Khao Sarn vendors defy enforcement of hawking ban

[snoop1130]

Khao Sarn vendors defy enforcement of hawking ban

 

Many vendors rebel against hawking ban on pavement of the world-famous Khao Sarn Road which goes into effect today.

 

Vendors on Khao Sarn road, an area renowned for street foods and popular with western backpackers,  have openly defied the City Hall’s vending ban on the sidewalks.

 

Officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration  said they wanted to impose order in the area which for years has been occupied by vendors who ply their trade on both side of the roads.  They launched a major clean-up of the street today but met strong resistance from many vendors and plan to limit their trading hours to 6pm-midnight.

 

Many vendors joined the cleanup but only to re-erect their stalls afterward and demanded the city administration to put off the vending ban on the pavements which went into force today.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/khao-sarn-vendors-defy-enforcement-of-hawking-ban/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-8-1

[webfact]

Khaosan vendors brazenly defy BMA’s ban on pavement trading

By KORNRAWEE PANYASUPPAKUN 
THE NATION

 

Yada Pornpetrumpa, the president of Khaosan Road Street Vendors Association, speaks to reporters in the presence of city police as vendors defy an order by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration banning stalls from pavements on Khaosan Road.

 

KHAOSAN ROAD street vendors defied Bangkok’s ban on footpath stalls from Khaosan Road in the tourist destination yesterday.
 

About 70 per cent of stall owners started setting up stalls after the street clean-up in the morning marked the beginning of the ban.

 

 

The Bangkok Administration’s order to regulate Khaosan Road prohibits sidewalk vending and allows time for carts and stalls to operate on the road only from 6pm to midnight. 

 

Bangkok deputy governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul ordered the ban on pavement stalls after City Hall received complaints that they were encroaching on the pavement in the busy tourist area. 

 

Before the ban, pedestrians had to venture out into the traffic during the day, while at night an influx of tourists and vendors had turned the street into an unofficial walking street.

 

 

“We will open and close our [footpath] stalls at a regular time – at midnight, 1am, or 2pm as we always do,” said Chonnapah Teansawang, coordinator of the Khaosan Road Street Vendors Association. Yada Pornpetrumpa, the Association’s president, said about 200 – or 70 per cent – of all stall owners had decided to defy the city’s order and trade as they’d always done. 

 

 

According to several vendors, officials took pictures and collected names of the offending stall owners as evidence and announced that the offending stall owners would face legal action as such trading was against the Public Cleanliness and Orderliness Act 1992. 

 

According to Yada, shop owners may face an “extra” penalty for their protest because officials had threatened to ban them from occupying spaces on the street at night, she said.

 

“If the city strictly enforces the law, we could legally ‘move’ the vendors from the pavements but we don’t want to ruin the image and tourism of Khaosan Road,” said the deputy governor. 

 

 

During the morning clean-up, Sakoltee oversaw Bangkok administration’s officials as they and the street vendors cleaned the street and removed blockages from the sewer system. The clean-up followed complaints from vendors that setting up stalls on the street was “dangerous”. 

 

 

“Heavy rain and clogged sewers often caused flooding on Khaosan,” said a street vendor, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I think driving stalls down the road may lead to accidents like a short circuit and even electrocution.”

 

The clogged sewers were dealt with … but many problems remain.

 

In an interview with Thai Time 4.0 radio, the deputy governor said the plan to turn Khaosan Road into a night market destination had encountered problems as the Metropolitan Police Bureau refused to “legally” block traffic from Khaosan Road from 6pm until midnight.

 

On the other hand, Chanasongkram Police Station Superintendent Pol Colonel Chakkrit Chosoongnoen said City Hall should have discussed their plans with the Metropolitan Police Bureau before announcing the order. 

 

To the vendors, limiting trading time means loss of incomes. 

 

 

During the day, according to Yada, tour operators often drop tourists at Khaosan after visiting the Grand Palace. Also, regulating Khaosan Road may affect souvenir businesses and hotels in Khaosan, said Nache Aree, a shop-and-stall owner who had been trading handmade bags in Khaosan Road for over 14 years. According to her, tourists often book their last night at a hostel in Khaosan to shop for souvenirs before a trip back home.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30351251

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-02

[Samui Bodoh]

The stalls greatly contribute to the 'travelers' atmosphere of fun in Khao San road and create a space where Western backpackers have enjoyed for generations.

 

It seems to me that the Junta is trying to suck the life and fun out of everything...

[webfact]

Thai vendors ignore ban on road stalls in Bangkok backpacker street

By Panu Wongcha-um

 

Bangkok city officials speak with a street vendor at the Khao San tourist street in Bangkok, ThailandAugust 1, 2018. REUTERS/Panu Wongcha-um

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of street vendors in the Thai capital's bustling backpacker district of Khaosan road ignored a ban on street vendors introduced on Wednesday and carried on business as usual.

 

Bangkok imposed a ban on all commercial activity on the sidewalks of Khaosan road which for decades has been filled with food hawkers, shops and stalls selling bags, wigs and hippy-era clothing, surrounded by bars, restaurants, tattoo parlours and cheap hostels.

