City Hall denies colluding with developer to demolish Bangkok's Saphan Lek

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City Hall Denies Colluding With Developer to Demolish Saphan Lek
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


A Saphan Lek vendor, at center, gestures toward Khlong Ong Ang with Deputy Secretary General of the national Ombudsman’s office Thavin Injamnong, second from left, who visited Saphan Lek and the nearby area today for an inspection after vendors filed a complaint Friday with his office.

BANGKOK — More than 100 vendors from Bangkok’s Saphan Lek market yesterday filed a complaint at the Ministry of the Interior to block the city’s bid to remove them.

The vendors appealed for help to stay in the community they’ve called home for 30 years and accused city hall of forcing their relocation for the financial benefit of a developer with ties to top city officials.

In a copy of the complaint seen by Khaosod English, the vendors alleged the city’s Sept. 28 ultimatum, which gave them two weeks to abandon the famous Chinatown market, is an attempt to push them into occupying land developed by an investor linked to city hall and the provincial governor.

“We were previously informed by newspaper and online media reports in 2012 that a developer bought the area around Woeng Nakhon Kasem and buildings along Saphan Lek from a prominent family of the Bangkok administration,” the statement read.

An adviser to Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra flatly rejected that claim. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said the 30-year-old market is illegally squatting on public land and clogs the flow of water in the canal it sits atop.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1444809112


-- Khaosod English 2015-10-14

[Snig27]

Nothing changes ...

[jaltsc]

"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said the 30-year-old market is illegally squatting on public land and clogs the flow of water in the canal it sits atop."

And the BMA just figured this out after 30 years....Sharp...Really Sharp.

[seajae]

again we see the illegal people demanding they be allowed to stay illegal, they are squatters, they do not own the land or have permission to be on it, get a bulldozer and push them all into the klong, see how much they like to be in the water they throw all their sh*t into, they have no rights at all in this.

[cornishcarlos]

again we see the illegal people demanding they be allowed to stay illegal, they are squatters, they do not own the land or have permission to be on it, get a bulldozer and push them all into the klong, see how much they like to be in the water they throw all their sh*t into, they have no rights at all in this.

Bit harsh there fella

Surely they must have some form of 'squatters rights'. 30 yrs <deleted>...

I guess another rich person is gonna get richer and these folk will get poorer !

[zaphod reborn]

again we see the illegal people demanding they be allowed to stay illegal, they are squatters, they do not own the land or have permission to be on it, get a bulldozer and push them all into the klong, see how much they like to be in the water they throw all their sh*t into, they have no rights at all in this.

Bit harsh there fella

Surely they must have some form of 'squatters rights'. 30 yrs <deleted>...

I guess another rich person is gonna get richer and these folk will get poorer !

No, there's no such thing as squatter's rights with respect to public land. You only can make a claim for adverse possession against a private landowner.

[ChrisY1]

They all deny.........and collude!

[american12bthai]

again we see the illegal people demanding they be allowed to stay illegal, they are squatters, they do not own the land or have permission to be on it, get a bulldozer and push them all into the klong, see how much they like to be in the water they throw all their sh*t into, they have no rights at all in this.

anyone squatting for 30 years is no squatter. its waaaaay above the water as well so the clogging up story is a complete lie. I frequent this place, its a great spot for hobby stuff and RC parts. Its 100 times better than any toys r us. This place is where the Makers, tinkers, console engineering guys are. got a broken xbox? playstation 3 problems? gameboy games? RC parts everywhere. AmaZING place.

I dont think they are demanding anything but only to continue business there... as they have done for 30 + years.

then theres also the ITS NOT ABOVE LAND issue. SO who owns the river?

Youre a selfish person, youre comment says it all. no empathy, CJ. SO you also agree that it is ok to sell squatter/illegal immigrants to slave fishing boats? they own no land. .. unlike you who obviously own you own land, oh great land owner.

only the NEW laws made by new politicians made them Illegal. Maybe one day thailand will make a law that will turn you into a squatter like they did with jessie and her family. see justice for jessie.

CIty Hall doesnt collude with developers.... they gladly kiss their ass for a bank injection.

[BuckBee]

Not exactly squatting, local council takes monthly fees off vendors & they have receipts for this.

If they been dumping a lot of waste in the canal then that should of been tackled long ago.

Problem with thailand is no good policy, transparency, honesty, humanity or legal control at any level ...

[BSJ]

Is this the underground market with an entrance behind the Burapha Hotel? Well there are several exit/entrances. The wife and I found it by accident from the Yaowarat Rd entrance and came out at the Burapha Hotel first time. It's an interesting place.

[Ulic]

Of course both sides are correct, they have been squatting for 30 years on public land

and they are being pushed out by city officials with close ties to developers. So

what happens now.