Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - No protest after Thai border policy changed

No protest after Thai border policy changed

Porters pull a cart loaded with goods across the Thai-Cambodia border as others wait for jobs in Poipet in 2015.
Porters pull a cart loaded with goods across the Thai-Cambodia border as others wait for jobs in Poipet in 2015. Khouth Sophak Chakrya

No protest after Thai border policy changed

A local Poipet union has called off a protest against what they characterised as overly expensive border passes used by day labourers entering Thailand after provincial officials introduced a new, cheaper permit.

The Cambodia Informal Economy Reinforced Association (CIERA) had planned demonstrations at the Poipet border checkpoint saying the 6,000 riel (about $1.50) vendors and transporters had to pay to cross into Thailand, in addition to informal payments made to border officials, was too much.

However, Poipet town Governor San Seang Hour said officials had made changes to their policy and would issue a two-year pass to vendors and labourers, allowing them to stay up to seven days at a time.

“The new border pass will require people to make it at the provincial office,​​ not the international border checkpoints, and pay 20,000 riels, or $5, and it will take five days in order to get the new one,” Seang Hour said.

Din Puthy, president of CIERA, said he welcomed the new permit but still found it inconvenient that applicants had to apply at the provincial capital.

But Adhoc Provincial Coordinator Sam Chankea said he supported the issuance of the pass at the provincial offices to prevent informal payments that had been prevalent at the border checkpoint.

“It is better to do it at the provincial office,” Chankea said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom