Today's Phnom Penh Post had two great stories. The youth of Cambodia have the higher-ups wringing their hands. They seem to be at a loss at how to cope with recalcitrant young Khmers.
Here are two proposed solutions, one for girls and the other, presumably, for boys:
Girls curfew proposed for girls under the age of 16 from going out alone at night because "We want to promote the morals of girls in our society." The downside, as one spokesman pointed out, is that "it violates the human right to mobility".
Anti-gangster strategy was designed by top police officials. "During a three-hour discussion, we outlined the goals of cracking down on crime in a smooth way, a legal way and an efficient way, in order to guarantee security, safety and civil peace in Phnom Penh," said Chev Keng, director of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
No details were given of the strategy, which aims "to prevent youths from terrorising local communities and to educate them".
Showing posts with label Police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police. Show all posts
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ministry of Interior's website hacked by Ukrainians
I was trying to find Cambodia's land traffic laws which took me to the Ministry of Interior's website.
I was on the welcome page reading the welcome address by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sak Kheng, who suggested I visit the "Q & A" page, "which is one of the active and objective pages to engage the public in a useful discussion about issues of mutual concern."
Click on Q&A and you will find this:
We are providing a Q & A page where you can post any question that other users might want to know about. Our information department will reply to questions posted here.Then read the posts: CheapAirJordans, MPEG Converter, Wholesale Jewelry, Designer Handbags etc. Give it a minute and the site will be transferred to a Ukrainian website ukr.net.
You agreed, through the use of Q & A page, that you will not use to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise in violation of any law. Advertising of other commercial website(s) or chat server(s), pyramid schemes, and solicitations are strictly prohibited.
It is hilarious. Obviously nobody is paying attention. The Ministry must have stuck it up because it looks good to have a Q&A section and then promptly forgot about it. They don't even know the site's been hacked (I wonder how long ago?)
Monday, August 24, 2009
More on Siem Reap's motorists
I was told this great story by an expat friend the other day. She was having a meal at the Blue Pumpkin when suddenly this French man rushed into the cafe, screaming his head off, yelling at the counter staff to call the police. Customers were confused by this commotion but the facts soon emerged.
The man had parked his four wheel drive outside the Siem Reap Book Centre, which is just next to the Blue Pumpkin here in the old market area. The man ignored the shop owner's request to move his vehicle. A stupid move, as he was to find out. (Nobody messes with the Siem Reap Book Centre...is this guy new in town?)
Staff at the book shop returned with a piece of wood with nails stuck in it and started slamming the wood into his car. Hence the screams.
I laughed when I heard the story. This is because I've had to tell expats and Khmers to move their vehicles when they park directly in front of the Bloom shop, blocking the entrance. It drives me crazy because these people are so inconsiderate. We run a business - how would they like it if someone else blocked the entrance of their place of business or house?
Most people are nice enough when I politely ask if they could park their cars somewhere else. But many argue and it is always the same story: There is nowhere else to park.
One time it was a woman from a conservation project (her organisation was emblazoned on the vehicle). She looked annoyed and said to me, "There is nowhere to park at the market."
I agree, but, how is that my problem? If you can't find parking space, get a tuk tuk for your weekly trips to the market.
Fortunately she understood when I explained that I pay high rent for this shop and I really need to attract customers. We agreed she could park her huge vehicle before the shop opens (see, I'm not unreasonable).
A week later, I found myself in the same situation. This time it was a French man in his 50s or 60s. "Great," I thought. "Do I really want to pick a fight with an elderly French man?" I was so sure he would cuss me, yelling why don't you speak French etc etc.
But because I spoke to the woman, I thought, as a matter of fairness, I had to speak with the man too.
It always starts out the same, the drivers avoiding my attempts to get their attention. And again the same argument: there is nowhere to park at the old market. "Madame, it is difficult to everyone, uh," he said in his French-accented English.
I beg to differ. It's only difficult if you choose to drive your car to the market. It's not difficult for me and many others who walk, or take a moto or tuktuk. It is the same problem as in any other country - some areas just lack parking space, so you take the bus or other form of public transport (let's not even mention carbon emissions driving your 4WD).
Sometimes I think expats here think Cambodia is a lawless country and so do as they please.
Well, the man who parked in front of the bookshop soon learnt there are laws here too, however arbitrarily and infrequently they are enforced. His car was towed away by the police, who took care to photograph the process, as evidence they had treated his car with care. No doubt he had to pay a fine to get his vehicle back.
The man had parked his four wheel drive outside the Siem Reap Book Centre, which is just next to the Blue Pumpkin here in the old market area. The man ignored the shop owner's request to move his vehicle. A stupid move, as he was to find out. (Nobody messes with the Siem Reap Book Centre...is this guy new in town?)
Staff at the book shop returned with a piece of wood with nails stuck in it and started slamming the wood into his car. Hence the screams.
I laughed when I heard the story. This is because I've had to tell expats and Khmers to move their vehicles when they park directly in front of the Bloom shop, blocking the entrance. It drives me crazy because these people are so inconsiderate. We run a business - how would they like it if someone else blocked the entrance of their place of business or house?
Most people are nice enough when I politely ask if they could park their cars somewhere else. But many argue and it is always the same story: There is nowhere else to park.
One time it was a woman from a conservation project (her organisation was emblazoned on the vehicle). She looked annoyed and said to me, "There is nowhere to park at the market."
I agree, but, how is that my problem? If you can't find parking space, get a tuk tuk for your weekly trips to the market.
