Son Chhay, Sam Rainsy Party MP (Photo: RFA)By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
One Phnom Penh MP is requesting, through the National Assembly (NA), that the Cambodian minister of Interior immediately put an end to the corruption in the issuing of (Cambodian) passport to foreigners.
Son Chhay, SRP MP, sent an official letter – a copy of which RFA received on Friday 03 Nov. – where he indicated that the issuing of illegal passport to foreigners, especially to Chinese from mainland China and from Taiwan etc…, took place for several years already. Furthermore, Son Chhay indicated that at least 1,000 passports have been issued yearly to these foreigners who are willing to pay $2,000 to $2,500 or more for each passport.
Son Chhay said that these foreigners who want to obtain Cambodian passport, do not need any document except for providing their pictures as well as indication of their age, height, and characteristic features on the face. He also provided some examples in the accusations he sent.
Son Chhay stressed that, in general, these foreigners use these Cambodian passports with several goals in mind, the three main ones being: international illegal activities, human trafficking of illegal immigrants to move to a third country, international drug trafficking including the cleaning up of dirty drug money and human trafficking of women for sex.
Son Chhay requests the firing of a number of immigration officers
At the same time, Son Chhay is also requesting the Ministry of Interior to fire of a number of immigration officers working at the airport who usually ask for bribes from Cambodians living abroad who already have a permanent visa.
The Phnom Penh MP wrote that this situation existed for a long time already whereby several tricks have been used [to extort money from Cambodians living abroad] such as the presence of helpers for obtaining permanent visa, or the long wait endured by these Cambodians as the officers claim that they lack documents.
Currently, a new method had been devised by separating travelers arriving and departing into groups, this method is used as pretext to request approximately $5 per traveler, and it caused long lines for foreign travelers.
Son Chhay recognized that Cambodian police officers receive low salary, nevertheless, the actions taken by the officers are reprehensible and cause anger among the population who in turn gossip about the situation to others, thus creating a lack of confidence and a rejection of their own government.
Son Chhay is requesting the vice-prime minister (and minister of Interior) to actually deal with this issue forcefully in order to strengthen the governance in the country, the application of the law, and the good resolution of these issues.
Up to now, there is no response yet from the Ministry of Interior to the questions asked by Son Chhay.
Son Chhay, SRP MP, sent an official letter – a copy of which RFA received on Friday 03 Nov. – where he indicated that the issuing of illegal passport to foreigners, especially to Chinese from mainland China and from Taiwan etc…, took place for several years already. Furthermore, Son Chhay indicated that at least 1,000 passports have been issued yearly to these foreigners who are willing to pay $2,000 to $2,500 or more for each passport.
Son Chhay said that these foreigners who want to obtain Cambodian passport, do not need any document except for providing their pictures as well as indication of their age, height, and characteristic features on the face. He also provided some examples in the accusations he sent.
Son Chhay stressed that, in general, these foreigners use these Cambodian passports with several goals in mind, the three main ones being: international illegal activities, human trafficking of illegal immigrants to move to a third country, international drug trafficking including the cleaning up of dirty drug money and human trafficking of women for sex.
Son Chhay requests the firing of a number of immigration officers
At the same time, Son Chhay is also requesting the Ministry of Interior to fire of a number of immigration officers working at the airport who usually ask for bribes from Cambodians living abroad who already have a permanent visa.
The Phnom Penh MP wrote that this situation existed for a long time already whereby several tricks have been used [to extort money from Cambodians living abroad] such as the presence of helpers for obtaining permanent visa, or the long wait endured by these Cambodians as the officers claim that they lack documents.
Currently, a new method had been devised by separating travelers arriving and departing into groups, this method is used as pretext to request approximately $5 per traveler, and it caused long lines for foreign travelers.
Son Chhay recognized that Cambodian police officers receive low salary, nevertheless, the actions taken by the officers are reprehensible and cause anger among the population who in turn gossip about the situation to others, thus creating a lack of confidence and a rejection of their own government.
Son Chhay is requesting the vice-prime minister (and minister of Interior) to actually deal with this issue forcefully in order to strengthen the governance in the country, the application of the law, and the good resolution of these issues.
Up to now, there is no response yet from the Ministry of Interior to the questions asked by Son Chhay.
1 comment:
Once again the more you illustrated the level of corruptions it show the motive why Anti-corruptions laws isn't IMPORTANT enough in one of of Hun Sen's eye. Hence there will never be a corruption law.
The law will only happen after Hun Sen died and that to reposes every drop of blood that Hun Sen, his families & the CPP sucked from Cambodia and return to the Khmer people.
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