10 August 2006
By Ouk Sav Bory
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
People in several communes of the Prey Kabbas district, Takeo province, are complaining about police officers asking them to pay 5,000 to 6,000 riels (US$1.25 to 1.50) for issuing an identification card.
Nab Meng Tieng, a young man living in Samdech Poan village, Kdanh commune, said that the police told him at the beginning of 2006 to obtain an ID card in exchange for 3,000 riels ($0.75) for the application fee. If he can fill the application by himself, the police officer would not ask him for extra money, but if the officer has to fill in the application for the young man, he would have to pay another 3,000 riels extra.
Nab Meng Tieng said: “The cost of the application form is 3,000 riels. This is not cheap for us the people, but since they ask us like that, people do not know what to do, except being forced to pay them.”
Reth, a young woman from Samdech Paon village also, said that her younger brother went to apply for an ID card recently. The police officer asked for 6,000 riels ($1.50): “My younger brother went to apply at the commune office, they ask 6,000 riels.”
Suon Sokhom, a woman living in the village of Samrong Mreah, Bankam commune, said that three of her children went to apply for ID cards a few days earlier, they were asked to pay 5,500 ($1.40) each.
She said that all her children had already turned in their application and paid for them in full already but they did not receive their ID cards yet: “They ask 5,500 riels each. They apply for [the ID cards] this year, that’s why they just went to apply recently, they ask [for money] so we had to pay them as they asked. Even my nephew was also asked for 5,500 riels.”
Uy Soeun, a man living in Champou Preuk village, Champa commune, said that when he obtained his ID card in 1998, there was no need to pay for anything, but this year and last year, his children applying for ID card were asked by police officers to pay between 5,000 to 6,000 riels each. He also indicated that up to now, they have not yet received the ID cards: “Three of them had to apply for ID cards. However, applying with the last person [at the application office], he asked 5,000 riels each to apply for ID.”
A group of youngsters who came from the village of Prey P’nhi to work as laborers in the Champa commune, as well as villagers from the Champa commune themselves, said that if there is no rush in the application for the ID card, the police authority would ask to pay between 5,000 to 6,000 riels each only.
However, if there is a rush because someone urgently needs the ID to look for a job, the police officers would ask them for more, and the price bargaining is occurring as if it were to be in a fish market.
They also indicated that those who change their family status, and had to have a change in their family book, or need a new family book, have to pay between 15,000 to 20,000 riels (about $4 to $5).
However, when the commune officers come by themselves to issue home address registration, they do not ask for payment: “When the commune officers came to issue home address registration, there is no [payment asked]. But when the cops are coming to issue ID cards, they ask [for payment].”
Regarding the accusations above, Chum Chhoeun, the police commissar of Prey Kabbas district, said that he does not know about it and that he is busy with a meeting: “I don’t know about it, I am busy with a meeting at the police station, wait till next time [for an explanation].”
Sak Setha, deputy administrative director of the ministry of Interior, said that the government is not asking people for any fees for issuing family books, residence books, ID cards, or home address registration.
In the province of Takeo, people living in several communes are complaining about the bribe money asked for issuing ID cards.
Nab Meng Tieng, a young man living in Samdech Poan village, Kdanh commune, said that the police told him at the beginning of 2006 to obtain an ID card in exchange for 3,000 riels ($0.75) for the application fee. If he can fill the application by himself, the police officer would not ask him for extra money, but if the officer has to fill in the application for the young man, he would have to pay another 3,000 riels extra.
Nab Meng Tieng said: “The cost of the application form is 3,000 riels. This is not cheap for us the people, but since they ask us like that, people do not know what to do, except being forced to pay them.”
Reth, a young woman from Samdech Paon village also, said that her younger brother went to apply for an ID card recently. The police officer asked for 6,000 riels ($1.50): “My younger brother went to apply at the commune office, they ask 6,000 riels.”
Suon Sokhom, a woman living in the village of Samrong Mreah, Bankam commune, said that three of her children went to apply for ID cards a few days earlier, they were asked to pay 5,500 ($1.40) each.
She said that all her children had already turned in their application and paid for them in full already but they did not receive their ID cards yet: “They ask 5,500 riels each. They apply for [the ID cards] this year, that’s why they just went to apply recently, they ask [for money] so we had to pay them as they asked. Even my nephew was also asked for 5,500 riels.”
Uy Soeun, a man living in Champou Preuk village, Champa commune, said that when he obtained his ID card in 1998, there was no need to pay for anything, but this year and last year, his children applying for ID card were asked by police officers to pay between 5,000 to 6,000 riels each. He also indicated that up to now, they have not yet received the ID cards: “Three of them had to apply for ID cards. However, applying with the last person [at the application office], he asked 5,000 riels each to apply for ID.”
A group of youngsters who came from the village of Prey P’nhi to work as laborers in the Champa commune, as well as villagers from the Champa commune themselves, said that if there is no rush in the application for the ID card, the police authority would ask to pay between 5,000 to 6,000 riels each only.
However, if there is a rush because someone urgently needs the ID to look for a job, the police officers would ask them for more, and the price bargaining is occurring as if it were to be in a fish market.
They also indicated that those who change their family status, and had to have a change in their family book, or need a new family book, have to pay between 15,000 to 20,000 riels (about $4 to $5).
However, when the commune officers come by themselves to issue home address registration, they do not ask for payment: “When the commune officers came to issue home address registration, there is no [payment asked]. But when the cops are coming to issue ID cards, they ask [for payment].”
Regarding the accusations above, Chum Chhoeun, the police commissar of Prey Kabbas district, said that he does not know about it and that he is busy with a meeting: “I don’t know about it, I am busy with a meeting at the police station, wait till next time [for an explanation].”
Sak Setha, deputy administrative director of the ministry of Interior, said that the government is not asking people for any fees for issuing family books, residence books, ID cards, or home address registration.
In the province of Takeo, people living in several communes are complaining about the bribe money asked for issuing ID cards.
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