Cambodian Military Men Block Border

[Lite Beer]

Cambodian military men block border
The Nation on Sunday

ARANYAPRATHET: -- Two Cambodian military men, allegedly involved in smuggling of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Thailand into Cambodia, yesterday blocked the road during a one-hour protest at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge opposite Klong Luek checkpoint in Aranyaprathet against stricter border pass checking by Thailand.

A regulation requiring people driving personal cars into Thai-land to present their passports came into effect yesterday. But on request from Cambodia, the checkpoint temporarily let drivers pass if they showed a border pass with the proper stamp, until Cambodia provides passports to all after the election.

As 50 cars queued at the checkpoint yesterday, a First Lieutenant and Second Lieuten-ant in private clothing from the Poi Pet side blocked the bridge with a Lexus SUV and a Toyota Camry sedan, both with military stickers, and walked back, causing a traffic jam.

Cambodian immigration officials located the duo and told their Thai counterparts to consider the request for Thailand to let cars pass without stamping on the border pass so the cars could make multiple entries per day. Cambodian immigration officials managed to clear the road before having a meeting on the Poi Pet side.

Sa Kaew immigration inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Somsak Jiankorakot insisted Thailand must maintain the requirement to stamp the pass properly. A Thai intelligence source said the duo were filling up LPG from Thailand to sell at cooking gas shops in Poi Pet, hence they needed to do several trips a day.

-- The Nation 2013-06-02

[bigbamboo]

Got to pay for those high end cars somehow I suppose.

[chooka]

How dare Thailand interfer in thier smuggling operation

[samran]

From what I can see they are on the thai side of the border. Thai authorities should have towed the cars.

Edited June 2, 2013 by samran

[apetley]

From what I can see they are on the thai side of the border. Thai authorities should have towed the cars.

Cooperation with their Thai colleagues perhaps.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[OzMick]

Starting a small fire under each would work very quickly.

[FarangTalk]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

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[moe666]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

[TPI]

Everybody has a "rice bowl"

[hellodolly]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It cost me $25 U S in Siem Reap the same as in Bali. My Thai wife was free at both points.

This sounds like a family squabble between Thaksin and his good friend in Phnom Penh.

[FarangTalk]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

I've been visiting Cambodia for over 15 years and it was the first time I've been asked at an airport.

They have tried it with me several times at Poipet though.

I wondered why the Koreans in front of me were handing over US$ while getting their passports stamped, and when it was my turn the guy said "three dollar". I replied "no money" and there was a stand off for 30 seconds while he repeatedly asked me again for three dollars. He realised I wasn't going to cave and threw my passport back at me in disgust. He also asked my Thai gf who was next in line and she also refused to pay.

I know several expats living in Siem Reap and apparently it is a common tactic.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[hellodolly]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

How much was the official charge?

Two years ago I paid $25 U S but I am not sure if it was for the Visa or some sort of official charge.

[FarangTalk]

Just to clarify, these bribes are being asked for when passing through immigration, not when paying for a visa on arrival; $20 for tourist visa and $25 for an ordinary (formerly business) visa.

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[FarangTalk]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

 

How much was the official charge?

Two years ago I paid $25 U S but I am not sure if it was for the Visa or some sort of official charge.

I have a one year ordinary visa and the gf is Thai so no official fees were paid on this occasion. Thais get 14 or 15 days on arrival.

Another common con in Phnom Penh airport on arrival is to try and charge everyone $25 when a tourist visa costs $20. Or they 'forget' to give you correct change and shortchange you $5 which they hope you wont notice until you have gone through immigration and it is too late.

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[ballpoint]

He's just annoyed that his Ferrari, along with a load of LPG in the tank, was incinerated on the back of a truck recently.

[Unkomoncents]

Cambodian immigration officials located the duo and told their Thai counterparts to consider the request for Thailand to let cars pass without stamping on the border pass so the cars could make multiple entries per day.

So that's how the yabaa, firearms, duty-free lamborghinis and Chalerm's sons manage to get around these days.

[rmacee]

Did a visa run at the Chong Chom crossing a few weeks back .. 1100bt for visa - and another page gone in my passport - stayed in the casino for about an hour and the 'thiefing lot' charged me another 300 bt to get out of Cambodia ... no charge back in Thailand.

[jcb2001]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

I've been visiting Cambodia for over 15 years and it was the first time I've been asked at an airport.

They have tried it with me several times at Poipet though.

I wondered why the Koreans in front of me were handing over US$ while getting their passports stamped, and when it was my turn the guy said "three dollar". I replied "no money" and there was a stand off for 30 seconds while he repeatedly asked me again for three dollars. He realised I wasn't going to cave and threw my passport back at me in disgust. He also asked my Thai gf who was next in line and she also refused to pay.

