The Cambodian government has decided to stop selling temporary permits to Cambodian citizens heading to Rong Kluea market in Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo through the Poipet border checkpoint.
A letter from Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Soun Bavor on Wednesday said Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan decided to stop selling the permits -- which cost 1,000 riel (10 baht) -- to Cambodians crossing the border, to help reduce their expenditures, according to the Khmer Times.
“Relating to other administrative services to citizens, I requested that officials at headquarters provide them with transparency, fairness and efficiency,” he said.
Deputy Banteay Meanchey governors Um Reatrey and Ly Sary said they were unaware of the fees being scrapped.
Poipet immigration police chief Sim Sam Ath said he had received the letter and had already discussed it with the Thai side to facilitate citizens crossing the border at no charge.
Kim Thann, a Cambodian clothes seller at Rong Kluea market, supported the move which would reduce the costs of daily traders as well as those crossing the border to buy goods at the market, some of whom crossed several times daily.
“The ticket price of 10 baht is just for one time. It helps reduce costs if they stop taking this fee because people like me, who go back and forth to take their kids to school a few times per day, can save 30 baht per day,” he said.
According to Thann, aside from buying a temporary permit every time he wanted to enter the market, vendors were also required to have another permit that cost 200 baht and was valid for six months.
On Monday, the government announced plans to abolish a range of fees for its services, including fees for issuing birth certificates, marriage certification and national identity documents.
The Interior Ministry said the changes would ease the financial burden on citizens, improve public services and make the processes more transparent.
Other documents that will be affected include living books, family books, marriage certificates and death certificates.