Locals won't be missing 'Bangkok Stonehenge'

[webfact]

Locals Won't Be Missing 'Bangkok Stonehenge'
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- There is no doubt that, if left to stand for the next thousand years, the yet-unborn generations of Thais would be debating the possible purpose of hundreds of concrete pillars that lined the stretch of railroad in northern Bangkok.

For the moment, though, the towering concrete slabs - appropriately nicknamed by many as ′Bangkok Stonehenge′ - have been useful to a local vendor. The ′Stonehenge′ has been providing the shades that help shield her stall from the sun of Bangkok ever since she started her career a decade ago, she said.

A quick disclaimer, though - she was being sarcastic.

"Actually, I′m really bored of it," said the vendor, Ms. Somsri Boonthet, "They should have got rid of these things long ago because they are so useless".

The Stonehenge is, in fact, the remnants of what would have been the ambitious Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System (BERTS), also known to the Thais as the Hopewell Project.

Proposed during the administration of Prime Minister Chatichai Chunhawan during the economic boom in 1990, the project was intended to improve the services of State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The plan would have seen multiple elevated railways linking Bangkok with its outer provinces.

However, the ′mega project′ was repeatedly postponed by a series of political instability and massive corruption. On 20 January 1998, Minister of Transport at the time, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban (who is now leading a protest against the current government), eventually called it quit.

The cancellation came at an enormous price for Thailand. The government was forced to pay Hong Kong-based Hopewell Holdings owned by the billionaire Gordon Wu an amount of 11.8 billion baht for unfair agreement cancellation.

The 532 concrete pillars have since been left standing. To many Thais, the ′Bangkok Stonehenge′ serve as a costly monument to the incompetence and corruptions that are often associated with so many governments that have ruled the country.

In the following two decades, the said monument also became shelters for birds, while graffiti artists showed off their skills on some of the pillars.

But as the government is pushing for the construction of Red-Line Sky Train services, which runs from Bang Sue to Rangsit, the Bangkok Stonehenge is finally being dismantled. The demolition was agreed in June 2013 when the SRT instructed Italian-Thai Development firm to destroy the rows of these concrete skeletons and pave way for future development.

The dismantling is planned to be completed no later than March 2014, and - according to interviews conducted by Matichon correspondents - the locals are not shedding any tears.

Ms. Somsri, the vendor, is one of them. "The demolition has not affected me at all, and it will definitely make the scenery around here look a lot better," said Ms. Somsri, whose stall is located just opposite Wat Samien Naree Temple.

She added with a smile, "Once these pillars are gone, maybe the area will experience further improvements that promote my business.”

The demolition is proceeding slowly. The workers have to stop for the trains that run on the tracks just beneath the concrete slabs, and the crowded daily market in the evening near Wat Samien Naree Temple forced the engineers to work more slowly.

But Mr. Surasak Meesombat, a taxi driver, said he wished the process would go faster.

"Just get rid of them already! It′s like our country′s hall of shame to foreigners and to our next generations," he said angrily, adding that he always complained to his passengers about the "useless" Stonehenge whenever he drove past them.

“It is a big waste of our taxes," Mr. Surasak concluded his verdict.

Once asked if he could see any bright side of the pillars, Mr. Surasak said “the only benefit they yield are shelters for homeless people and a writing space for those who want to practice their Thai", pointing his hand to a compilation of graffiti bearing impolite sentences sprayed on the concrete slabs.

Mr. Boonchuen Raktawat, 67, a local Song-Thaew driver, also expressed his delight for the government plans to remove the pillars.

“This should bring the better future for us”, said Mr. Boonchuen “It could develop business opportunity and quality of life of the people in the area.”

However, Mr. Boonchuen also voiced his concern that the current government end up repeating the same mistake that brought the "annoying" Bangkok Stonehenge into its creation in the first place; the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is seeking to invest on the massive infrastructure and transportation project worth 2.2 trillion baht.

The scale of the project alarmed many critics of the government, who warned that it could be ridden with corruption and might become a twentieth first century version of the demolished Bangkok Stonehenge.

Indeed, many Thais are hoping that history will not repeat itself, and it remains to be seen whether PM Yingluck′s government can steer her earmarked policy away from the all-too-familiar mire of corruption that once doomed the hope of Hopewell Project.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5EWXdPRE14TVE9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-11-18

[Sydebolle]

Don't get me wrong but the article refers to noodle vendors, cabbies and tuk tuk drivers.

As long as these people are not made aware of the fact, that it was them who voted those crooks into office, over and over again, until then the BMA might want to leave the Bangkok Stonehenge standing there as a very costly monument of inability, inefficiency combined with the mother-of-all-corruptions.

Additional question: were there no other people to ask, such as bankers, office girls, traders and other graduates of one of those countless universities?

