Workers fear SRT threat to landmark

Labour groups fear a development project being planned by the State Railway of Thailand for Makkasan could force the closure of the Labour Museum.

The museum, said to be the first of its kind in Asia, was built 17 years ago on land owned by the SRT and now earmarked for a development project called Makkasan Complex.

The museum traces the 300-year evolution of Thai labour from the days of slavery to the present.

Dozens of labour groups worried that the development will result in the museum's demolition plan to submit a petition to Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum and the SRT board through the railways labour union, said Thaweep Kanchanawong, chairman of the Labour Museum Committee.

Labour groups have been told the Makkasan Complex would be made up of hotels, business centres and shopping malls, Mr Thaweep said.

No details have been released on what would happen to buildings on the land including Makkasan School, Burachat Chaiyakorn Hospital and the Labour Museum.

"We're not against the development project but we don't want to see an old building with historic value destroyed," Mr Thaweep said.

The building housing the museum is more than 60 years old. It was the railway police station before becoming the headquarters of the SRT's labour union.

Thai Human Imagery Museum manager Wisanu Empraneet said the Labour Museum was a great source of information on the workers' movement in Thailand.

He suggested that the museum could include more exhibits on the international labour movement and might consider working with the private sector to broaden its appeal.

Several residents in the Makkasan area fear the SRT's development project could result in them being forced from their homes.

A recent hearing held by the Transport Ministry provided few concrete answers about what effect the development would have, they said.