Mr Samran presented himself at Chalong Police Station last week to formally hear the charges against him. He has been charged with operating a market without a permit and ignoring an official order.
Affectionately referred to by local residents as ‘Nayok Samran’ (‘prime minister Samran’), Mr Samran held a press conference at the Suk Samran Market yesterday (Nov 23) to call on Chalong Municipality to explain the charges.
“In the past, we followed the law every step of the way, but the market still has not been granted official permission to open,” he said.
The market, which has been operating without interference from officials for about a decade, was opened by Mr Samran on his own land at a cost of B400,000 so that local residents could make a living selling fresh produce.
Over the years, Suk Samran Market has proved very popular with local residents and the vendors alike.
Vendors turned out in strong support of Mr Samran when he presented himself at Chalong Police Station last Friday (Nov 17). He received the same strong support yesterday as he was gifted large garlands and roses.
Mr Samran explained that when he originally opened the market, he had complied with all legal requirements and the market was given permission to operate.
However, later when it came to renewing the market licence, the municipality gave notice of modifications to be made in order for the licence to be renewed.
All the required modifications were made, but the municipality has still refused to renew the permit allowing the market to operate, he explained.
“We have followed all the legal requirements, both in the matter of requesting permission to open the market and with the revised conditions to improve the market to comply with the law,” Mr Samran said.
“The municipality issued a notice of improvements to be made when we applied for the licence to be renewed, but after we made the corrections, the licence was still not renewed,” he added.
“I would like to ask the relevant agencies as to why they have not continued the licence despite the issues that have been enquired about. If it is a matter to do with the land, the land office has clearly responded to enquiries about that,” Mr Samran said.
“If there is anything that is stuck, we are ready to proceed,” he added.
Mr Samran assured that the market will continue operating for the foreseeable future.
“As for closing the market, if you hear that, it’s not correct,” he said.
“I am ready to follow the requirements because I don’t want a case against me. As for the vendors, they have to talk together about how to get through this,” Mr Samran said.
Of note, so far officials from Chalong Municipality, under the leadership of Chalong Mayor Thanaporn Ongsantiphap, have yet to make any move to close the market by force.
The market, for now, continues to open every day without interference.