I know several expats living in Siem Reap and apparently it is a common tactic.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Wow, you got pretty big balls to mess with a Cambodian immigration officer over $3. Could have turned nasty and into an international incident. There are many ways he could have made your life miserable for not complying with his request. Glad things worked out for you.

[timewilltell]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

I've been visiting Cambodia for over 15 years and it was the first time I've been asked at an airport.They have tried it with me several times at Poipet though.I wondered why the Koreans in front of me were handing over US$ while getting their passports stamped, and when it was my turn the guy said "three dollar". I replied "no money" and there was a stand off for 30 seconds while he repeatedly asked me again for three dollars. He realised I wasn't going to cave and threw my passport back at me in disgust. He also asked my Thai gf who was next in line and she also refused to pay.I know several expats living in Siem Reap and apparently it is a common tactic.Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Wow, you got pretty big balls to mess with a Cambodian immigration officer over $3. Could have turned nasty and into an international incident. There are many ways he could have made your life miserable for not complying with his request. Glad things worked out for you.

Yes - why don't we all just accept it?

[apetley]

Did a visa run at the Chong Chom crossing a few weeks back .. 1100bt for visa - and another page gone in my passport - stayed in the casino for about an hour and the 'thiefing lot' charged me another 300 bt to get out of Cambodia ... no charge back in Thailand.

When I get my passport stamped at Chong Chom on the Cambo side I just hand 100 bht over with my passport. Always been accepted. Once asked for 300 and said 'last time it was only 100' and nothing further said.

Once when I was there a guy refused to pay and they told him to come back later for his passport.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Robby nz]

Only went there once and entered right down south.

Checked before I went and the web site said either Thai Baht or US$, Baht was about 25% less so I took Baht.

Told them I didn't have $$$. and I had checked and Baht was OK.

Was told go wait over there, way over there.

When the last of the group I had gone with had been processed I was called inside and given a real talking to.

They accepted the Baht but said my name had been noted and if I ever came back it had to be $$$.

[Sayonarax]

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the only place I have been asked for money at immigration in an international airport outside of Africa in over ten years. My Thai gf was also asked, as were every Korean I saw passing through with us.

In Phnom Penh there are signs everwhere that say, 'nothing to pay here.' I did not see any such signs in Siem Reap last month.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Last year at Siem Reap paid nothing but the official charge and the Thai girlfriend paid nothing

I've been visiting Cambodia for over 15 years and it was the first time I've been asked at an airport.

They have tried it with me several times at Poipet though.

I wondered why the Koreans in front of me were handing over US$ while getting their passports stamped, and when it was my turn the guy said "three dollar". I replied "no money" and there was a stand off for 30 seconds while he repeatedly asked me again for three dollars. He realised I wasn't going to cave and threw my passport back at me in disgust. He also asked my Thai gf who was next in line and she also refused to pay.

I know several expats living in Siem Reap and apparently it is a common tactic.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Wow, you got pretty big balls to mess with a Cambodian immigration officer over $3. Could have turned nasty and into an international incident. There are many ways he could have made your life miserable for not complying with his request. Glad things worked out for you.

Grow a pair.

[Sayonarax]

Only went there once and entered right down south.

Checked before I went and the web site said either Thai Baht or US$, Baht was about 25% less so I took Baht.

Told them I didn't have $$$. and I had checked and Baht was OK.

Was told go wait over there, way over there.

When the last of the group I had gone with had been processed I was called inside and given a real talking to.

They accepted the Baht but said my name had been noted and if I ever came back it had to be $$$.

I know its hard and boring to write a complete story. But next you want to tell us a story, do you mind completing it with all the details?

[Tomtomtom69]

Why are these people allowed to bring their cars into Thailand but Thai cars struggle to get into Cambodia?

Do these guys have Thai driver licenses? I suspect no.

Does Thai insurance cover Cambodian LHD vehicles? If Cambodian insurance doesn't cover Thai RHD vehicles, then Thai insurance should automatically NOT cover Cambodian cars either.

Thailand should reciprocate the rules the Cambodians apply to Thai cars to Cambodian cars entering its territory.

And yes passports should be stamped every time they enter and exit - foreigners have to undergo the same process, so why not Cambodians? No, border passes shouldn't be accepted either, only passports.

[Tomtomtom69]

Maybe if these bozos drove pickup trucks rather than 15-year old Camrys imported from America they'd be able to load up on enough LPG containers to only make one trip a day, thus saving time and money.