NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The protest against the planned declaration of the entire Phimai municipality as a historical site has escalated, with disgruntled residents demanding the ouster of a senior fine arts official.
They accuse Jaruk Wilaikeaw, who heads the local fine arts office, as being a threat to the local economy, and for making them feel "insecure" by causing conflict among residents.
The protesters are waiting for a response after a delegation of 100 people marched to the Nakhon Ratchasima 12th Regional Office of Fine Arts and the Phimai district office on Tuesday to submit their petitions.
"It's up to my superiors to decide," Mr Jaruk said after the latest demonstration in Phimai district.
"I've only performed my duties."
His representative received the petition from the protesters on his behalf amid tight security at his office, while Phimai district chief Chusak Khunko promised he would forward the matter to the provincial governor.
The Fine Arts Department infuriated residents in Phimai municipality when it announced it would proceed with the re-demarcation of the historical area because nobody had raised objections to the plan within the set 30-day period.
Many residents only want the Khmer temple ruins in Phimai Historical Park and its ancient ponds as a historical site, not the whole municipality.
The protesters say that because of Mr Jaruk, they live "without confidence and feeling insecure" for fear of eviction, because the new, expanded historical site would include their land and property.
Some investors are reported to have scaled back their investments in the municipality after learning of the announcement.
The demonstrators also accuse Mr Jaruk of causing division within the community and "distorting information".
Since the demarcation proposal surfaced, residents had been divided into two groups.
Supporters said the department's move would help to better regulate development and urbanisation of the 2,600 rai of land in Phimai municipality, to ensure the old and the new can co-exist.
Mr Jaruk said earlier this year that only a few restrictions -- including building heights and issuance of land title deeds in crucial historical locations -- would be imposed.
"I've never given out false information," he said on Tuesday, stressing that he had always worked in a straightforward manner.