Market eviction protest clogs Pratunam traffic
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Traffic was brought to a near standstill in Bangkok’s Pratunam area on Monday morning at the sight of 200 vendors protesting their eviction from Chalermlarp Market.
Despite the presence of police, soldiers and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration law enforcement operatives, the hawkers massed to block officials of the Crown Property Bureau from removing their stalls.
The bureau had posted signs and given notice that the area would be cleared starting Monday to make way for a new development project.
But the vendors complained that they were unprepared to move and had nowhere else to sell their goods.
They asked the bureau to wait until after New Year holidays because negotiations over the eviction are continuing, and the bureau officials agreed to withdraw.
