100 men go on rampage at RCA market

August 27th, 2007 by admin

span style=”font-weight: bold”>100 men go on rampage at RCA market

More than 100 men stormed into a Bangkok market and destroyed about 40 stalls early yesterday.

It took them less than 10 minutes to reduce the stalls to ruins.

Makkasan Police Station was alerted to what happened at around 4am.

Witnesses said they saw more than 20 vehicles suspiciously parked at the entrance to the market, which is near Uthai Tharam Temple and the Royal City Avenue (RCA) entertainment area, before they moved into the market and released more than 100 vandals.

“I am going to demand compensation for the damage done,” Samruai Nongpong, alias Ruai RCA, said in his capacity as the market’s manager.

He said all stalls in the market had operated on leased lots for more than 20 years until three months ago when landowner and businessman Suraphan Wongkarnpot suddenly refused to take the rent, citing that the lease contract had expired.

“I have told him that we will relocate once we find a new place to run the stalls, but then such a violent incident happens,” Samruai said.

Lt-Colonel Pairach Saiyalert, an inspector with Makkasan police, said 17 people had lodged complaints about the shops’ demolition.

“We will investigate the case further and bring culprits to justice,” Pairach said. He estimated the damage to be around Bt1.2million.

One of the complainants, Lue Nakpayon, said he had operated his stall for more than 10 years and never thought that such violent means would be used against traders.

“I have never fallen behind in my rent schedule,” Lue said.

He said he always paid the rent through Samruai, who assured him that the business could continue as usual even when a board was erected to demand that the stalls relocate or face legal action.

“Samruai told me that he could settle things with the landlord,” Lue said. “But in whatever case talk is a much better option. One should not resort to violence.”