Ratanakosin's homeless to be moved on

The Interior Ministry will join hands with Bangkok City Hall and police to relocate vendors and homeless people from the banks of Klong Lod, in a bid to boost tourism in Bangkok.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan told a House meeting that he would meet with City Hall executives on Monday to discuss a plan to tidy up historical Ratanakosin Island in order to attract more tourists. He was responding MPs' questions about the problem of Ratanakosin's homeless people.

Charupong said that after Sanam Luang had been renovated, homeless people had moved from there to the banks of Klong Lod in front of the Interior Ministry.

"I will tell City Hall to take charge of putting the historical areas and tourist sites on Ratanakosin Island in order," Charupong told the House meeting.

He said he would cooperate with the Social Development and Human Security Ministry and City Hall in moves to persuade the vendors to move to other areas.