Kratie vendors protest pricey relocation site
In an effort to improve Kratie town’s aesthetics, authorities have ordered about 300 shop owners on central roads and along the river bank to relocate their operations or face physical removal. Vendors were given until today to move to a location about a kilometre away, but are protesting the new site’s fees of 150,000 to 300,000 riel ($37.50 to $75) for 1.2 square metres, according to vendor representative Norn Phalla. “We filed a complaint to commune officials for help, but we did not hear anything,” Phalla said. Shop owners said authorities were attempting to beautify the city in order to bolster tourism. Vendor Sam Saveoun claimed deputy provincial governor Cheak Meng Heang had told her: “I reminded you to move. Otherwise, you would be surprised when military police come to take your stuff.”