Fortunately she understood when I explained that I pay high rent for this shop and I really need to attract customers. We agreed she could park her huge vehicle before the shop opens (see, I'm not unreasonable).
A week later, I found myself in the same situation. This time it was a French man in his 50s or 60s. "Great," I thought. "Do I really want to pick a fight with an elderly French man?" I was so sure he would cuss me, yelling why don't you speak French etc etc.
But because I spoke to the woman, I thought, as a matter of fairness, I had to speak with the man too.
It always starts out the same, the drivers avoiding my attempts to get their attention. And again the same argument: there is nowhere to park at the old market. "Madame, it is difficult to everyone, uh," he said in his French-accented English.
I beg to differ. It's only difficult if you choose to drive your car to the market. It's not difficult for me and many others who walk, or take a moto or tuktuk. It is the same problem as in any other country - some areas just lack parking space, so you take the bus or other form of public transport (let's not even mention carbon emissions driving your 4WD).
Sometimes I think expats here think Cambodia is a lawless country and so do as they please.
Well, the man who parked in front of the bookshop soon learnt there are laws here too, however arbitrarily and infrequently they are enforced. His car was towed away by the police, who took care to photograph the process, as evidence they had treated his car with care. No doubt he had to pay a fine to get his vehicle back.
Siem Reap motorists protest police actions
Motorists and tuk tuk drivers staged a protest against the traffic police this morning. The protest took place on the road to Psar Leu here in Siem Reap.
I was told this is in response to the police confiscating motorcycles and demanding to be paid USD250-USD300 to release the bikes. If true, it is an outrage, as the fine (see below) for driving a vehicle without a licence plate is stated to be between 25,000 and 200,000 riels (USD6-48). Furthermore, new bikes cost less than USD2000 and second-hand ones as little as USD400 and a license ordinarily costs only USD30 for motos and USD60 for cars.
[Update 26 July: Another reason for the protest, it was reported in yesterday's Khmer newspapers is the exorbitant vehicle taxes. Thyda's sister's new motobike for instance, costs USD950 but she is expected to pay USD600 in taxes because hers is a newer model (2007). She had bought the bike imported from Thailand for USD950 but if you buy from a retailer in Cambodia, the retailer will include the taxes and the motobike will cost at least USD1600. The people are upset because the police do not care even if you had paid USD300 for your second-hand motorcycle. As long as it is a 2005 model or newer, the tax is USD600. The people say if they had this kind of money, they would have bought a better bike in the first place. They are asking for taxes to be reduced: USD50 for bikes older than 2003 and USD100 for those newer than that.
The protests were more organised than I had realised - they took place in other provinces in Cambodia, not just in Siem Reap. The other towns were at the border with Thailand and Vietnam and one more I could not confirm.]
Since Aug 1, traffic police all over Cambodia have been aggressive in their efforts to enforce the land traffic law. I have noticed the policemen all over town now, even standing guard at the entrance of the dirt road leading to my house. All in the hopes of pulling over recalcitrant drivers.
"We are not just imposing this law out of nowhere," Interior Minister Sar Kheng told the Phnom Penh Post (Vehicles to be confiscated, July 31). He noted that the law had been approved by the National Assembly in 2007 and that his ministry had issued a directive in June stating that it would step up enforcement of the law on August 1. "The people should know. We informed them one month ago to be cautious."
Quoted from the Post:
Apparently he was not wrong. Traffic law nets 60000 vehicles (out of which 300 are cars), reports the Post on the 17 Aug.
Of course it is a good thing trying to initiate some order on Cambodia's roads. Road deaths in Cambodia average 4 a day. If you stop to think about it, in general, accidents happen because people don't follow rules. If people followed rules, we'd be able to anticipate their actions and respond accordingly.
But some are in denial. Hem Ya, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat, tells the Post in the 17th Aug interview: "I think that so far, 80 percent of Cambodian people respect the traffic law" '. 80% - surely you jest, sir. Don't they say admission of the problem is the first step to a solution?
But I was glad to see some are paying attention:
The tuktuk drivers tell me today's protest did not produce desired results so another one is planned. I'll go with Phoen when that happens.
I was told this is in response to the police confiscating motorcycles and demanding to be paid USD250-USD300 to release the bikes. If true, it is an outrage, as the fine (see below) for driving a vehicle without a licence plate is stated to be between 25,000 and 200,000 riels (USD6-48). Furthermore, new bikes cost less than USD2000 and second-hand ones as little as USD400 and a license ordinarily costs only USD30 for motos and USD60 for cars.
[Update 26 July: Another reason for the protest, it was reported in yesterday's Khmer newspapers is the exorbitant vehicle taxes. Thyda's sister's new motobike for instance, costs USD950 but she is expected to pay USD600 in taxes because hers is a newer model (2007). She had bought the bike imported from Thailand for USD950 but if you buy from a retailer in Cambodia, the retailer will include the taxes and the motobike will cost at least USD1600. The people are upset because the police do not care even if you had paid USD300 for your second-hand motorcycle. As long as it is a 2005 model or newer, the tax is USD600. The people say if they had this kind of money, they would have bought a better bike in the first place. They are asking for taxes to be reduced: USD50 for bikes older than 2003 and USD100 for those newer than that.
The protests were more organised than I had realised - they took place in other provinces in Cambodia, not just in Siem Reap. The other towns were at the border with Thailand and Vietnam and one more I could not confirm.]
