Thai junta to relocate street hawkers in bid to clean up Bangkok

They sell everything from noodle soup to sex toys, but Bangkok's famed street hawkers are now facing a crackdown as authorities in the fast-growing metropolis struggle to make space for pedestrians on the crowded pavements.

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. The stalls that festoon many streets have come to define one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant cities, but are also prompting complaints from some Thais who decry them as hazards - raising questions over how the bustling capital uses its public space.

"We must return most sidewalks to the people," said Police Major General Vichai Sangparpai, claiming vendors had colonised around a dozen of the city's main roads, obstructing people and traffic as well as damaging the environment.

Action to tackle the congestion has gained momentum since Thailand's generals seized power last May, cracking down on activities including gambling and drug-use in a mission to "restore order" to the nation.

Operations are already underway to evict hawkers from cluttered beaches in tourist hotspots such as Phuket.

But, for the most part, Bangkok's vendors "will be allowed to sell" if they shift to designated zones or stop selling at peak hours, according to Vichai.