[mmh8]

The rumour I heard was that the actual construction used cheap materials so nothing substantial could be supported on them. I also read somewhere that after testing the bts could not use these blocks for those very reasons, no reference to rumours made, but I'm sure with a little googling its possible to find reference to the unsuitability of pillars to support bts extensions.

[chooka]

There are so many structures like this and buildings never completed all over Thailand.

[JoeThePoster]

I remember when in the 90's Gordon Wu had some colourful comments to make about Thai politicians.

[Jasun]

Don't get me wrong but the article refers to noodle vendors, cabbies and tuk tuk drivers.

As long as these people are not made aware of the fact, that it was them who voted those crooks into office, over and over again, until then the BMA might want to leave the Bangkok Stonehenge standing there as a very costly monument of inability, inefficiency combined with the mother-of-all-corruptions.

Additional question: were there no other people to ask, such as bankers, office girls, traders and other graduates of one of those countless universities?

The started building this in 1990. Ie, this particular incompetence predates the current incompetents.

[JoeThePoster]

Yeah this was initiated by that "no have problem" guy.

[asdecas]

Frankly, I'm amazed that Mr Wu got his 11.8bn Baht compensation so quickly. One would have thought the Thai legal system more than competent in stringing out the case for a couple of hundred years.

[Lupatria]

During the last big flood I always thought these things would make a solid barricade in flood prone areas...

Now I wonder where they want to dump them.

[GBK]

IIRC, Wu had them over a barrel, as he had pre-emptively taken steps to have some overseas government assets frozen until they coughed up.

He is no-one's fool, that Mr Wu.

[GBK]

"Our taxes..." Sure, I bet that cab driver pays loads...

[BigSkip]

"and pave the way for future" Corruption

[Cuban]

Allowing for inflation will the cost of pulling them down be greater than the cost of building them?

[BigSkip]

Frankly, I'm amazed that Mr Wu got his 11.8bn Baht compensation so quickly. One would have thought the Thai legal system more than competent in stringing out the case for a couple of hundred years.

This was not decided only in Thailand

[Bluespunk]

'Mr. Boonchuen Raktawat, 67, a local Song-Thaew driver, also expressed his delight for the government plans to remove the pillars.

“This should bring the better future for us”, said Mr. Boonchuen “It could develop business opportunity and quality of life of the people in the area.”

How?

[disagree]

What about Sathorn Unique in the MIDDLE of Bangkok...

[GeorgeO]

The rumour I heard was that the actual construction used cheap materials so nothing substantial could be supported on them. I also read somewhere that after testing the bts could not use these blocks for those very reasons, no reference to rumours made, but I'm sure with a little googling its possible to find reference to the unsuitability of pillars to support bts extensions.

I was also given a similar story as to the reason for these ugly pillars when I first arrived here in 2002, which was that they were unfit for purpose, indeed unsafe, and it would be too costly to remove them. The civil engineer who explained this to me was involved in the project planning, and suggested that the Hong Kong company were lucky to get paid off!

It will, however, be very good to finally see this eyesore disappear...!

[Curt1591]

What has always amazed me is that Sathorn Unique lies in waste while other projects are popping up around it.

[Spare]

The government was forced to pay Hong Kong-based Hopewell Holdings owned by the billionaire Gordon Wu an amount of 11.8 billion baht for unfair agreement cancellation. I wonder what percentage Suthep Thaugsuban gets. Maybe zero as Suthep is a clean MP always fighting against corruption on the street.

[Nepsydaz]

Don't get me wrong but the article refers to noodle vendors, cabbies and tuk tuk drivers.

As long as these people are not made aware of the fact, that it was them who voted those crooks into office, over and over again, until then the BMA might want to leave the Bangkok Stonehenge standing there as a very costly monument of inability, inefficiency combined with the mother-of-all-corruptions.

Additional question: were there no other people to ask, such as bankers, office girls, traders and other graduates of one of those countless universities?

Why? What is wrong to get opinions from the noodle Vendors or cabbies or yuk yuk drivers? be it banker or Cabbies.. both are human and have their opinions. Why should people be ignored based on what they do for a living. Actually it was interesting to have these questions asked to them.

"Our taxes..." Sure, I bet that cab driver pays loads...

Whatever amount they "Pay" is a significant amount for them if you consider the total money they make. It might be less for your salary standards but for them it is significant....

I am surprised by the amount of negativity around the forum. It is like a competition here...

Edited November 18, 2013 by Nepsydaz

[SPIKECM]

The populist revolution in Thailand never happened until the 21st Century. Until that time there were no crooks kitted up as knights in shining armour for noodle vendors, cabbies and tuk tuk drivers to vote for. So, you can't blame them for that particular period of corruption, not can you really blame them now for the current government's incompetence. They only get to vote for yellow crooks or red crooks.