Since Aug 1, traffic police all over Cambodia have been aggressive in their efforts to enforce the land traffic law. I have noticed the policemen all over town now, even standing guard at the entrance of the dirt road leading to my house. All in the hopes of pulling over recalcitrant drivers.
"We are not just imposing this law out of nowhere," Interior Minister Sar Kheng told the Phnom Penh Post (Vehicles to be confiscated, July 31). He noted that the law had been approved by the National Assembly in 2007 and that his ministry had issued a directive in June stating that it would step up enforcement of the law on August 1. "The people should know. We informed them one month ago to be cautious."
Quoted from the Post:
Motorbike drivers caught riding without helmets will be given the option of purchasing a helmet on the spot or having their bikes confiscated.Sar Kheng had anticipated many infractions and asked then for 1-2 hectares of land to store confiscated vehicles.
Any vehicle being driven without a licence plate or side mirrors will be confiscated, and drivers will be required to pay fines for infractions as well as a fee of 20,000 riels (US$4.75) for vehicle storage. The vehicle will only be released when it is fully equipped with a license plate and mirrors.
Under Article 79 of the Land Traffic Law, driving a vehicle without a licence plate incurs a fine of between 25,000 and 200,000 riels ($6-$48).
Under Article 88, driving a motorbike without a helmet incurs a fine of 3,000 riels."
Apparently he was not wrong. Traffic law nets 60000 vehicles (out of which 300 are cars), reports the Post on the 17 Aug.
Of course it is a good thing trying to initiate some order on Cambodia's roads. Road deaths in Cambodia average 4 a day. If you stop to think about it, in general, accidents happen because people don't follow rules. If people followed rules, we'd be able to anticipate their actions and respond accordingly.
But some are in denial. Hem Ya, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Police Commissariat, tells the Post in the 17th Aug interview: "I think that so far, 80 percent of Cambodian people respect the traffic law" '. 80% - surely you jest, sir. Don't they say admission of the problem is the first step to a solution?
But I was glad to see some are paying attention:
[Mayor of Phnom Penh] Kep Chuktema said he believed City Hall needed to implement additional measures to make the roads safer, including relocating businesses set up on city sidewalks.It's time something was done to these inconsiderate drivers who park their cars and motorcycles on sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to step off the curb and into traffic. The worst are those that park their precious cars under the shade on sidewalks, so pedestrians have to walk in the rain. You get these idiots everywhere, including Singapore.
"The people running their businesses on the sidewalks park their cars on the roads next to them, which makes the roads in Phnom Penh become narrow," he said. "This is a problem we have to solve in order to avoid traffic congestion."
The tuktuk drivers tell me today's protest did not produce desired results so another one is planned. I'll go with Phoen when that happens.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Race and all that
In business, as in life, you meet all sorts of people. At the Bloom shop, the worst people I have encountered are the immigrants to Europe. These immigrants are just like the nouveau riche: arrogant, snobby and rude because of their new found status (wealth in the case of the nouveau riche). Yesterday one woman who looked ethnic Indian came into the shop, declaring she is from Sweden before proceeding to ask all sorts of questions about Bloom. In contrast, the white guy she was with, who is also from Sweden, was extremely polite and respectful.
I normally like questions from customers, because it means they are interested in what we are trying to do at Bloom. But questions for the sake of showing off their English or questions asked in a dismal attempt to show they know all about Cambodia, I have no patience for. Especially when it is clear these people have no intentions of purchasing anything. They're just bored, or want to give the Cambodians a hard time.
At the Bloom shop in Phnom Penh it was a Vietnamese woman, who was working in Singapore, who behaved in this rude, dismissive manner.
However, people like this are few and far between, which is why I remember every one of them. Far more common are the travellers who like what we are doing and buy our bags, who spread the word and join Bloom Bags Facebook Group. Incredibly, we have almost 300 members! It's quite an achievement when you compare Bloom Bags with other groups on Facebook that sell similar eco-bags. I am so encouraged to know there are many, many people out there who care about other people and the environment and want to show their support for our cause.
Just a couple of days ago, I met a lovely customer who was born in France to North African and Indian parents. We got along so well, we've become firm friends and meet almost everyday. She is absolutely beautiful but she told me about the racism she faces all the time. She has an Irish husband and a gorgeous young son. (People of mixed races are much better looking, in my opinion, probably because they are born from a wider gene pool. In Singapore, Eurasians--persons of European and Asian descent--often get jobs on TV and a friend of mine who studied media studies grumbled at the opportunities offered to Eurasians because of their outstanding looks.)
As an Asian with a white partner, I could commiserate. Everywhere we went on holiday, everyone always assumed I was the leech, sucking up a white man's money. Things were so bad in Bali, I wanted to print a T-shirt that said "I'M THE ONE WITH THE MONEY." My corporate job paid more than Alan's one in academia, so I paid for all our holidays.
And every time we were out, the waiter would speak only to Alan, assuming I cannot speak English. When the bill arrives, they'd go to him. And even after *I've* paid, they'd go to Alan to return the change. Incredible. I am the invisible woman.
Except when I am with a white person who complains about bad service. Then it is me they take it out on. Once, I was with a Finnish friend at Saem restaurant (it's now closed) by the riverside in Phnom Penh. We both ordered the same drink, a mango shake, but my friend insisted it tasted bad. The milk was off, she said and told the waitress she would not pay for the drink and asked to exchange it for a cup of tea. The Khmer waitress pulled a long face. Many Khmer service staff can be quite rude to customers, showing their temper when you complain. I have so many stories from customers, I am actually thinking of starting a blog reviewing restaurants in Cambodia.
