Once again, Bangkok is experiencing a noise-related conflict.
On one side are condo residents who, according to news reports, have complained about noise emanating from a Chinese opera performance at a shrine next to their building.
Their complaints prompted the police to step in and order the troupe to abruptly end their show, much to the disappointment of the audience, as there were only a few more minutes until the finale.
On the other side is the troupe and its sympathisers who say that the Chinese opera has been part of an annual festival at the shrine for several decades. They accused the condo residents of failing to understand this.
The reports were based on a Facebook post by Charlie Lew, presumably a troupe member.
The man claimed that the troupe had accommodated the demands of the condominium residents by ending their performance by 10pm (it used to be midnight, if not later, previously). In order to end the show by 10pm, the troupe started earlier. However, this was apparently not enough as they were still forced to end their performance prematurely.
Numerous netizens think police have over-reacted in this case.
In fact, the dispute has unfolded into a class issue. The condo residents are mostly nouveau riche who have little regard for culture and tradition. A netizen said these snobbish people have "loud voices", which they use to get others to submit to their demands.
There must have been other issues regarding noise from the shrine before this Chinese opera saga. Those who live near religious places know very well how loud firecrackers -- a significant part of the Chinese New Year and other festivities -- can be.
We have seen such disputes before. One prominent case pitted residents of a condominium in Bang Kho Laem against a temple which rang its bells during the wee hours. The residents' complaints forced the temple to apologise amid reports the district office had intervened in support of the condominium residents.
The latest incident gives the impression that the condo residents are difficult characters.
I took a quick look at the picture that accompanied Mr Lew's FB post and was stunned to see how close the condominium is to the shrine. Too close for comfort. In fact, such proximity means that any noise will inevitably become an issue.
From the picture, I think the issue may not be limited to noise. I have also noticed one major problem with our building code: It allows large structures to dwarf others including places of faith because no one has thought about what the acceptable buffer area between them should be. The way that giant buildings tower over shrines shows no respect and I cannot help but wonder why a district office would allow this to happen.
This is not to mention the fact that the shrine and the surrounding community have also had to go through hard times in terms of noise pollution, dust and vibrations during the period when the condo was being built.
In fact, there are other problems that luxury condominiums bring to those living near them. Tall condos deprive some homes of natural light and they also block the wind flow for many others. Also, if the structures have many glass windows, the reflected heat can be intolerable for residents living around the condo. Last but not least, let's not forget to mention the heat from air conditioners that are fitted in every condo unit. While the residents are comfortable in their air-conditioned rooms, they have no idea how their lifestyle is negatively affecting those living nearby who have no choice but to put up with the searingly hot new environment in silence.
This problems are difficult to avoid even if the developers do not breach the building law. But what if they do?
We know land is expensive in Bangkok. Narathiwat Ratchanakharin, where the shrine is located, is a new business and residential zone where many new condos and office buildings have sprung up with developers using every square inch without any consideration for their neighbours who have lived there for generations. Of course, when a developer promotes a condo, they would not mention that a place such as a shrine is located nearby.
When the residents settle into their units, they only want comfort without thinking about how they might make others suffer.
While the festival at the shrine happens once a year, the neighbours of the condo suffer every day. In a way, it's not fair to either as it's the developers who get the money and then leave both sides to fight it out.
No, I don't think the troupe should be allowed to perform all night. However, the troupe seems to have compromised and it would be better for everyone to learn to co-exist.
Ploenpote Atthakor is editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.