The Chao Mae Thapthim case: Heritage preservation and the human cost of redevelopment

The century-old Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine in Bangkok's Sam Yan district has become the focal point of a high-profile dispute over Chulalongkorn University’s Block 33 redevelopment project, raising broader questions about how cities balance urban renewal with the preservation of cultural heritage and historic communities.

As legal challenges over the project’s construction and the shrine’s future have unfolded, campaigners have also drawn attention to allegations that dozens of construction workers involved in the development have gone unpaid for more than a year, expanding the debate to include labour rights, public accountability and the social costs of redevelopment.

This panel brings together activists, a filmmaker, an MP and workers directly affected by the dispute to examine how a campaign to save a historic shrine evolved into a wider conversation about urban development, governance and workers' rights. The discussion will include an interactive investigation into the Block 33 project, a short documentary, testimony from affected workers and an update on the parliamentary inquiry into the case.

Speakers:

Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, Sam Yan Press founder, Harvard Divinity School student, recipient of the Prince Claus Seed Award and Thailand’s first conscientious objector to military conscription.

Jirapreeya “Mew” Saeboo, Sam Yan Press manager and coordinator of the Morning Glory Collective, who will present the Wage Theft Watch investigation into the Block 33 project.

Pichanun Srisawad, filmmaker and researcher at 101 PUB – 101 Public Policy Think Tank, who will show a short documentary on the experiences of affected construction workers.

“Auntie Pha”, construction worker hit by the Block 33 wage dispute, waiting over a year for unpaid wages.

Thanaporn “Mai” Wijan, MP from the People’s Party, who will discuss the parliamentary probe into the Block 33 case and broader issues of labour protection in Thailand.

A representative from Property Management of Chulalongkorn University.

Moderator: TBC

Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.