Later the waitress said to me, in English, "Why you don't want to pay". Flabbergasted, I said what do you mean, it's not me, it's my friend who said that. Why are you asking me, not her? Indeed I had been quietly sipping away at my mango shake without complaint (perhaps it is because I have more plebian tastes, so it takes a lot to make me complain about food).
I was so angry, I told the Khmer woman: "You are so stupid, because of one lousy fruit shake you make your customers unhappy. I come here all the time and take all my friends here," I added. It's true, I used to take all my friends to that restaurant. "I will never come here again!"
The thing is, and this is what was pointed out by the French woman I mentioned earlier, when you are rude, or throw your weight around, these people back down. They behave exactly like bullies, who pick on people they perceive to be weaker. In my case they think "small Asian woman versus big Westerner" or "less rich Southeast Asian (I think the Japanese, and maybe Koreans, Cambodia being overrun with rich Koreans, get more respect) versus richer Westerner". And bullies will back down when you stand up to them.
Another friend, a Western woman, agreed. She told me about a policeman here in Siem Reap who confiscated the books from two street kids who sell books. To get the books back, the kids will have to pay the policeman. My tuktuk driver in Phnom Penh had his seat confiscated for the same reason and had to pay USD5 to get it back. Anyway, my friend was having none of it and told the policeman she had paid for the books, so legally they are hers and if he does not bring them back in half an hour, she would call her lawyer and file a report with the tourist police. He backed off.
I normally like questions from customers, because it means they are interested in what we are trying to do at Bloom. But questions for the sake of showing off their English or questions asked in a dismal attempt to show they know all about Cambodia, I have no patience for. Especially when it is clear these people have no intentions of purchasing anything. They're just bored, or want to give the Cambodians a hard time.
At the Bloom shop in Phnom Penh it was a Vietnamese woman, who was working in Singapore, who behaved in this rude, dismissive manner.
However, people like this are few and far between, which is why I remember every one of them. Far more common are the travellers who like what we are doing and buy our bags, who spread the word and join Bloom Bags Facebook Group. Incredibly, we have almost 300 members! It's quite an achievement when you compare Bloom Bags with other groups on Facebook that sell similar eco-bags. I am so encouraged to know there are many, many people out there who care about other people and the environment and want to show their support for our cause.
Just a couple of days ago, I met a lovely customer who was born in France to North African and Indian parents. We got along so well, we've become firm friends and meet almost everyday. She is absolutely beautiful but she told me about the racism she faces all the time. She has an Irish husband and a gorgeous young son. (People of mixed races are much better looking, in my opinion, probably because they are born from a wider gene pool. In Singapore, Eurasians--persons of European and Asian descent--often get jobs on TV and a friend of mine who studied media studies grumbled at the opportunities offered to Eurasians because of their outstanding looks.)
As an Asian with a white partner, I could commiserate. Everywhere we went on holiday, everyone always assumed I was the leech, sucking up a white man's money. Things were so bad in Bali, I wanted to print a T-shirt that said "I'M THE ONE WITH THE MONEY." My corporate job paid more than Alan's one in academia, so I paid for all our holidays.
And every time we were out, the waiter would speak only to Alan, assuming I cannot speak English. When the bill arrives, they'd go to him. And even after *I've* paid, they'd go to Alan to return the change. Incredible. I am the invisible woman.
Except when I am with a white person who complains about bad service. Then it is me they take it out on. Once, I was with a Finnish friend at Saem restaurant (it's now closed) by the riverside in Phnom Penh. We both ordered the same drink, a mango shake, but my friend insisted it tasted bad. The milk was off, she said and told the waitress she would not pay for the drink and asked to exchange it for a cup of tea. The Khmer waitress pulled a long face. Many Khmer service staff can be quite rude to customers, showing their temper when you complain. I have so many stories from customers, I am actually thinking of starting a blog reviewing restaurants in Cambodia.
Later the waitress said to me, in English, "Why you don't want to pay". Flabbergasted, I said what do you mean, it's not me, it's my friend who said that. Why are you asking me, not her? Indeed I had been quietly sipping away at my mango shake without complaint (perhaps it is because I have more plebian tastes, so it takes a lot to make me complain about food).
I was so angry, I told the Khmer woman: "You are so stupid, because of one lousy fruit shake you make your customers unhappy. I come here all the time and take all my friends here," I added. It's true, I used to take all my friends to that restaurant. "I will never come here again!"
The thing is, and this is what was pointed out by the French woman I mentioned earlier, when you are rude, or throw your weight around, these people back down. They behave exactly like bullies, who pick on people they perceive to be weaker. In my case they think "small Asian woman versus big Westerner" or "less rich Southeast Asian (I think the Japanese, and maybe Koreans, Cambodia being overrun with rich Koreans, get more respect) versus richer Westerner". And bullies will back down when you stand up to them.
Another friend, a Western woman, agreed. She told me about a policeman here in Siem Reap who confiscated the books from two street kids who sell books. To get the books back, the kids will have to pay the policeman. My tuktuk driver in Phnom Penh had his seat confiscated for the same reason and had to pay USD5 to get it back. Anyway, my friend was having none of it and told the policeman she had paid for the books, so legally they are hers and if he does not bring them back in half an hour, she would call her lawyer and file a report with the tourist police. He backed off.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Steung Meanchey
I accompanied a friend a while back to the Steung Meanchey local police station (called "sangkat" in Khmer), where she was applying for her ID card. The police station was packed with people that weekday morning. To speed things along, my friend paid a bribe. On the spot the local policemen expedited the processing of her case. 
