In what appears to be a compromise to the long-standing Mahakan Fort conflict, a panel under the Committee for the Conservation of Rattanakosin says it is open to new resolutions to the land dispute which may include an alternative plan to allow the old community to remain.
Borvornvate Rungrujee, chairman of a sub-committee tasked with the conservation of Rattanakosin old city, said he "does not oppose" a plan that will accommodate people doomed to be evicted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in a move to turn the five-rai area into a public park.
Earlier, the BMA claimed that it could not abandon the park plan drawn up in 1992 by the Committee for the Conservation of Rattanakosin.
However, Mr Bovornvate, a former fine arts chief, said the formation of a multi-party committee, as agreed on Saturday by the BMA and the community to find a way out of the long-standing conflict, is acceptable.
Under the agreement, the BMA was to dismantle only 12 houses for which it received consent from the owners and will not evict anyone against their will.
The BMA agreed to work with the community in mapping out a joint development plan. However, the community later accused the BMA of breaching its promise as it demolished three more houses that had not been on the list.
Mr Bovornvate, also a member of the National Steering Reform Assembly, said his sub-committee may accept the joint development plan if it is sufficiently comprehensive.
He debunked the claim that the fort area must be vacated as it is registered as an archaeological site. "However, those who live there must strictly follow conservation rules."
The BMA must submit the development plan to the sub-committee for approval.
He also said the new multi-party committee should also include the Fine Arts Department given the fort's heritage value. Sakchai Boonma, head of the BMA's Land Acquisition Division, insisted the BMA needs to follow the laws and push for the park plan, meaning that evictions would continue.