Khmer News- Cambodian economy
Last month, I wrote blog post that traffic police fined me and friend of mine while we drove car without wearing belt at midnight. At that time, we gave 10,000 riel to them when they asked us for pure water. And I got comment from Jeffrey Serey Hola from USA, sharing his experience as saying that:
Hello, I was stopped by a group of City Polices a MP outskirt of Phnom Penh 4am in the morning. One MP told us to pull over and pointed to Cheark. He said it expired 2 years ago. Of course coming from United State I did not understand what cheark is and realized that it’s the first time I was kind of scare too but I composed myself very well. I then proceed to call my brother of mine who own the car. He started to laugh and said he totally forgot to pay because the car has been parked for long while. He told me to pay and ask them for receipt and he said if they cannot produce any receipt that’s mean they’re illegal.
Anyway to make it short I did pay 2,5000.00 ($5.00) reil and got receipt for 2009 Cheark. They told if there any stopped just show them the receipt. Along the way there are a few illegal check point I assumed because they did not stop me. Nowadays those illegal pulling for money is very rare to a citizen because they are very selective for Taxies or wrong move.
For your situation it might not be illegal and of course you should have ask for receipt but if they cannot produce one then hand the money to them anyway for your safety. But if I were you I would have offer the water first and then ask for receipt politely. Humanitarian aid to such is not bad and help make other side at ease, also. I has been in Cambodia many times and had travel with my wife and had out food, money, and medicine to places that people in Phnom Penh advised me not to go alone.
He also commented that I should give pure water to them and then asked them to issue receipt. If it was in the day time, I would ask them how many faults I made and then I would pay them the number of my faults, but not gave them water. It was their excuse, in fact they wanted to ask for money but they did not ask like this directly.
I did not want to confront with police at night like that because I needed my own life safety first, not need find justice and fairness. It is hard to believe them at night. How do you think? if you met the situation like me, do you really ask them to issue receipt?
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I support Jeffery’s idea of having them to issue receipt for the fine. By giving them money directly, we also involve in corruption, that mean we bribed them to bypass the fine/punishment regardless its fairness.
In such situation that you mention about night time, it is also considerable for Cambodia’s security reason, but at least we attempt to have them respect the rule of law, i would do my best. I had similar experience during Water Festival in 2006 where me and another female friend insisted the police who block the road (to avoid traffic jam at the river side area) to enter to my school. It was the small road near Wat Lanka to the University of Cambodia. We needed to go to the school in order to get study materials to be distributed to children in province after the day.
Without considering our request which we asked to enter the school which is very close to the block road, the police allowed foreigner to bypass their bicycle claiming they stay in the hotel near my school. Though we were very disappointed with this treatment, it was good that they did not demand the payment from that foreigners. While others motorcycle drivers were allowed to enter after paying them some money, they asked me for a pack of cigarette or water, so that i could enter. I promptly replied to them “No way that i will give you even a Riel. Your role is to protect people’s security, but not to urge people to bribe you. A bottle of water is so cheap, which i should donate you, but not for this bribe. Because such behavior, Cambodia is never developed.”
Though the two police I talked to were a bit upset with my word, they allowed me to enter. At that moment, i feel my statement is a bit strong to them and it would be risky for me in such a quiet small street. But, I feel oblige to make them aware that their behavior are wrong. It is just a small case and you may feel it was lucky for me by harshly criticizing them without any risk. However, this case can reveal that we reject to bribery, those who bribe will lost its power and at some degree it can make them realize their role.
Regards,
Sopheap
Thanks Sopheap for your leaving comment and sharing your struggling experience. In fact, i would do like what you did. I agreed with you. But at that time, I did not want to risk my life, including friend of mine.
The fact, when we gave money to police, it meant that we are involved with bribery or corruption but that was my best chance in such a circumstances.