The new Mahakan Park features a lawn at its center with small pathways leading between mature trees. Around it stand description boards detailing the history of the fort and Rattanakosin Island.

 

In a Facebook status posted on Jul 23, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the park would serve to educate people on the long history of Mahakan Fort, which is one of only two surviving forts from the reign of King Rama I.

 

Perhaps foreseeing controversy, Aswin also provided his own personal Line ID and encouraged followers to send their feedback about the new park, too.

 

We can’t know how many sticker-laden messages Aswin has since received. However, the Bangkok online community have hardly been quiet on the issue. Here’s a snapshot of the responses trending on social media, mostly taken from a viral post by Pisut Openspace (421 shares and rising):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dispute at Mahakan Fort dates right back to 1959, when the government bought back land from around Mahakan Fort in an effort to preserve the fort and its surrounding area from all but 11 owners who refused to sell.

 

The model scheme to create parks in the Rattanakosin area came later, in 1978, followed in 1992 by the BMA’s royal decree to improve Rattanakosin’s urban planning—including the expropriation of land on which the Mahakan Fort community lived.