BMA to punish rogue city law enforcement officers

[Admin]

BMA to punish rogue city law enforcement officers

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is getting more serious with the problem of illegal street vendors, threatening to take serious actions against state officers facilitating the transgressors.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaiphiboon said it had been two weeks since the BMA had officially declared more than 100 stalls on the pedestrian pavements in front of Chatuchak Weekend Market illegal and forced them to relocate. But the street vendors have refused to leave and used his name to continue selling at the same locations. The deputy governor said the Chatuchak district’s city law enforcement section must dismantle the stalls immediately and if they did not abide by the order, the BMA would use administrative and legal measures against them.

The rogue officers might be transferred and investigated. They might even face criminal charges, the Deputy Governor said.

The BMA has been reported of illegal street vendors in other districts, including Wang Thonglang, Bang Rak and Pathumwan.

The Deputy Governor said there would be probes against all relevant BMA officers, adding that the BMA could not allow anyone to use public pavements for personal benefits and the areas in front of Chatuchak was not temporary permitted areas for street vendors.

On 30 September, the deputy governor will inspect the whole city as part of the BMA’s project to eradicate illegal ad banners, fine people who litter, and remove illegal stalls on pavements.

BMA Permanent Secretary Charoenrat Chutikarn said he was looking into the problem of illegal street vendors in front of the weekend market as instructed by the Deputy Governor. He vowed the BMA officers who abused their power would be punished.