City Regulators Stand Firm Against Street Vendor Protest Over Fines, Arrests

[Rimmer]

City regulators stand firm against street vendor protest over fines, arrests

PATTAYA:--Despite recruiting a ruling party official to help them, about 150 angry street vendors wilted against unbending city regulators in their battle against repeated fines and arrests.

With the help of Chaiwat Hengtrakul, representing Pheu Thai Party local official Chanyuth Hengtrakul, the food vendors met with Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and municipal police chief Maj. Col. Jirawat Sukholzup March 19, but found city officials unapologetic for fines and imprisonment for the vendors’ chronic violation of city regulations and traffic laws.
Full story:http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/city-regulators-stand-firm-against-street-vendor-protest-over-fines-arrests-24083

-- Pattaya Mail 2013-03-29

[RabC]

If only it was enforced city wide and not just for the sake of a few back handers.

Edited March 29, 2013 by RabC

[doggie888888]

At best, this is the beginnings of a genuine effort to clear the streets. At worst, it is another selective clampdown aimed at vendors who have not paid their protection money or are in the way of some big person's secret plans.

[Chang_paarp]

The vendors argued they were poor, only trying to make a living and that they were helping Pattaya’s tourist image by serving tourists.

I am with city hall on this one, the vendors have no idea what they do to Pattaya's image.

[sharecropper]

Until these incompetents clamp down on the Jet Ski scum, I'll take everything about 'cleaning up' with a pinch of backhander.

[bartender100]

Leave the vendors alone, who whans streets like Europe and USA?, street food and vendors are what makes Thailand what it is. Sorry you cant get your 4x4 down Pattaya Klang

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Leave the vendors alone, who whans streets like Europe and USA?, street food and vendors are what makes Thailand what it is. Sorry you cant get your 4x4 down Pattaya Klang

Indeed. Without street food Thailand would be just too boring for words.

Now if City Hall really wants to do something useful they should fine and ban the untold thousands of permanent trinket/luggage/shoes/tshirt stalls that block the pavements day and night, and also the millions of rental motorbike places that fill all the parking spaces. No one needs or wants any of them.