Netizens lash Siam Square vendors
What’s hot in Thai newspapers and social media
The refusal by street vendors in Siam Square to move from pavements has triggered online outrage. Netizens say the traders are occupying spaces illegally, causing inconvenience and endangering others.
They were responding to a Facebook post by a popular movie review page, overhyp, which asked whether the vendors should have the right to negotiate with City Hall, which has come up with a plan to relocate them.
Earlier, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration held talks with around 200 vendors about the relocation plan which is due to take place on Aug 1. More than 500 street vendors in the Siam Square area have been asked to move out of the city’s main shopping area and transport hub, to a new location under the Phong Phra Ram Expressway.
The vendors in Siam Square usually camp along footpaths in the area from 7pm to 11pm, instead of afternoons as previously, in a compromise between the city and the vendors.
However, City Hall said it had received complaints from pedestrians that the street trading has made it difficult for pedestrians to use the footpaths.
Some raised concerns over the chaos which would result in a possible terrorist attack as the rows of stalls along the pavements clutter the area and make it difficult to move about.
The vendors, however, want to keep their stalls open an hour or two hours later. They have asked the BMA to tidy up the area rather than shut it down.
Many vendors say they are the family breadwinners, and would worry about their future if forced to move.
The movie review page, however, said the BMA should not feel obliged to find them another place to do business because vending in public places is not allowed.
“You obstruct people who need space to wait for a bus on the pavement,” said the post.
The page criticised the traders for calling for sympathy, saying they are not poor but have merely taken advantage of others by occupying the space.
The page said the majority of these vendors are well-off as many of them drive to work in expensive cars.
The post received over 17,000 likes and more than 3,200 shares.
Netizens have shared their experiences and backed the BMA’s bid to move them out of the area.
Many said it is hard to move about when there is heavy rain. Some say it takes longer to get through crowds and walk up to the elevated BTS train station above.
The National Council for Peace and Order has made cleaning up Bangkok’s streets part of its campaign for greater social order.
Several street vending spots in Bangkok have been cleared by City Hall, acting on the government’s behalf, including the famous Bangkok Flower Market (Pak Klong Talad), Silom and Ratchaprasong areas.
Death penalty calls fire net
The death of a female teacher who was killed in a rape attempt in Saraburi’s Kaeng Khoi district has triggered public anger, leading to calls among social media users that the perpetrator face the death penalty.
The suspect, who lived in a room opposite that of his victim, Chularat Towanna, admitted attempting to rape her and, as she tried to fight back, killing her.
Netizens have condemned the alleged killer and called for capital punishment to be imposed.
Police on Sunday cancelled a re-enactment of the crime, for fear an angry crowd might try to hurt the suspect.
The suspect, Chatree Ruamsungnoen, 27, was released from prison 10 months ago after serving a sentence for a previous rape.
According to Thairath online, a Facebook user, Paisarn Manaree, posted a video clip on Sunday calling for the death penalty.
The clip features a woman holding cards reading “execute him”, standing among hundreds of onlookers who gathered at the planned crime re-enactment scene.
The clip has attracted over 31,000 views and more than 1,600 shares on Facebook.
“If you imprison him, he will do it again when he gets out of jail,” said a female Facebook user.
“Law enforcement is too soft on offenders of this type of crime. The death penalty is the only punishment they deserve,” said another social media user.
One man, however, urged Thais to not be so extreme, reminding them there could always be flaws in the Thai justice system and that scapegoats have often been punished for other people’s crimes.
“What if the death penalty leads to the execution of innocent men and what if the scapegoats are your family members? Poor people are usually forced to make a confession,” he said.
For years, calls for the death penalty have erupted following brutal and highly-publicised crimes. In May this year, the public was outraged at six men accused of involvement in the murder of a disabled man, and called for capital punishment in their case.
A few weeks earlier, a 20-year-old man accused of raping and killing an 8-year-old girl was acquitted by a court in Trang province which said DNA evidence pointed to him not being the rapist.
He had spent almost a month in jail. About two years ago, a court in Chiang Mai acquitted a man who had been imprisoned for six years for allegedly killing and raping his girlfriend. DNA evidence later proved he was innocent.
Victims have rights too
Social media users in Thailand are calling for the media to refrain from exposing personal information or photos of victims of crime to the public.
In an online petition on the international campaigning website, change.org, they say posting images of the victims does not benefit anyone.
More importantly, it could affect the lives of the victims’ families, they say.
The online campaign calls for legislation to punish offenders who disclose personal information and images of victims to the public.
The campaign cites recent news stories of a female teacher being raped and killed in Saraburi province. The media shared photos of her.
The campaign was initiated on Sunday and has gained over 6,000 supporters.
‘Extreme’ cops spark outrage
A video clip of a policeman hitting a motorcyclist around the head has caused online debate with many netizens criticising the police for taking excessive action against the man.
Thithipong Kulpipattana, the 19-year-old motorcyclist, said the incident took place last Friday when he was driving along Ratchada-Thra Pra Road in the right lane.
A police checkpoint lay ahead of him but he did not see it until it was too late to stop.
One officer hit him on the arm to get him to stop. Another policeman struck him again, causing him to fall to the ground.
The man said he admitted that he was not riding in the correct lane required for motorcycles but insisted the police response was too extreme.
The man was fined 100 baht for failing to have his motorbike registration document renewed. He has filed a complaint with Bukkalo police station.
Many netizens have lambasted the police for the disproportionate action. Others said otherwise, pointing out the motorcyclist should have slowed down if he had nothing to hide.