Today at Khlong Toei market
Update: November 13 - The protest described below received almost no media attention until early this morning when a bomb was thrown into the gathering, injuring 15 people, two seriously. The protestors have now opened the Rama IV, but this appears to be our of respect for the funeral for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. The bomb has clearly not frightened them away and the road in front of the market is closed off and full of protestors.I just passed there on my way home from work and I talked to several people. They say the bomb was thrown from the overpass heading towards Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. There is a rather high wall there so it was impossible to see who threw the bomb.
I now understand where there are signs saying "mai aw mafia" -- "we don't want the mafia". The owner of the company that won the bid to manage the market is said to be a former military officer with a criminal record.
(November 12) Below is a scene you won't see very often. That is Rama IV, normally one of Bangkok's streets, at the beginning of rush hour a short while ago. I took the photos on my way home from the nearby Bangkok Post building. What was going on? Scroll down the page and you'll find out.
Today, the Khlong Toei market vendors shut down Rama IV in front the market in protest against the landlord, the Port Authority of Thailand's plans to develop the area under new management. The vendors fear, very likely correctly, that they will be forced out, either through very high rents or because the land will be developed into yet another upscale commercial centre.
The sign below reads "The Port Authority has opened the bidding - Area development project - Commercial building and the Khlong Toei market - To find money to fill their purses before their term ends Hee Hee Hee. (If someone wants to help me on the translation, use the comment section below.)
The speaker sounded like he had been talking for a long time because he was very hoarse. Like all such rallys, however, there were a lot of breaks for music, keeping the crowd upbeat. Meanwhile, the traffic was backed up all the way from Khlong Toei market almost to the Hua Lumpong station. I know, I was caught in it for over an hour earlier in the day.
All in all, I'm not sure the vendors picked a very good day. Today is Loy Krathong and it was also the day when the Bangkok governor was forced to resign after being implicated in a corruption case. Thus, they got almost no media coverage. Will they stay until they do? We'll just have to wait and see.