Be CLEAN

This morning we violated the traffic law by carrying two people at the back of the motorbike instead of just one. The police stop us and said “You have violated the traffic law so you are supposed to be fined for 6,000 Riel (1.5$) but if you want to be quicker and easier just pay me 5,000 Riel (1.25$).” I myself wasn’t sure of what did the law say about the amount to be paid but we knew we were wrong so we were ok with paying the fine; however, it was clear to us that we rather pay full amount with receipt rather than paying to police’s personal pocket. So we told them back, we are paying full amount and we wish to have the receipt. The police said this and that then make some discount. Ok, just gave me 1$ then, one of the police said. We rejected the offer and stick with paying 6,000 Riel with receipt.  We told the police that we will be catch again and we want to show the other polices that we have paid the fine already. They replied, if you three will be catch again, just tell them that you paid 1$ to me already, they would let you go. We keep not paying 1$. By chance I was carrying my big camera so I took pictures all the way long during the process of negotiation. I guess it scared them a bit so they finally issue us a receipt with say 6,000 Riel – the full amount; even they keep convincing us to pay fewer amounts to their personal pockets.

This is not a strange story. It happen every single day in Phnom Penh and other cities in Cambodia. It is our duty to respect the law, and if not, we should pay the fine; however, we must be clear that we are not part of the corruption. Polices are those who should be implementing the law; yet, so far, they (maybe not all) have initiated corruption. As a responsible citizen, we can always say “NO” to their corrupt offers. Being “CLEAN” take us more time and more money (it was cheaper and quicker to just pay to personal pocket), but what we do today would contribute to how our country will development. We don’t want our children to born in a corrupt country.

Don’t corporate with corrupt traffic police. Don’t accept their corrupt offer. Rather pay fine with pride! So that we can say to our children: “I have contributed to the clean country you are living now”