Recent news reports that a bust of Chao Phraya Kosathibodi (Kosa Pan), one of the first Siamese ambassadors, was "stolen" from its plinth on the Rue de Siam in the French city of Brest shocked cultural enthusiasts.
Initially, there were fears the bust, erected on the site earlier this year to mark the 333rd anniversary of Siamese-French diplomatic ties, was being subjected to the same fate as other monuments considered no longer appropriate by some due to the chequered history of the people they depict. These others include a statue of King Leopold II of Belgium which was removed for his brutal acts in the Congo, and a statue of Christopher Columbus in Connecticut that was vandalised. Other statues of the two figures face uncertain future amid calls for their removal.
But no scandals surrounded the Thai nobleman who was assigned by King Narai of Ayutthaya to lead a diplomatic mission to France to promote ties between the Siamese and French courts.
Fortunately, the Kosathibodi bust was returned to the place it was taken from less than 24 hours after disappearing. The motives of the thief or thieves remain unknown, while plans are afoot to make it more difficult for potential thieves to remove it in the future.
The brief disappearance of the Thai nobleman's bust rekindled an interest in this chapter of history. He and his entourage arrived in Brest in 1685 before travelling on to Verseilles where King Louis XIV granted him a royal audience. The French king returned the goodwill the same year when he sent a delegation led by Chevalier de Chaumont to Ayutthaya where he was received by the 17th century Siamese king.
It's said Kosa Pan's visit sparked French people's interest in the faraway land of Siam.
The nobleman's gown and spectacular headgear called a lompauk, which was influenced by Persian style, became a fad among the French elite, famed scholar Phuthorn Bhumathon said.
The fascination was such, the townspeople of Brest later decided to rename one of the town's thoroughfares the Rue de Siam to commemorate his mission. The renaming took place in 1811.
While Thais take a great interest in the "Rue de Siam" in Brest, not many know there is another road bearing that name. According to Mr Phuthorn, the other "Rue de Siam" is located in Paris.
And back to home, even fewer people know of the "Rue de France," a small road near the former palace of King Narai, leading to the residence of Constantine Phaulkon, in Muang Lop Buri district, and its importance to Thai history.
The 500-metre-long road was given the name in 1987 when Thailand and France celebrated 300 years of diplomatic ties. Along that road lies an important temple, Wat Saothong Thong, where a Persian ambassador once stayed before King Narai granted him an audience.
When the road was renamed, the area was re-landscaped with the hope that it would become a cultural tourism site.
But this goal was not realised. Later, Lop Buri municipality located a city market and trading along the road which has unfortunately compromised its historical value.
Over the years, Thailand's "Rue de France" has literally become "lost", littered with garbage and lined by stalls. The olive trees that were a gift from France and lined the historical road have all died thanks to a lack of proper care.
Should such a sorry state of affairs continue?
Of course, this does not mean the market should be relocated, at least not for now or until a new place can be found. The best strategy is to make local people aware of the history and cultural heritage in order to instill some local pride and encourage them to revitalise the area. By not doing so, all conservation efforts will fail. Incentives are necessary too.
The local economy is important, and so is the country's history. It is a challenge for all to work out a solution that sees a balance between the two.
It's my belief that conservation should start from the bottom.
This means vendors should be encouraged to get involved in conservation efforts, starting with accepting cleanliness and hygiene regulations as a condition for further trading, while the municipality office should stringently enforce the regulations. This could be started simply by reducing trading hours slightly to allow more time for cleaning and tidying.
Customers, too, should be aware of the road's cultural value and see for themselves that change is needed for the better.
Cultural education is necessary. Our heritage has been ruined for far too long. Yet, it's not too late to start doing the right thing.