Taxi Drivers Block Checkpoint In Poipet to Protest New Tax
Taxi drivers staged a large protest Wednesday at a customs checkpoint in Poipet City over customs officials’ demands for what the protesters said was an exorbitant tax on a small load of goods. At the checkpoint Wednesday, more than 50 taxi drivers blocked the road for an hour and demanded the release of a co-worker’s car after customs officials impounded it earlier in the week because the driver did not pay the proper tax on goods he was transporting. Sem Yon, 35, said he had his Toyota Camry impounded on Saturday at about 4:30 p.m. for not paying customs officials up to $500 for transporting about 100 kg of dried chili peppers from Poipet City to Banteay Meanchey provincial town. … Then on Wednesday, at least 50 taxi drivers brought their cars to the same checkpoint near National Road 5 and blocked the road for an hour before officials agreed to release Mr. Yon’s impounded car. “When they [the taxi drivers] strongly complained, my car was released, and I didn’t pay anything,” Mr. Yon said. …
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/taxi-drivers-block-checkpoint-in-poipet-to-protest-new-tax-49159/
