues we should scram as they were engrossed in a negotiation with a street vendor and they said everything was fine until they finally noticed the hoards of young punks and the innocents injured stampeding out of the center area of Sanam Luang. Memorable times, there, memorable times!

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PRAMANE GROUND

Sanam Luang set to open after final inspection

By The Nation

City officials on Monday made a last inspection of Sanam Luang to make sure that it is ready for the official opening tomorrow.

Officials and contractors checked many spots including the stage and exhibition area as well as the security cameras.

Sanam Luang is scheduled to reopen tomorrow after being closed last July for major renovations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration allocated a budget of Bt180 million for the work.

The main ground will be open to the public between 5am and 10pm, with only the main walkthrough road in the middle open to pedestrians for 24 hours.

After the opening, barricades will be set up around the area to prevent the homeless and others from staying overnight in Sanam Luang.

It will also be open to people who want to exercise and fly kites and for recreation. However political rallies or demonstrations are not allowed without permission. Cooking, sleeping overnight, vending and drinking alcohol are not allowed.

Those who violate the regulations will face a maximum sentence of 10years' imprisonment and/or a Bt1million fine under the amended regulations.

Loiterers are subject to a Bt1,000 fine during off hours. The sale of food and drinks in the grounds and on the surrounding sidewalks is prohibited.

Sanam Luang will be guarded around the clock by 100 municipal police, working in three eighthour shifts. There are 42 surveillance cameras installed to keep watch on intruders and streetwalkers.

In the opening ceremony tomorrow, almsgiving for 1,985 monks is scheduled at 6am and a deity worship at the auspicious time of 08.09 am.

A fiveday exhibition to mark Her Majesty the Queen's birthday, starting tomorrow, is being held on the sidewalk along a long section of Rajdamnoen Avenue.

-- The Nation 2011-08-08

[x5david]

PRAMANE GROUND

Sanam Luang set to open after final inspection

By The Nation

City officials on Monday made a last inspection of Sanam Luang to make sure that it is ready for the official opening tomorrow.

Officials and contractors checked many spots including the stage and exhibition area as well as the security cameras.

Sanam Luang is scheduled to reopen tomorrow after being closed last July for major renovations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration allocated a budget of Bt180 million for the work.

The main ground will be open to the public between 5am and 10pm, with only the main walkthrough road in the middle open to pedestrians for 24 hours.

After the opening, barricades will be set up around the area to prevent the homeless and others from staying overnight in Sanam Luang.

It will also be open to people who want to exercise and fly kites and for recreation. However political rallies or demonstrations are not allowed without permission. Cooking, sleeping overnight, vending and drinking alcohol are not allowed.

Those who violate the regulations will face a maximum sentence of 10years' imprisonment and/or a Bt1million fine under the amended regulations.

Loiterers are subject to a Bt1,000 fine during off hours. The sale of food and drinks in the grounds and on the surrounding sidewalks is prohibited.

Sanam Luang will be guarded around the clock by 100 municipal police, working in three eighthour shifts. There are 42 surveillance cameras installed to keep watch on intruders and streetwalkers.

In the opening ceremony tomorrow, almsgiving for 1,985 monks is scheduled at 6am and a deity worship at the auspicious time of 08.09 am.

A fiveday exhibition to mark Her Majesty the Queen's birthday, starting tomorrow, is being held on the sidewalk along a long section of Rajdamnoen Avenue.

-- The Nation 2011-08-08

What a ridiculous use of a police force...to basically guard a park. Too bad people can't be trusted to follow the rules and not set up a bunch vending stalls in every open area without being policed not to. I just hope the punishments listed are upheld should violations occur, but I won't hold my breath...

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Bangkok Governor Presides Re-opening of Renovated Sanam Luang

This morning, the Bangkok Governor presided over the official re-opening of Sanam Luang after it had been closed for renovation.

Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, along with officials and locals, offered alms to 1985 monks.

In addition, revered Brahman, Pra Kloo Wam Thep Muni performed a spiritual rite to celebrate the official re-opening, after Sanam Luang had been closed for renovation since early 2010.

Moreover, M.R. Sukhumphand presided over the opening of two exhibitions.

The first aimed to inform people of the history of Sanam Luang, and the other presented the work to honor Her Majesty the Queen on her upcoming birthday, which is Thailand's Mother's Day.

M.R. Sukhumbhand said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is rushing to push for a new disciplinary application for Sanam Luang.

In brief, it will allow people to use Sanam Luang as a recreation point from 5 A.M. to 11 P.M.

However, hawking and settling at Sanam Luang will be prohibited.

Political activities will also be barred from the area.

Meanwhile, littering in the area has a penalty of 1,000 baht fine.

If the offender is unable to pay the fine, he or she will have to collect another 100 pieces of litter as community service instead.

M.R. Sukhumphand reiterated that Sanam Luang has been registered as an ancient monument since 1944.

Consequently, it is the duty of all Thais to maintain it.

He added that those who damage national monuments can be imprisoned for 10 years or be fined up to 1 million baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-09