I also saw these two boys squatting next to a strange-looking thing, which my friend told me is a musical instrument. The boys were waiting for their ride and my friend urged me to give them money, which I did, because I felt embarrassed.Steung Meanchey is infamous for the only rubbish dump in Phnom Penh. It is a terrible, terrible place and you can find out more about the people living there from Canadians helping Cambodian youth. If you are really interested, you can google "Steung Meanchey" and you'll find photos of hell on earth. I will not link to any, because I get angry at photographers who see the dump as a photo opportunity, but do nothing once they've taken their "human interest" shots and leave the dump.
But there are good people helping the community at Steung Meanchey Dump, such as Nuon Phymean, who was chosen as a candidate for CNN's Hero 2008. You can vote for her here heroes.cnn.com and visit her organisation here. Photo of Nuon Phymean from mongkol.wordpress.com.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Cambodian Tourist Police in Siem Reap
I just tried Googling blogs on Cambodia's tourist police. I was looking specifically for tourists' experience with the Cambodian tourist police, as opposed to the ordinary police force. The reason is I had a glowing report from a Western tourist recently which honestly, I found hard to believe, so I was trying to verify with the experience of other foreigners.
Lo and behold, I came across this Singaporean's bribe of USD20 to the tourist police in Phnom Penh.
The experience of the Bloom customer was completely different. This person's mother is a policewoman so she may know what she was talking about when she said the tourist police in Siem Reap were completely professional. The forms they gave her to fill in also impressed her. She was asked to write down her complaints in a police report and also what, specifically, she would like the police to do (she was robbed). Also, everything was conducted in English.
I had sent her with my tuk-tuk driver who took her to the tourist police station on the way to Angkor Wat. She said within five minutes, she knew they would not ask her for money. In fact, when she complimented them and said how everyone said Cambodian police cannot be trusted because they all want bribes, the tourist police were "positively offended" and said "Don't compare us with the Cambodian police! We are the Tourist Police and we are different!"
Incredible. They spent 3 hours with her and promised they would launch an investigation and keep her updated.
When I thought about it later, it did make sense. Siem Reap's main business is tourism. The tourist police here speak English and are probably better remunerated than their counterparts in other police departments. The Cambodian government probably figure it is cheaper in the long run to pay the tourist police better than to have lowly-paid and corrupt policemen who annoy tourists who then spread the word back home.
Here is the Ministry of Interior's explanation of what the tourist police is supposed to do.
Lo and behold, I came across this Singaporean's bribe of USD20 to the tourist police in Phnom Penh.
The experience of the Bloom customer was completely different. This person's mother is a policewoman so she may know what she was talking about when she said the tourist police in Siem Reap were completely professional. The forms they gave her to fill in also impressed her. She was asked to write down her complaints in a police report and also what, specifically, she would like the police to do (she was robbed). Also, everything was conducted in English.
I had sent her with my tuk-tuk driver who took her to the tourist police station on the way to Angkor Wat. She said within five minutes, she knew they would not ask her for money. In fact, when she complimented them and said how everyone said Cambodian police cannot be trusted because they all want bribes, the tourist police were "positively offended" and said "Don't compare us with the Cambodian police! We are the Tourist Police and we are different!"
Incredible. They spent 3 hours with her and promised they would launch an investigation and keep her updated.
When I thought about it later, it did make sense. Siem Reap's main business is tourism. The tourist police here speak English and are probably better remunerated than their counterparts in other police departments. The Cambodian government probably figure it is cheaper in the long run to pay the tourist police better than to have lowly-paid and corrupt policemen who annoy tourists who then spread the word back home.
Here is the Ministry of Interior's explanation of what the tourist police is supposed to do.
Cambodian Police Chief is dead
This is the well-fed, now deceased, Cambodian chief of police, General Hok Lundy. He died a few days ago, aged 58, in a helicopter crash which killed three other Cambodians. Officials say the crash was due to bad weather but obviously a guy like that would have many enemies. And a job like that would have many aspirants. Who will sign our business visas from now on?You can read the obituary by The Guardian newapaper, never one to mince words.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cambodian prison riot
I found this bizarre video of a prison "riot" today as I was researching Cambodian prisons. I actually visited one, Prey Sar, which is near Phnom Penh around the same time as this incident took place. I will post an entry on that visit later. But have a look at this. It is typical of the "take no prisoners" approach of the Cambodian government and its armed forces. I was reminded of this when I read BBC's report on yesterday's fighting with Thailand: "But on Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if the Thai troops did not withdraw."
