Klong Toei Market talks deadlocked

After the twohour meeting, protesting vendors insisted that the Ports Authority of Thailand scrap the concession it has granted to Legal Professional Co Ltd. But the company said the vendors' demand was unacceptable. The PAT echoed the company's stance.

The vendors said a further three rounds of scheduled talks would be useless, and threatened to parade the bodies of two of their bodyguards allegedly shot dead by employees of the firm at government agencies.

The company said it had lawfully received the concession and had authority to manage the market under court protection. The company said it was willing to talk with the vendors again, with members of the Law Society of Thailand present.

Earlier, the Supreme Administrative Court dismissed a lawsuit lodged by the vendors asking to PAT to nullify its concession to the company. The judges said the PAT had made a businessoriented decision and its jurisdiction was limited to administrative decisions that affect the public.