Angry Chatuchak vendors demonstrate at Government House
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Some 600 vendors from the Chatuchak Weekend Market rallied in front of the Government House Monday to protest against the increase of the stall rental fee. Initially about 100 vendors gathered in front of Gate 4 at 9.30am.
Later, the number grew to more than 600.
They called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to intervene in the decision of the State Railway of Thailand to collect the stall rent of Bt3,562 per month. They demanded to be allowed to lease the stalls at the rate of Bt1,000 a month under 30-year contracts.
The vendors threatened to file a suit against the SRT with the Central Administrative Court if their demand is not met by Wednesday.
In a related development, the Metropolitan Division 4 deployed a company of police to maintain security in front of Yingluck’s house on Soi Yothin Pattana 3 in Bueng Kum district after speculation that some of the protesting vendors would move to rally in front of her house.
Pol Maj Gen Charn Wimolsri said plainclothes police were also dispatched to keep watch in the area. He said that although no vendors had turned up, police officers would maintain tighter security there for a while.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangkhapra said another company of police officers was sent to maintain security at the rally site of the vendors outside the Government House. He said police expected no violence at the demonstration.
