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”
