Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang assured vendors that they were welcome to resume trading at the Seri Villa estate, where two elderly residents attacked a pickup truck blocking their driveway, as long as the market operators comply with rules.
After a Monday meeting to resolve disputes about markets near the Rama IX park, Pol Gen Aswin said the operators of the five markets there could seek licences when they proved they were in compliance with regulations.
"The BMA must also take care of the vendors who are affected by the market closure. Vendors are innocent. They could not know if their markets were legal or not. They just leased space there," the governor said.
(Photo Facebook/debbie.strakarn)
Pending a legal settlement in connection to the market issue, the BMA also had to protect the interests of local residents, who might be disturbed by the noise, bright lights, smells and crowds resulting from the markets, Pol Gen Aswin said.
The BMA had asked traffic police to prevent any motorists from parking their vehicles in front of the residence of the Saengyoktrakarn family, he said.
On Feb 18, trouble erupted when a market visitor parked her pickup truck right in front of the family's gate. After waiting for about an hour and honking their horn, two elderly residents struck the offending vehicle with an axe and a steel rod, and then yelled at the owner when she finally showed up. .
Video clips of the incident went viral, turning the spotlight on the Prawet district office's enforcement of regulations about parking and markets in residential areas..
Following the incident, the BMA closed three of the five markets after finding they were operating without an appropriate licence. About 300 vendors were affected.
Prawet district police summonsed Ratanachat Saengyoktrakarn, 61, and Ranee Saengyoktrakarn, 57, to answer charges of damaging property, threatening others and carrying weapons in a public place without a good reason.
Their lawyer postponed their meeting with police on Monday, saying they were occupied with other business -- including preparing for an Administrative Court hearing on their market-related complaint against the BMA.
- Earlier report: No more wet markets near axe aunts' house
- Editorial: Axe lady not all to blame
- Commentary: What if axe lady wasn't a total psycho?
