“Unesco is important and so are tourists. But Thailand’s culture was created by Thailand’s people. Let’s respect the citizens of Si Thep by respecting their dignity and their right to a proper land survey. Let’s get heritage right this time.”

The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage is delighted to share with you today the fourteenth article from “Heritage Matters”, a monthly series aimed at identifying the challenges and opportunities of cultural heritage conservation published by The Siam Society in the Bangkok Post.

In this article, Khun Phacharaphorn argues that the government’s conservation plan for Si Thep has to be modified to safeguard not only the historic sites but also the local people and their way of life.

The full article can be read here.

Phacharaphorn Phanomvan is a scholar in heritage development, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, and an adviser to the cultural council of Si Thep, where she led an extensive LiDar survey project.