Dear Khmerization,
First of all, allow me to express my sincere gratitude for your noble mission in efforts to bring information, in particular the important and sensitive one, to the good knowledge of your readers including myself.
It seems to me that, however, you might inadvertently omit to show an article published on The Cambodia Daily dated January 9, 2009 on "Without Set Fees, Money Talks at Records Office", which I believe is fairly worthwhile to bring to the public attention through your popular blog. And it would be appreciated if you can do so. Below is the entire article, but before typing it out please permit me to submit certain observations as follows.
Shortly after this article on The Cambodia Daily was published, the Minister of Justice issued a directive to his subordinate Criminal Record Office to act more properly, i.e. not to ask for unofficial fees from criminal record applicants. Yesterday, I went to have my application submitted for the purpose of applying to be a Bar Association membership (another very corrupt and cronysm-oriented body, though independent in theory and name) and I had thought that the directive would help improve the process and reduce corruption at the Office. Yet surprisingly, though perhaps not unexpectedly, I almost could not find an official to submit my application to. All of them, except the only very kind lady, said that they now postponed to accept applications and used very rude words towards applicants asking us to move away and not disturb them working (unlike when they got well paid with unofficial fees). That is how corruption is in Cambodia. I may condone that those government officials have little amount of wage and need those fees to support their living. But have not they corrupted and bribed for too long? Last but not least, how much could the appropriateness of the criminal clearance record be expected, given it is done in a short period while there is no reliable computerized system of judicial recording?
Best regards,
Click here to read the related Cambodia Daily's article
13 comments:
My sis Paid USD50 (2Weeks) for the record then the officer there called to come to pick it after 3days and the asked for USD5-Phone Card and She did give the guy.
Oh stop crying, I am sure it's still cheaper than the West, and don't try to sell us that everything is free in the west either.
Sure, and then this newly admitted attorney will charge outrageous fees to handle legal cases. The gullible always pay more. We need the officials, they don't make enough money, so they need something extra. Once Cambodia is a more developed this will also disappear. Rome wasn't built in one day either. Stop whining.
"Rome wasn't built in one day either. Stop wihining!!"
Absolutely, you're right.
Beside that why don't you show them the solution to deal with, it's better to tell them shut up?
12:13 AM, you're the one should stop your whining.
I agreed with 12:13 100%.
12:13AM - Your logic is poor and reprehensible. There is no excuse for these corrupted officials, no matter how little they get paid. If their government wages are insufficient for them to meet their end needs, they should quit their government jobs, and start their own businesses or work in the streets/markets like most people do, instead of using their official positions to steal or coerce money from the public.
Believe me these corrupted officials always steal, no matter how much money they already have.
to be fair to cambodia, i think corruption run deep in any society that is weak with law enforcement, low in salary for gov't workers, etc... and cambodia is no exception to this well-observed studies on corruption. i think people should focus on the cause of corruption, not just corruption itself, but its causes as well. corruption is overwhelming is all walks of life in society, not just the leaders but the ordinary people as well. it just happens that leaders get more blame due to the public position they hold, and thus, people expect leaders to set good example, etc... i agree with the writer that " we need change." yes, it's called reforms and reforms or changes are a vital part of the human existence. like death which is inevitable, it just the timing that is the only different as everybody can not avoid growing old and dying eventually; no pun intended, here. i don't think anyone or any society on the planet can really get rid of corruption 100% clean and free; however, corruption can be lessen and prevent or discourage with the rule of laws because one of the worst forms of corruption is when someone thinks they are above the laws or something. of course, corruption doesn't necessarily involved only money form. yes, corruption can be very diverse as well in its own term. that said, in this case, one way cambodian gov't and other good people who love and care and have any interest in cambodia can do to help lessen this dispicable form of practice is to perhaps increase salary by some kind of indication of the economy in cambodia or the worldwide for that matter. after all, corruption is one of the oldest forms of the human survival for ages. we just have to curve the practice, that's all. thank you and god bless cambodia.
11:07pm and 12:13am, charges in the West for services rendered are set by regulations. Any officials who ask for bribery/tips or kickbacks as well as the ones who give bribes will go to jail.corruption in cambodia cost the nation more than $500 million per year. if corruption can be eliminated or reduced, cambodia can survive on its own feet without having to beg for money from international community. your defense of these corrupt practices mean that you have a corrupt mentality which is the source of all khmer sufferings. corruption, whether small or big, must not be tolerated in any society.
6:19,
Agree with your coments, what i still don't understand is why those official at the airport they kept asking for money? if you don't give them, they kept playing with your passport, they kept asking me $10 for drinking coffee??, man!, i said what kind of coffee you drinking Mr.?? you know, i used to pay around $2.00 for dunkin over here!! man!, what ta fuck going on with those pople?? they make all of those white people(tourists), looks down at cambodia, people behind me just shook their heads!! what ta fuck is wrong with these low life idiots!!
Ah thork tiep som tien undersea!
Corruptions start from the top and triggered down all the way to the bottom.
Hun Kvack made begging easier then his average subordinate..... why? His concept is, as long as he covered his good eyes, no donor will know who he is. Just like a child, played hide and seek.
I know far too well when talking about custom officials at the airport. They'd stared at your passport like it's going to change any minute.... stalling until you'd offered a little incentive.
Next time, do what I do. Let him stared as long as he like, sooner or later he'll cause a traffic jam; the person behind will get agitated and this will create a commotion. Talk as if you were deaf.... loud then usual.
Reapeat every question's he ask, so everyone in the airport can hear what it is he's asking for.
This oughta get everyone's attention.
Remember, when Hun Kvack beg... he's begging for the
entire country, but the Cambodian people will never get to see a penny of it.
Our forefather's have taught us to tolerate and susceptible to this kind of practice since day one. So, you can say... past practice is a bitch.
i think corruption is rampage because people tolerated it or even give excuses about it. i think no set of example or whatever will change the way society or people are doing corruption. it ought to be stiff penalty like in the USA, period. in the USA, if any person is found to be corrupted, they will either go to jail, pay a hefty fine or both. that is the fact of life; however, in cambodia or elsewhere (well i'm mostly talking about cambodia, here, anyway), people tend to give too much excuses to why they are doing it like low salary, being poor, or have too big a family to feed, etc... or even some already rich people are still being greedy and thus practice corruption, etc, etc... i think everyone should take the law seriously and, more importantly, nobody should tolerate this despicable practice, period. in the USA, i noted that if people committed crime of any sort, big or small, serious or not too serious, it has an effective on their credit, work application, gov't benefit application, job prospect, etc... in addition to prison and fine, etc... i don't see that kind of consequences in cambodia, so that's part of the problem because people are not afraid of ruining their job, credit, etc... so, there is not really a solution to fixing this until the people practice what they preach and more.
9:40am, in australia too. anyone found to have asked for bribes or anyone who is offering to pay bribe will be dealt with harshly- go to jail or cop a hefty fines and have their names recorded in the criminal records and barred from holding public office.
9:40, it's totally the opposite of Cambodia. If you are known to be honest... you can't work for the government. Their job qualifications is based on how capable are you when come to "dishonest."
Again, their concept is: justify the means in order to satisfy the needs.
Corruption is so rampant that it is acceptable every where in Cambodia.
Sometime, tourist give in so easily that it susceptible in our social norm. Why bust your ass for a dollar a day.... when you can ask from a tourist and get as much.
K'main Hear Som'bor now USA
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