Royal celebration clears capital of sordid elements.

(From The Nation (Thailand))

Byline: The Nation.

Ban on dirty vendors, beggars in inner city could boost valuation

For a few days last week, life in inner-city Bangkok became shockingly pleasant.

For a brief moment, in celebration of His Majesty the King's 60 years on the throne, the authorities cleaned up main thoroughfares.

After all it is not everyday the world's press and cameras zero in on the capital. The dignified affair demanded the city put its best foot forward, not its worst.

Unruly vendors, stray dogs, bogus beggars, marauding elephants and taxi gangs that monopolise sidewalks daily, dumping mountains of …