 

The vendors were ordered to move to a smaller space on the road where stalls can only operate between 6 p.m. and midnight, part of a move to "create order and return the footpath to the people", City Hall said.

 

But many vendors set up their stalls as usual.

 

"We will not move today," Natta Potina, 43, who has been a street hawker for more than 30 years. "Our stalls are an important part of this street's identity."

 

"Officials can do whatever they need to do," said Kotchapan Fungfuang, 50, who has run a clothing stall in the area for more than 20 years.

 

City Hall sent officials to Khaosan road, taking down names and taking photographs of stalls that resisting the new rules.

 

"We do not want confrontation so we will take down names of those who do not cooperate and we will charge them accordingly," Pornlert Penpas, assistant to the director of Phra Nakhon district where Khaosan road is located, told Reuters.

 

"Those who failed to cooperate will be banned from doing business here in the future."

 

Representatives of the street vendors on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to intervene.

 

"Independent stalls helped develop this street over the last 30 years until it became an important Bangkok landmark," Yada Pornpetrumpa, the president of Khaosan road street vendor association, told Reuters.

 

"Now, the government won't even listen to us."

 

The regulations are part of wider effort by the military government, which came to power in a 2014 coup, to impose order in the city, famous for its bars and raunchy night life.

 

Many tourists visiting Khaosan said they do not understand why new rules were needed.

 

"This street is known for the night market and that's why the backpackers come. So it won't be the same," said Eve Caffrey, 23, a tourist from Ireland.

 

"The shops are part of the atmosphere and attraction of the street," said Koen Nevins, 49, a tourist from Belgium. "It would be a shame if all this is gone."

 

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-02

[fullcave]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Before the ban, pedestrians had to venture out into the traffic during the day,

Forcing tourists to walk in the road says it all. Wow, who collects the rent on public sidewalks? Mafia?  police? Did I repeat myself? Anyway in most cases these shops have merely been extended over the sidewalk. Greedy bastards need to pull back and stop blocking the sidewalk.

[Blow Up]

Prayut wants Bangkok to resemble an army base, minus the charm.

[Phuketshrew]

Why don't they just make it a traffic free pedestrian zone?

[thaiguzzi]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

hippy-era clothing, surrounded by bars, restaurants, tattoo parlours and cheap hostels

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"Our stalls are an important part of this street's identity."

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"Independent stalls helped develop this street over the last 30 years until it became an important Bangkok landmark,"

??

[FitnessHealthTravel]

53 minutes ago, Blow Up said:

Prayut wants Bangkok to resemble an army base, minus the charm.

I don't know, it's all a matter of perception. I like a good Army base.

[Vacuum]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The stalls greatly contribute to the 'travelers' atmosphere of fun in Khao San road and create a space where Western backpackers have enjoyed for generations.

 

It seems to me that the Junta is trying to suck the life and fun out of everything...

They're not interested in backpackers. They want quality tourists.

[anon4637435435]

I think the reality is the stalls aren't really offering anything cheap given transfer rates. i can buy a lot of cheap chinese crap in australia cheaper than here. Foods just food. you eat or die. Im personally sick of over salty, oily, msg loaded food. The stalls there and everywhere have basically remained selling the same sorts of stuff for decades.

They can be down right annoying. I genuinely think its time to clean up thai a bit. It might encourage things to change for the better for all. one step closer to being civilised. Change is a good thing. Tourist can do something else. 

[marko kok prong]

Encroachment is seen as very important here,i was extremley worried about it building my new house,a dirt track to the field's beyond out the back,run's down one side,this is apparently a government road, and i have a feeling that one tiny corner of the pool pump room is over ,my wife assure's me it has been checked and is okay. i just hope the paddies at the back have an alternative road/track for accsess as i cannot see them getting a rice harvester down there.

  Also there are still street stalls on some section's of sukhmvit rd,and the side soi's. This action at kao san seems to be an exercise of the bma flexing their muscles,why here,when so many area's of Bangkok and many Thai town's have street vendors? Is it to beautify Bangkok,well if it is it's a waste of time,as they say,'you can put lipstick on a pig,but it's still a pig'.

[LazySlipper]

I think this is all a big mafia that needs to be regulated and the vendors should also pay taxes as most people in the world do. There are no free lunches in life. Who do they have to pay to sell in the streets? Police? City officials?? The first step is to clean up these kind of situations. There is only one way to get Thailand to catch up with the times and that is to use the taxes collected from "honest"... if such a thing exists ... tax payers. With the taxes collected they could start to better their welfare system which needs much improvement. If something happens to me my wife is done for. Only one way to do this is to regulate these practices and businesses and get them to contribute rather than protest. The rest of the world does it, why would they be entitled to preferential treatment???

[Katipo]

A Governor who doesn't want to damage Thailand's image. Police who don't listen to the BMA. Street Vendors who don't listen to anyone. And a bunch of confused backpackers bemusedly looking on. What a beautiful mess this is turning out to be. *grabs popcorn* 

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Why don't they just make it a traffic free pedestrian zone?

Yes, just think of all the brown envelopes

that will be getting passed around.

