Hi all, would like to share this piece of info regarding Chatuchak (as below). As you can see, Chatuchak was not the market that was demolished. It was the market NEXT to Chatuchak that was demolished. Hope the article below helps in clearing some doubts.
More than 100 Bang Sue policemen stormed the so-called Sunday Market in Chatuchak district yesterday morning to break up a scuffle involving retailers and a group of 100 men who demolished outlets in the market. According to police, the armed men began tearing down retail outlets in the market off Phaholyothin road around 7am yesterday.
Retailers fought back as they guarded their belongings, leading to the scuffle.
The men, who work for Thanasarn Sombatpattana Co, were told to clear the outlets for market renovation, the police said.
Retailers claimed they were not told in advance about the demolition.
They sought an explanation from the men but did not get any clear answers.
Angry retailers then hurled stones at the workers, which led to the confrontation.
The eight-rai Sunday Market, which opens every day, is next to the famous Chatuchak weekend market, and has around 1,000 retail outlets.
Thanasarn Sombatpattana Co has rented the land from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for 12 years.
The rental contract worth 210 million baht took effect on April 1 this year.
The company's lawyer claimed his legal team put up a demolition notice last Thursday.
Retailers, who allegedly occupied the plot illegally, refused to move out.
However, Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay Nimmano, the Metropolitan Police 2 commander, said the firm's legal team did not have a document authorising them to demolish the outlets.
The legal team had a court order allowing buildings to be demolished, but had not yet obtained a legal execution order, which was also needed to demolish outlets.
A legal execution official was also needed at the market to identify the buildings that the company could demolish.
The absence of legal order and legal execution official made the company's demolition attempt an unauthorised act, said the police commander.
Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay said the retailers and legal team from Thanasarn failed to reach an agreement over their land dispute yesterday, prompting him to call another meeting between the parties for 2pm today.
Representatives from the SRT, which owns the land plot, and the Legal Execution Department have also been invited.
Before reaching any agreement, police have forbidden both parties from taking any action regarding the land plot, said Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay.
Anxious about their own security and their assets on site, the retailers yesterday afternoon went to the residence of Privy Council chief Prem Tinsulanonda to seek his help.
Leader for the vendors Wila Udom said Sunday Market retailers were frightened by the 100 men, who were armed with pistols and knives.
They claimed Bang Sue police did not offer help, so they decided to seek help from Gen Prem.
SRT acting governor Thawil Samnakhon said the SRT was not aware of the demolition plan, but has known about the dispute between the firm and retailers occupying the land plot.
Mr Thawil said the SRT and Thanasarn have offered the retailers an alternative retail site, but they refused to relocate.
The rental contract stipulates that Thanasarn must complete any construction on the land plot within two years of the rental term starting.
If the company cannot complete the work in two years, it will be liable to pay a fine to the SRT.
The company has already wasted its first eight months, according to Mr Thawil.
Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen has asked Mr Thawil and Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, transport permanent secretary, to talk to retailers, a source said.
However, the dispute over the land plot has now reached the Civil Court. All parties concerned have to wait for the court ruling, said the source.