Pattaya’s Permanent
Secretary Pakorn Sukhonthachat (right) and city lawyer Natapong Maithong
explain why the area must be demolished.
Surasak Huasoon
South Pattaya’s popular Wat Chaimongkol street market is set to
be dismantled this week as Pattaya falls in line with national efforts
to clear sidewalks of illegal vendors.
Permanent Secretary Pakorn Sukhonthachat advised food, clothing and
other vendors Sept. 3 they had until Sept. 12 to remove their stands or
have the demolished by the city under orders from the Department of
Lands, which now is strictly enforcing the 1999 law on cleanliness and
tidiness of sidewalks.
Vendors were advised via public notice on Aug. 28 they had 15 days to
move and have been offered spots at the Naklua Market. However, many
vendors are resisting, complaining the new market is too far from their
homes and their customer base.
Pattaya city lawyer Natapong Maithong acknowledged their concerns, but
offered the vendors no concession, as the city has had its hands tied by
country’s military regime.
The market has been operating since 1996, when Chaimongkol Co. turned
over the privately-owned street to Pattaya City Hall for public use. In
2007, the city began charging vendors 1,500 baht rental per month, which
quickly stoked the ire of Chaimongkol Co., which protested the city
collecting fees on public land and filed a complaint with the Department
of Lands.
The department sent a formal warning letter to the city, telling them to
end the practice in 2008. Vendors have been selling on the sidewalks
rent-free ever since. Chaimongkol Co., however, continued its protests,
saying it donated the land to the city to make a truly public area. But
until the Royal Thai Army took over the government, those complaints
were roundly ignored.
The market is particularly popular at night and after-midnight as hungry
bar workers and patrons spill out of nearby Walking Street and
Pattayaland entertainment zones. Vendors operate there from morning
until night and many are unhappy with being told to leave.
The city said it wants to collect feedback from the displaced merchants,
although some have already conceded and relocated to Naklua.