Don't get me wrong but the article refers to noodle vendors, cabbies and tuk tuk drivers.

As long as these people are not made aware of the fact, that it was them who voted those crooks into office, over and over again, until then the BMA might want to leave the Bangkok Stonehenge standing there as a very costly monument of inability, inefficiency combined with the mother-of-all-corruptions.

Additional question: were there no other people to ask, such as bankers, office girls, traders and other graduates of one of those countless universities?

Edited November 18, 2013 by SPIKECM

[Card]

If they covered them with climbing plants it would look beautiful, shade the trains, reduce carbon dioxide, be helpful to birds and wildlife and save a lot of cash.

[phycokiller]

surely those interviews are made up? how to those people think it will improve their business?

[SPIKECM]

Excellent idea, but good luck in trying to tell that one to the Thais! Concrete construction is a big contributor to global warming. Demolishing these pillars won't reverse that. You get some in the West trying to save the planet by building houses with old bottles and rubber tyres trying to save the planet. This puts their efforts into a proper perspective.

If they covered them with climbing plants it would look beautiful, shade the trains, reduce carbon dioxide, be helpful to birds and wildlife and save a lot of cash.

[hellodolly]

Allowing for inflation will the cost of pulling them down be greater than the cost of building them?

It might well be but it is definatly cheaper than it will be in 10 years.

They are an eye sore that doe's not belong any longer. There purpose was honorable but there was to much corruption. One poster thinks the voters of today voted it in. Always some one good for a laugh. Most of today's voters were ineligible to vote when it was built. Even the ones who voted where probably in Issan at the time and unaware of the corruption of the time. They were doing their best just to eek out a living much less worry about what was happening in Bangkok. Bangkok was much smaller then and had far less voters.

Interesting as how one would think bank tellers who don't have to see them all the time would make a better choice to talk to than people who do have to see them. They stand as a physical monument to the corruption on Thailand's history and their destruction will be a step towards modernizing. Just think of the possibilities once this corrupt driven government is gone.

[GrantSmith]

What about Sathorn Unique in the MIDDLE of Bangkok...

Was thinking the same thing, that this is a bigger blight... However as this was a privately funded construction, it has - seemingly - nothing to do with the Government. It's out of sight, out of mind.

[Suradit69]

Don't get me wrong but the article refers to noodle vendors, cabbies and tuk tuk drivers.

As long as these people are not made aware of the fact, that it was them who voted those crooks into office, over and over again, until then the BMA might want to leave the Bangkok Stonehenge standing there as a very costly monument of inability, inefficiency combined with the mother-of-all-corruptions.

Additional question: were there no other people to ask, such as bankers, office girls, traders and other graduates of one of those countless universities?

"To many Thais, the ′Bangkok Stonehenge′ serve as a costly monument to the incompetence and corruptions that are often associated with so many governments that have ruled the country."

I'm sure many tuk-tuk drivers were waxing rhapsodic about "Bangkok Stonehenge" and "monument to incompetence and corruption."

The one who wrote this probably relied more heavily on his imagination and Google for his inspiration and quotes, all from the confines of his air conditioned office

"As long as these people are not made aware of the fact ..."

On what basis would you automatically assume that Thai people are not acutely aware of the failings of their politicians, past and present? The Thais who I know well enough to speak openly about such things seem to have a great deal of understanding of how the system works and how it rarely works to their advantage. They seem no more nor less blind to reality than Americans and Brits, for example, who are repeatedly allowed the exalted "democratic" vote for their favorite out of maybe two or three incompetent self-serving criminals chosen by others to run for office.

While the massive political demonstrations here are clearly stage managed, there is still a genuine grass roots dissatisfaction with the way governments of the day function. These particular remnants of past incompetence are hardly more instructive than many more current problems.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Suradit69

[PeterSmiles]

Frankly, I'm amazed that Mr Wu got his 11.8bn Baht compensation so quickly. One would have thought the Thai legal system more than competent in stringing out the case for a couple of hundred years.

Because he got awarded the compensation doesn't mean he received it actually.

I remember that the government used the tactics you mention in another similar case, I guess it was the Rangsit tollway, and if the German company hadn't taken any drastic measures last year they would indeed still have been waiting for their compensation.

[Thaifever]

This has got to be one of the funniest articles/threads ever. I've got tears streaming down my face it's that funny. lmao

[dao16]

What about Sathorn Unique in the MIDDLE of Bangkok...

Great picture of that creepy building. I always wondered if there were any people living in it, like that one in Venezuela (check it out on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1p9jlQUW0k --crazy stuff).

The "BKK Stonehenge" was one of the first things I saw here. Flew into Don Muang and then the bus took me right by them....creepy, too.