Vendors in Phnom Penh’s Ngin An market are protesting a government-backed bid by the market’s new owner to push them out by tomorrow.

More than 40 representatives of 223 vendors waved a banner at the market yesterday to protest a letter from Russey Keo District Hall demanding that they pay steep rents to the new owner, dismantle their stores by tomorrow or face eviction.

A representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the new owner, Ocedano, has been attempting to push them out by shrinking store size limits to a maximum of two square metres while demanding a full $30 per month in addition to a yearly fee of $2,800 from each vendor.

The market’s previous owner asked for only 200 riel per day and an additional $100 per year, he said.

The vendors lost an appeal against Ocedano last year. 

To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Sarom at [email protected]