Crackdown on Bangkok street stalls as pedestrians vie for space

The move to relocate thousands of sellers from main roads to side streets or restrict touting to the night is part of a campaign to “reclaim the sidewalks” that comes as the ruling junta vows to “clean-up” Thailand’s image.

Bangkok residents have long shared their streets with merchants, relying on them for cheap meals and household goods, while tourists are readily found haggling over knock-off handbags, T-shirts or cut-price DVDs.