Police Is the Fear of People in Cambodia
Recall back in 2001, i was stopped by the police at the corner of the traffic light of Sihanouk Blvd and Monivong Blvd and demanded me to pay 50000Rield. I was so scare at that time while i was just a countryside boy who just came to live in Phnom Penh.
Every word of the police made me shaking and finally because i didn’t want them to take my moto away to the police station which i didn’t know where until today. So i have to decide to pay all those money i had in the pocket (20000Riel). Of course, it was my fault that i turned against the sign at that time and it was the horrible experience first time for me to live in town.
And from that time on ward i have to be really be careful when i travel a long the road in Phnom Penh. If i am not aware enough i might be in trap or trouble. And early of 2008, i was caught another time for being not puting the side mirror on my motobike (6000 rield, demanded by the police at the corner of MoEYS near Paragon shopping mall). Well, i tried to talk with the police for a while however i had to pay 4000 in order i can go.
As i notice today everywhere in town the eyes of the traveler both local and foreigners look around a far and try to travel on the treet where there are no police. What are the public servant duty? Is it to scare and threat the civil servant? I doubt.
Stopping moto vehicle and all the other type of vehicle become a popular business for today. Why not just fine the one who break the traffic law according to the set amount of money defined in the law? Is it hard to live withouth corruption & fearing and scaring and threatening others?
In real practice not many people ask for help from the authority otherwise it costs a lot of money to do so. Another interesting thing it happens to foreigners as well and the charge is normally higher if they are found to break the traffic rule in Phnom Penh, the price will goes double or tripple or even more. Then what should we say now, to encourage or discourage the action? Haha, you know that. 
Tags: Activities, Cambodia, Fear, News, police, Society
August 14th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
hahah that’s so true!