Demolition Day: Dismantling of Saphan Lek Begins

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Demolition Day: Dismantling of Saphan Lek Begins

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen

Staff Reporter

BANGKOK — Negotiations and flowers failed to win a reprieve for Saphan Lek vendors today as city workers today began demolishing the historic market situated on the west side of Bangkok’s Chinatown.

Hundreds of vendors gathered in white T-shirts this morning to give officials flowers in an attempt to win another 90 days time to clear stock and relocate, but before noon workers moved in and began stripping the roofing to dismantle approximately 500 structures which for three decades provided a claustrophobic warren of stalls selling electronics, games and toys.

“We think it is really an injustice. Anybody who has been here will know it is impossible to move all the stalls out under such short notice,” vendor Chanya Surawutthinak said. “Today they made a decision based on their papers, but they have to look into the reality.”

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration today led teams to the location at the end of Yaowarat Road to begin what city hall said is part of a campaign to reclaim public space, particularly the historic canal the market was built over. Just around the corner, an advisor to Bangkok’s governor said demolition began at Saphan Han, an old Chinese trading community where the tenants had vacated.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445335550

-- Khaosod English 2015-10-20

[webfact]

BMA starts clearing historic canal area
Tanatpong Kongsai,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Natthapat Phromkaew
The Nation



Vendors' plea for demolition to be held off for three months, pending minister's decision

BANGKOK: -- IN A bid to reclaim the registered historic site of Klong Ong Ang and restore it to its past glory, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday began demolishing some parts of Saphan Lek Market and Saphan Han structures that have blocked the canal for more than two decades.

Meanwhile, the market vendors submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha via the public service centre at the PM's Secretary's Office yesterday asking for the demolition to be held off for three months till the result of an appeal to Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda is known. They said if structures were demolished and Anupong later rules against it, they would suffer irreversible damage.

The appeal to Anupong will be tabled at the Klong Ong Ang landscape improvement committee's meeting this afternoon.

However, the vendors' hopes could well be dashed, as Anupong said earlier yesterday that it was time for the country to start doing the right thing, and that since Saphan Lek intruded upon a public canal which provides drainage for the city, it was illegal. He said the city had already been lenient by letting stalls stay along the road.

Deputy city governor Assawin Kwanmuang presided over the start of the demolition, as workers began tearing down structures obstructing the canal in the Panupan Bridge area yesterday morning. He urged people to cooperate with the authorities as they tear down structures left behind by 200 vendors who have already left, saying the procedure would be gradual.

An informed source said Klong Ong Ang had been registered as a historic site since 1976, but the area now has many permanent metal and concrete structures that intrude into the canal.

Also, some shops were built on the edge of the canal's sluice-gate dam, causing it to be damaged. Vendors also dropped waste into the canal and polluted the water, the source said.

The vendors around the canal may have violated several laws, including the Building Act, the Town Planning Act and the Ancient Monuments, Antiques and National Museums Act 1961.

People convicted of damaging a registered historic site could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to Bt1 million, the source added.

There are 500 structures intruding into the canal in the area - 363 from Damrong Sathit Bridge to Panupan Bridge, 74 from Panupan Bridge to Saphan Han and 63 from Saphan Han to Bopitpimook Bridge.

The Committee on Conservation and Development of Krung Rattanakosin resolved on July 28, 2000 to stop the city from collecting fees from vendors operating near Klong Ong Ang. But in August 2000, the BMA's City Market Office announced the cancellation of this market status and revoked vendors' renting rights.

On September 28, the city posted an eviction order for all the vendors to move out within 15 days, but many didn't budge - so the city decided to start the demolition proceedings yesterday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-starts-clearing-historic-canal-area-30271262.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-21

[RidgeRunner]

Are these poor people victims of revenge politics?

All these vendors pay rent to whom I'm wondering?

[impulse]

As much as I'll miss the market in Saphan Lek, the place would have been a death trap had their been a fire.

I think they made a mistake closing down the Khlong Thom open air street market which drew thousands of tourists and locals each week (probably millions in a year). But the dangers and the outright IP theft going on underground more than offset any benefit of the Saphan Lek market.

I hope they find a safer place to relocate the legitimate vendors.

[TheKnave]

Bit by bit, old Bangkok, and much of her charm, gone with the wind...

[springheeled jack]

another land mark bites the dust if this is public land I wonder whats going to happen to it the powers that be say access to the canal s essential so it can be used for transportation purposes .

[fred Kubasa]

While other nations, realizing the value of old sites are spending millions,thousands of planning hours, restoring historic areas, Thailand destroys

what but for some creative planning/refurbishing/regulating, could have

continued to serve vendors/users for another 100 years, is now gone.

Chicago, my hometown did the same with a shopping area known as Jew Town, in

existence over 80 years, albeit in a better previously chosen site, and it

drew less then 1/5th the vendors and fewer shoppers then that.No food smellsdrifting thru the outlying areas, no bargaining/negotiating,no fighting overa valued parking spot which all made Jew Town what it was.

My family home in Pullman, ( South side of Chicago ), I sold for $ 5,000.00

25 years ago and smart developers had the area declared " Historic" restored,as much as possible the 1920's appearance and that home sold just last

year for $ 105,000.00 plus they SELL tours of the area! People were/are/willalways be, interested in the old days

[Kasset Tak]

While other nations, realizing the value of old sites are spending millions,thousands of planning hours, restoring historic areas, Thailand destroys

what but for some creative planning/refurbishing/regulating, could have

continued to serve vendors/users for another 100 years, is now gone.

Chicago, my hometown did the same with a shopping area known as Jew Town, in

existence over 80 years, albeit in a better previously chosen site, and it

drew less then 1/5th the vendors and fewer shoppers then that.No food smellsdrifting thru the outlying areas, no bargaining/negotiating,no fighting overa valued parking spot which all made Jew Town what it was.

My family home in Pullman, ( South side of Chicago ), I sold for $ 5,000.00

25 years ago and smart developers had the area declared " Historic" restored,as much as possible the 1920's appearance and that home sold just last

year for $ 105,000.00 plus they SELL tours of the area! People were/are/willalways be, interested in the old days

Yea, but here we are talking about something that has been encroaching on public land and in to the klong for 30 years and has been condemned for demolition the last 15 years! They have not even payed rent sins 2000 to BMA, surely they have payed someone but not the BMA who is the owner of the land and the klong!

[Monkeyrobot]

Another shopping mall to be built?

[off road pat]

Bit by bit, old Bangkok, and much of her charm, gone with the wind...

They did the same in Singapore, destroying Chinatown some 30 Years ago,.....they had to rebuild the whole Chinatown when they realised they lost a whole lot of revenue when Tourists stayed away.....Now it's like Disneyland,...Superficial,...lost all it's authenticity....

Best regards.

[TheKnave]

Bit by bit, old Bangkok, and much of her charm, gone with the wind...

They did the same in Singapore, destroying Chinatown some 30 Years ago,.....they had to rebuild the whole Chinatown when they realised they lost a whole lot of revenue when Tourists stayed away.....Now it's like Disneyland,...Superficial,...lost all it's authenticity....

Best regards.

Yep, Bugis, too...sad last time I was there...

Oh well, good memories.

Cheers.

[Jonmarleesco]

'The vendors around the canal may have violated several laws, including the Building Act ...' Seriously? We are talking of an act that, over many years, seems to have been consistently and routinely ignored, by both developers and authorities.