Hundreds of vendors gathered in front of the Pak Khlong Talat market on Chakkraphet Road in Wang Burapha Phirom district at around 10pm on Friday in protest against Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s plan to restore order on the pavements there.

An hour later, the protesters started throwing flowers onto the street, blocking traffic, on the first day the plan took effect.

Police tried in vain to negotiate with the vendors, who were intent to show their discontent with the plan.

Around midnight, the vendors piled up flowers on the lane leading to the market on Saphan Phut Bridge (Memorial Bridge), blocking traffic there, while talks continued.

More flowers were also strewn on both lanes of Chakkraphet Road leading to the bridge to Thon Buri district across the river.

officials proposed that they stop blocking traffic and scheduled talks with BMA officials on Monday.

The vendors did not immediately agree, claiming they had yet to hear answers on how they could continue to do business.

At 1.30am, the protesters agreed to dissolve and talks were scheduled on Monday.

The police met on Saturday afternoon to decide whether they would press charges against them.

The BMA earlier decided to restore order to pavements in Bangkok including those in front of the market where flowers were sold around the clock.

It told the vendors to move by Friday following a three-month relaxation period starting on April 1.

Charat Chomsukha, a 30-year-old vendor, told Thai Rath Online the protest was held on Friday because it was the deadline set by City Hall.

Earlier, City Hall held several talks with the market's vendors and both sides agreed the BMA would allow them to sell flowers from 8.30pm to 4.30am on the pavement from April 1 to July 1. After that, they need to move elsewhere or to the places nearby provided by the BMA.

"We'd like the BMA to help us sell flowers like before or find news spots for us as we can't afford rents inside the market," Mr Charat said.

He added the vendors wanted to personally talk with the Bangkok governor.

Pol Col Thanakrit Chaijaruvut in charge of the Phra Ratchawang police station in the area said all of the vendors had talked with BMA officials multiple times.

"They are well aware that the BMA needs to relocate them and Friday's deadline was agreed upon at the meetings. Yet today they want more talks for another extension," the police colonel said.

"We haven't charged anyone yet, pending talks between the two sides," he added.

Vutthichai Boonyasit, assistant director of the BMA's Phra Nakhon district, said City Hall understood the troubles faced by the small vendors.

"But we already talked with them and we stuck to the agreed deadline. We'd like the vendors to calculate the damage they think would cost them for not being able to sell the flowers on the pavements and submit the figures at Monday's meeting. That's the best solution for both sides."

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by Bangkok Post

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