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, Vacuum said:

They're not interested in backpackers. They want quality tourists.

Exactly. How are backpackers going to afford the Elite Visa?

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, LazySlipper said:

I think this is all a big mafia that needs to be regulated and the vendors should also pay taxes as most people in the world do. There are no free lunches in life. Who do they have to pay to sell in the streets? Police? City officials?? The first step is to clean up these kind of situations. There is only one way to get Thailand to catch up with the times and that is to use the taxes collected from "honest"... if such a thing exists ... tax payers. With the taxes collected they could start to better their welfare system which needs much improvement. If something happens to me my wife is done for. Only one way to do this is to regulate these practices and businesses and get them to contribute rather than protest. The rest of the world does it, why would they be entitled to preferential treatment???

"Who do they have to pay to sell in the streets? Police? City officials?? The first step is to clean up these kind of situations."  The police or City Officials are the ones who will benefit, so they are not going to clean up any of these kind of situations.

[fondue zoo]

2 hours ago, Katipo said:

A Governor who doesn't want to damage Thailand's image. Police who don't listen to the BMA. Street Vendors who don't listen to anyone. And a bunch of confused backpackers bemusedly looking on. What a beautiful mess this is turning out to be. *grabs popcorn* 

What is the hierarchy here?  Does the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau answer to the Governor?

[trainman34014]

Wait until they've set up and then handcuff them all and run them in for obstruction,  seize all their stall assets and trash their stall equipment.

 

 

 

Of course ''Enforcing the Law'' is not even in the equation !

[webfact]

Khaosan Goes Quiet After Police Ignore New City Rules

By Jintamas Saksornchai, Staff Reporter

 

Khaosan Road sidewalks were clear of vendors Thursday morning as new regulations were put on hold. Photo: Matichon

 

BANGKOK — Making new rules doesn’t mean much when even the police ignore them, as City Hall found out this week.

 

Khaosan Road vendors said Thursday they expect compromise on new regulations after the city failed to win police support for them. The street sellers who rose up in defiance Wednesday said they will remain closed until the city and police agree whose rules will be enforced.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/08/02/khaosan-goes-quiet-after-police-ignore-new-city-rules/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-08-02

[Katipo]

58 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

What is the hierarchy here?  Does the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau answer to the Governor?

Technically, Theoretically, or in actuality? Because me thinks you'll get a different answer to each ?

[Get Real]

Actually one of the first time I will support the police for not enforcing the laws and rules.
 

The vendors have been standing in Khao San Road for over 25 years, so it´s not more than right to let them continue with that. Why take away the livelihood for people totally without reason?
Nothing is going to be safer for all the drunk people in that road.

[JusticeGB]

Brown envelopes win. City loses.

[bluesofa]

57 minutes ago, JusticeGB said:

Brown envelopes win. City loses.

It doesn't matter how much you push the brown envelope, it's still stationery.

 

[gaff]

All these street food sellers deserve to go back to their rice farm because they are just too dirty people for any city ! Buy a proper food truck and you will be welcomed back !

 

 

[yellowboat]

Think everyone is done with brain dead officialdom in Thailand. 

[a977]

On ‎8‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 8:13 AM, fullcave said:

Forcing tourists to walk in the road says it all. Wow, who collects the rent on public sidewalks? Mafia?  police? Did I repeat myself? Anyway in most cases these shops have merely been extended over the sidewalk. Greedy bastards need to pull back and stop blocking the sidewalk.

 From my own observations down here in family friendly Pattaya I believe it's the shop owners who are encouraging the Vendors as it is they who collect the money from the vendor to allow them to set up on their part of the BMA's footpath so it is the shop owners the BMA should be prosecuting for FRAUD. Then there's the small question of do these stall holders pay income tax on their earnings, I think not!!!. Also why so many women have stalls shouldn't they be home looking after the family you know barefoot and pregnant as the saying goes. Oh can't say that then their lazy husbands would have to stop drinking and smoking pot all day can't have that can we?????

[AsiaHand]

17 hours ago, gaff said:

All these street food sellers deserve to go back to their rice farm because they are just too dirty people for any city ! Buy a proper food truck and you will be welcomed back !

 

 

Evidently you have not been in Asia long enough to understand the desperation of many of its poor people just to eat for another day.because of how these governments think of their lower class  (in the government''s mind) citizens.Or you never took the time to learn how people live outside of your on life narrow life.

[brain150]

17 hours ago, gaff said:

All these street food sellers deserve to go back to their rice farm because they are just too dirty people for any city ! Buy a proper food truck and you will be welcomed back !

 

 

What superior race do you belong to ?

[gaff]

2 hours ago, AsiaHand said:

Evidently you have not been in Asia long enough to understand the desperation of many of its poor people just to eat for another day.because of how these governments think of their lower class  (in the government''s mind) citizens.Or you never took the time to learn how people live outside of your on life narrow life.

 

And I am sure that you are still dreaming the world and the people.

These low life people all drive a brand new car, so stop thinking as a ridiculous tourist who believes what he sees.

The only really poor people are working in a farm, and they do not drive brand new pickups in BKK.

Take some time to open your eyes about real Thailand and you might understand it better.