Regional police chief says border crossing rules must be enforced

`No exceptions' in the battle with corruption

BANGKOK: -- Police have ordered immigration restrictions at the border crossing in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district in a bid to prevent illegal entry and stem the flow of Thais seeking to gamble in Cambodia in line with the fight against corruption.

Regional Police Bureau 2 commander Jongrak Juthanont yesterday called a meeting of Sa Kaeo police chief Pol Maj-Gen Pongkan Panjaphan, his two deputies, Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint chief Pol Lt-Col Benjapol Rawdsawat and his subordinates at Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint, adjacent to Cambodia's Poipet checkpoint.

This was carried out to make clear the new policy, which would ensure that immigration police enforce the law and prevent Thais from gambling in Cambodian casinos.

Under the new policy, immigration police must not allow anyone to cross the border without checking immigration papers and recording the information, and must not allow Thais to cross the border for the purpose of gambling.

They must prevent Cambodian brokers from assisting would-be gamblers into the country by using a route normally used for the passage of Cambodians into Thailand.

They must not conspire with Cambodian brokers who ``lease'' passports to some gamblers wanting to visit Cambodian casinos or allow these casinos' cash delivery vehicles to cross the border without making checks.

Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak said he would ensure serious legal action is taken against any immigration officers under the command of his bureau found to have demanded or accepted kickbacks, neglected their duties or abused their power to ensure convenience for gamblers.

Officers attached to the bureau would help immigration police at Aranyaprathet checkpoint to check ID cards and passports of all those seeking to cross the border. No exemptions would be made, he said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-07-17

[quote

Under the new policy, immigration police must not .... allow Thais to cross the border for the purpose of gambling.]

And how, I wonder, do they stop them when they're over the border?

And does that apply also to casinos in Australia and Vegas that the Thais love to go to? If not, can the Cambodians take Thailand to an international court for discrimination?

Another hair-brained idea is impossible to enforce.

Like the silly drinks ban in the afternoon that several tourists I know find impossinle to understand. It's against the law to buy drink between 2 and 5, but it's not against the law to drink between 2 and 5. So they just stock up and shake their heads and wonder how these idiots get in power and what they're trying to achieve.

and what about closing gas stations at 10.00 pm?

Isn't this an insult to the Thai people...ie that they are too stupid to buy what they nead earlier on?

Or is it an assumption that Thais can only live in the moment and are not capable of thinking ahead? National characteristic?

Rob

ps...

on second thoughts, maybe this IS true...it certainly seems to reflect the way that laws are suddenly created on the spur of the moment, without thought...

R

More to come on this one

Ask yourself who is on a real holiday ? The 300B fee may be stopped soon.

Maybe you will need a receipt from a hotel and an overnight stay soon. Otherwise you may not be a genuine tourist.

Just a little whisper I heard on friday from someone in Cambodia.

;Regional police chief says border crossing rules must be enforced

`No exceptions' in the battle with corruption:

Who is fooling who???

Trying to give the evening-news something to write about when their own corruption-board get's kicked...(even though I believe thay had to go since they where becomming a threat to the people higher up in power).

Remeber kids, lick: upwards, kick: downwards.

Most of these silly rules is just people trying to justify their jobs. At least thats what is seems like to me.

Has anyone passed this on to the new immigration boss,

or is he the one pissing into the wind?

Edited July 18, 200520 yr by astral

Remembered how i was being followed by some kids trying to help me to apply visa and getting transportation to Siem Reap all the way from the Thai Side Market to Poipet Roundabout without going through any border procedure....!!!

But on my return journey, the thai authority did question a cyclist where was his Cambodian exit stamp? He answered back to the Thai immigration that someone in the Cambodian told him that he does not required an exit stamp...!!!! WIERD

Wow. How do you control what people of one nationality are doing in another country if it's not against the law in that country. I know Thais consider themselves to be unique, however, I don't know that there is a law that says Thais can't gamble in another country.

What is the logic of all of this?

What is the logic of all of this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Logic? Now, Scott, how long have you been in Thailand?