The video mostly shows Cambodian Special Forces standing around but does contain some shooting.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2006
Cambodian Prison Riot @ Batambang
Prisoners were out of control at Batambang province, the Western part of Cambodia next to Thailand. One of prison guards was hostaged and prison guards were not ordered properly to control riot. The Special Police Forces were ordered by Hok Lundy, Cambodia National Police Commissioner, and his high rank associates, to kill prisoners including the hostage, the prison guard.
http://www.cambodia.org/blogs/video/documentary/2006/11/cambodian-prison-riot-batambang.html
The video mostly shows Cambodian Special Forces standing around but does contain some shooting.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2006
Cambodian Prison Riot @ Batambang
Prisoners were out of control at Batambang province, the Western part of Cambodia next to Thailand. One of prison guards was hostaged and prison guards were not ordered properly to control riot. The Special Police Forces were ordered by Hok Lundy, Cambodia National Police Commissioner, and his high rank associates, to kill prisoners including the hostage, the prison guard.
http://www.cambodia.org/blogs/video/documentary/2006/11/cambodian-prison-riot-batambang.html
Friday, June 06, 2008
Cambodian prostitutes protest police crackdown
In yesterday's news: Two hundred prostitutes protested peacefully in Phnom Penh. They said they had been unlawfully detained, and then beaten and raped by guards at the rehabilitation center where they were held. I quote from the AP article
"Some of them (the sex workers) were beaten and gang raped by the center guards, and most of the time they did not use condoms," said Chan Dina, a 31-year-old prostitute and member of the Cambodian Prostitute Union, a sex workers' advocacy group.
"Pich Sokchea urged the government to end the crackdown because it was affecting the livelihood of sex workers, many of whom were forced into the profession by poverty and debts. "We are people who sacrifice everything for the sake of our families and for our livelihood."
"Police Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, dismissed claims that police committed violence against sex workers and said none was mistreated in the crackdown. He defended the crackdown, calling sex work unacceptable in Cambodia."
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iyJ-JyIbPDfhPBVGJVDXCd5DTRGwD913BI080
The Interior Ministry's spokesman comment epitomises the hypocrisy that exists in this country. Publicly, Khmer officials and society condemn the sex trade, but privately, many of them engage in it, visiting prostitutes, taking on mistresses (make no mistake- this is also sex trade) and even making money from it.
From a BBC programme: "A few months ago, another foreign group working to protect children from the sex industry organised a raid on a brothel. It turned out the place was owned by a particularly powerful policeman."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4078304.stm
Human rights groups estimate that out of as many as 100,000 prostitutes in Cambodia, one third are underage (younger than 18).
"Some of them (the sex workers) were beaten and gang raped by the center guards, and most of the time they did not use condoms," said Chan Dina, a 31-year-old prostitute and member of the Cambodian Prostitute Union, a sex workers' advocacy group.
"Pich Sokchea urged the government to end the crackdown because it was affecting the livelihood of sex workers, many of whom were forced into the profession by poverty and debts. "We are people who sacrifice everything for the sake of our families and for our livelihood."
"Police Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, dismissed claims that police committed violence against sex workers and said none was mistreated in the crackdown. He defended the crackdown, calling sex work unacceptable in Cambodia."
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iyJ-JyIbPDfhPBVGJVDXCd5DTRGwD913BI080
The Interior Ministry's spokesman comment epitomises the hypocrisy that exists in this country. Publicly, Khmer officials and society condemn the sex trade, but privately, many of them engage in it, visiting prostitutes, taking on mistresses (make no mistake- this is also sex trade) and even making money from it.
From a BBC programme: "A few months ago, another foreign group working to protect children from the sex industry organised a raid on a brothel. It turned out the place was owned by a particularly powerful policeman."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4078304.stm
Human rights groups estimate that out of as many as 100,000 prostitutes in Cambodia, one third are underage (younger than 18).
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Dealing with Cambodian Police (or how a Singaporean’s understanding of authority is screwed up)
Yesterday the fire police came again. I had already bought a fire extinguisher from them a few months ago. This happened after eight of them stood at my door the second day after I opened Bloom café. Sometimes I think the police are the most efficient people in Cambodia. They had asked that I buy four fire extinguishers for the café at USD45 each. At that time, I had called the landlord who told the police to return the next day so we can discuss. Back then, I had explained that we’re new and only just opened, so I don’t have money. In the end, I agreed to purchase only one extinguisher at USD35 (apparently you can buy a new one at the market for USD20).
After that purchase, a man from the fire police would visit once a month, always a different bloke, always with some excuse to get money from us. One time, one of the men stuck a piece of paper on the extinguisher, to certify it is safe or some other trivial reason and asked for money. I gave him a buck just so he would go away.
It’s not a good idea, because if they know you’re an easy hit, they’ll keep coming back for more. Perhaps it is the Singaporean in me. I am so trusting and naïve. My instinct is to assume policemen are policemen and what they say is always legit (more of how screwed up my thinking is below). And I seem to become worse as time goes by here. In the beginning I was more careful and suspicious and not give in, calling the landlord or some savvy Khmer friend, but I think I am worn down. I am also embarassed at always having to call people for help. I hate being like this, just wanting to throw money at the problem, just wanting to pay them off so they will leave me alone. But somedays I just feel I have no energy to argue and argue with them.
Anyway, sometime in the last week, two men on separate motobikes came to the house. They claimed to be from the immigration department of the city police and asked that I pay USD50 for an annual licence from them. I told them I had already paid the sangkat (local police) for the business licence, and as far as I am aware, there are no other business licences to pay for. One of the men said, “Yes, yes, sangkat I know, but we are city police!” and showed me his papers (written in Khmer and in a plastic sheet). He also showed me a stack of papers with other cafés with photographs and namecards of their respective owners attached.” I recognised one woman who runs a Malaysian restaurant. The policeman said, “She has a good heart, she gave me USD80.”
I told him, her business is good, she is established, she can afford it. We are new, we have few customers and I asked him to verify this with Sina, one of Bloom cafe’s more senior member of staff. (Sina was beside me throughout this, as I wanted him to translate, just in case). So I offered USD15. The boss if the two said USD25, and I told him if the business picks up next year, no problem, but help me out here. Plus, I am helping Khmers, by giving poor women jobs. That really seemed to affect him somehow and in the end we agreed on USD20.
But I only had USD10 and had to borrow the rest from Sipha, Bloom bags’ trainer. That raised her suspicions, but by the time she appeared to see what was going on, the men were on their way out. They told her rudely, “No need to stare, we are the police”. They also told me they would be back at 3pm to get copies of my licence and my passport and photo.
Sipha told me to call the sangkat but my phone was spoilt (another story, but the point is that I have lost all my contacts since I didn’t save the numbers in my SIM card—moral of the story: always save your contacts in your SIM card!). We took a moto to visit the police station instead. Our man was not there but we managed to get his number and he agreed to come to Bloom café within half an hour.
Sipha explained what had happened and the local policeman got very angry. I think he was angry with me as well as the scam artists, as he was convinced they were. I was still convinced the two were real policemen from their behaviour and was sure they would come back for my papers. The sangkat looked at me like I was stupid. He said, “They’re not coming back! They’re thieves!”
He said next time when this happens, send them along to him. He is the only one who is authorised to get money for my business licence. As the sangkat said, the men failed to return that day. I was so angry with myself for giving the men money I could not sleep that night. I was just so angry with myself for being so stupid. I am not normally such an idiot, and have seldom been scammed, because I am too much of a cynic to believe people easily.
The next morning, while I was out, the two men returned! I have no idea how she did it, but Sipha got back my twenty bucks! Everyone is always telling me how Sipha is bossy and rubs people the wrong way, but I have to say, it pays to be bossy in Cambodia. Since the rule of law does not mean much here, Cambodia is the sort of country where any display of power lets you get away with a lot.
I was so happy to get back the money. But then, the very next day, a man claiming to be from the fire department came and asked for five dollars. If I do not pay the money, if there is a fire, he said, the fire brigade will not come to my rescue. I will have to deal with a fire myself. I was so furious, I refused to pay. Five bucks is pittance, obviously. But it was no longer about the money. I was furious at the fireman and at the fire department for behaving like this. So poor people who cannot afford five dollars will not get served by the fire police? Of course. You know these things happen in Cambodia, but I was shocked at how blatant it is. The police don’t even bother to pretend they exist to serve the people.
And here’s another thing: when the electricity department found out this house was rented to foreigners, they fined my landlord USD250, and increased our electricity bill. We now have to pay foreigner rate for electricity, which is about 10 per cent more. How can the electricity department fine people, Alan pointed out.
Being Singaporean, I know how public utilities are linked to the government, so I had a hard time understanding what Alan meant. He finds it bizarre that I think it is perfectly normal for the utilities board to fine customers. When I was growing up, public services in Singapore were monopolies, just like in Cambodia now. So to me, it is normal to see how you can get fined by the public services company. Pay the fine, or you don’t get the service. It’s not like any old shop, because in a monopoly, we cannot take our business elsewhere.
(Privatisation is only a recent thing in Singapore. But now in the telecom sector, for instance, Singaporeans now have Singtel (formerly a monopoly and incumbent), M1 and Starhub competing for our business.)
Alan points out that even in Singapore, the public services company do not, and cannot, fine customers. All they can do is cut you off until you pay your arrears, or take you to court. Only the courts have the authority to impose a fine. And if the utilties company were to say, “Pay the fine, or you get cut off,” in a civilised country, you can sue the company for extortion.
I have to admit I find it hard to understand what Alan is saying, which he says is bizzare, because I am supposed to come from a developed country. Bizzare to him, but disturbing to me. How did I come to understand that it is perfectly normal and acceptable for a public utilities company to fine the citizens of a country? This can only happen if the state and the company are one and the same and that the tools available to the state to enforce compliance are similarly available to the company. It is really creepy to me that it took me a while to see what Alan was saying. I wonder what other aspects of my view of the state is screwed up. Although I am supposed to come from a developed country, it is obvious that much of my thinking, as a Singaporean, is still third world. I suppose that is why Singaporeans put up with so much: because we don’t know any better.
What really worries me is that I am very sure I am not alone, among Singaporeans, in my thinking. I am educated, have a Masters in Political Philosophy, widely travelled, worked in a multinational corporation. Of course I do not think I'm super-smart (on the contrary, I have just demonstrated how unsophisticated my understanding of politics is), but I am supposed to be educated. It just goes to show the big gap between knowledge and practical wisdom. It just goes to show how important it is to be exposed to other ways of life. As my example shows, if you only know one way, you'll find it hard to understand how there can be another, possibly better, way.
After that purchase, a man from the fire police would visit once a month, always a different bloke, always with some excuse to get money from us. One time, one of the men stuck a piece of paper on the extinguisher, to certify it is safe or some other trivial reason and asked for money. I gave him a buck just so he would go away.
It’s not a good idea, because if they know you’re an easy hit, they’ll keep coming back for more. Perhaps it is the Singaporean in me. I am so trusting and naïve. My instinct is to assume policemen are policemen and what they say is always legit (more of how screwed up my thinking is below). And I seem to become worse as time goes by here. In the beginning I was more careful and suspicious and not give in, calling the landlord or some savvy Khmer friend, but I think I am worn down. I am also embarassed at always having to call people for help. I hate being like this, just wanting to throw money at the problem, just wanting to pay them off so they will leave me alone. But somedays I just feel I have no energy to argue and argue with them.
