Local police tore down about 200 shops at the Samaki market in Pailin municipality on Saturday, after vendors stopped renting umbrellas from the market owners, Pailin officials and vendors said Sunday.
Tith Srey Mom, a fruit seller at the market, said she could not afford to rent three umbrellas a day for $0.26 each from the market owners, but they would not allow her to purchase her own umbrellas or rent them from others.
She and other vendors decided to build their own coverings for their shops using a tarp, plastic bags and other materials, which police took down Saturday.
“If I cannot find justice, I will stop doing business here and will return to my home in Takeo province,” Tith Srey Mom said, adding that she and other vendors plan to file a complaint to municipal authorities.
Chea Sarith, another fruit seller, said the police destroyed the shops using axes and knives.
Chea Chandin, deputy police chief of Pailin, confirmed the shops were torn down. He said no one was injured.
He said authorities talked to market owners about building stalls for the vendors, but no solution has been reached.
Mei Meak, cabinet chief for Pailin, said it is wrong for market owners to force vendors to rent umbrellas only from them. He added that the municipality did not ask the police to tear down the shops.
He said police do not want to have plastic roofs at the market because it looks unprofessional. and disorderly.
