Nakhon Ratchasima: Residents in Tambon Phimai municipality of Phimai district yesterday voiced opposition to the Fine Arts Department's (FAD) move to declare a 2,658-rai area as a historic site, saying they had proper legal documents to prove their right to occupy the land.
Around 400 residents turned up at the municipal office to oppose the move after they were informed in a letter that a 30-day deadline to voice an objection to plan with the department had expired.
According to the letter, because no objections had been filed, the department would proceed to declare the area a historic site under Section 7 of the 1961 law on historic sites, art objects and museums.
It is not clear why no objections were filed within the 30-day period, with Khajorn Mukmeekha, deputy director-general of the Fine Arts Department, claiming that an earlier letter had been sent advising residents of this necessity. However, some residents say they received the letters late, or not at all.
Danai Tangjerdja, the mayor of tambon Phimai municipality, said more than 2,600 households would be affected. He said the residents claimed they had been living in the area for generations with proper legal documents to show their right to occupy the land. The Bangkok Post tried to contact the FAD. However, they had not responded by press time.
The FAD declared part of the ancient ruins, famous for their 11th-century sandstone structures, as a historic site in 1936. However, over the last few decades, it has annexed more areas as it promotes Phimai Historical Park as a potential Unesco World Heritage Site in order to attract more tourists.