Anyway, sometime in the last week, two men on separate motobikes came to the house. They claimed to be from the immigration department of the city police and asked that I pay USD50 for an annual licence from them. I told them I had already paid the sangkat (local police) for the business licence, and as far as I am aware, there are no other business licences to pay for. One of the men said, “Yes, yes, sangkat I know, but we are city police!” and showed me his papers (written in Khmer and in a plastic sheet). He also showed me a stack of papers with other cafés with photographs and namecards of their respective owners attached.” I recognised one woman who runs a Malaysian restaurant. The policeman said, “She has a good heart, she gave me USD80.”
I told him, her business is good, she is established, she can afford it. We are new, we have few customers and I asked him to verify this with Sina, one of Bloom cafe’s more senior member of staff. (Sina was beside me throughout this, as I wanted him to translate, just in case). So I offered USD15. The boss if the two said USD25, and I told him if the business picks up next year, no problem, but help me out here. Plus, I am helping Khmers, by giving poor women jobs. That really seemed to affect him somehow and in the end we agreed on USD20.
But I only had USD10 and had to borrow the rest from Sipha, Bloom bags’ trainer. That raised her suspicions, but by the time she appeared to see what was going on, the men were on their way out. They told her rudely, “No need to stare, we are the police”. They also told me they would be back at 3pm to get copies of my licence and my passport and photo.
Sipha told me to call the sangkat but my phone was spoilt (another story, but the point is that I have lost all my contacts since I didn’t save the numbers in my SIM card—moral of the story: always save your contacts in your SIM card!). We took a moto to visit the police station instead. Our man was not there but we managed to get his number and he agreed to come to Bloom café within half an hour.
Sipha explained what had happened and the local policeman got very angry. I think he was angry with me as well as the scam artists, as he was convinced they were. I was still convinced the two were real policemen from their behaviour and was sure they would come back for my papers. The sangkat looked at me like I was stupid. He said, “They’re not coming back! They’re thieves!”
He said next time when this happens, send them along to him. He is the only one who is authorised to get money for my business licence. As the sangkat said, the men failed to return that day. I was so angry with myself for giving the men money I could not sleep that night. I was just so angry with myself for being so stupid. I am not normally such an idiot, and have seldom been scammed, because I am too much of a cynic to believe people easily.
The next morning, while I was out, the two men returned! I have no idea how she did it, but Sipha got back my twenty bucks! Everyone is always telling me how Sipha is bossy and rubs people the wrong way, but I have to say, it pays to be bossy in Cambodia. Since the rule of law does not mean much here, Cambodia is the sort of country where any display of power lets you get away with a lot.
I was so happy to get back the money. But then, the very next day, a man claiming to be from the fire department came and asked for five dollars. If I do not pay the money, if there is a fire, he said, the fire brigade will not come to my rescue. I will have to deal with a fire myself. I was so furious, I refused to pay. Five bucks is pittance, obviously. But it was no longer about the money. I was furious at the fireman and at the fire department for behaving like this. So poor people who cannot afford five dollars will not get served by the fire police? Of course. You know these things happen in Cambodia, but I was shocked at how blatant it is. The police don’t even bother to pretend they exist to serve the people.
And here’s another thing: when the electricity department found out this house was rented to foreigners, they fined my landlord USD250, and increased our electricity bill. We now have to pay foreigner rate for electricity, which is about 10 per cent more. How can the electricity department fine people, Alan pointed out.
Being Singaporean, I know how public utilities are linked to the government, so I had a hard time understanding what Alan meant. He finds it bizarre that I think it is perfectly normal for the utilities board to fine customers. When I was growing up, public services in Singapore were monopolies, just like in Cambodia now. So to me, it is normal to see how you can get fined by the public services company. Pay the fine, or you don’t get the service. It’s not like any old shop, because in a monopoly, we cannot take our business elsewhere.
(Privatisation is only a recent thing in Singapore. But now in the telecom sector, for instance, Singaporeans now have Singtel (formerly a monopoly and incumbent), M1 and Starhub competing for our business.)
Alan points out that even in Singapore, the public services company do not, and cannot, fine customers. All they can do is cut you off until you pay your arrears, or take you to court. Only the courts have the authority to impose a fine. And if the utilties company were to say, “Pay the fine, or you get cut off,” in a civilised country, you can sue the company for extortion.
I have to admit I find it hard to understand what Alan is saying, which he says is bizzare, because I am supposed to come from a developed country. Bizzare to him, but disturbing to me. How did I come to understand that it is perfectly normal and acceptable for a public utilities company to fine the citizens of a country? This can only happen if the state and the company are one and the same and that the tools available to the state to enforce compliance are similarly available to the company. It is really creepy to me that it took me a while to see what Alan was saying. I wonder what other aspects of my view of the state is screwed up. Although I am supposed to come from a developed country, it is obvious that much of my thinking, as a Singaporean, is still third world. I suppose that is why Singaporeans put up with so much: because we don’t know any better.
What really worries me is that I am very sure I am not alone, among Singaporeans, in my thinking. I am educated, have a Masters in Political Philosophy, widely travelled, worked in a multinational corporation. Of course I do not think I'm super-smart (on the contrary, I have just demonstrated how unsophisticated my understanding of politics is), but I am supposed to be educated. It just goes to show the big gap between knowledge and practical wisdom. It just goes to show how important it is to be exposed to other ways of life. As my example shows, if you only know one way, you'll find it hard to understand how there can be another, possibly better, way.
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