Cambodians protests against increased import duty on live fish

SA KAEO, Feb 24 (TNA) – Cambodian merchants have blocked the Thai –Cambodian bridge in Sa Kaew in their protest against an huge increase of import duty on live fish by the Thai authorities. Cambodian fish vendors blocked the bridge with about 30 carts, carrying fish on the second day after the Thai customs officials at the Klong Luek checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district had raised the customs duty on live fish to 12 baht per kilogramme from a flat rate of 380 baht for a cartload of between 100-200 kilogrammes. Customs officials insisted that they needed to implement the imposition of the new rate after it was postponed for a year. Moreover, during the lenient period, the Thai authorities have already informed Cambodian vendors for several months that the new rate would be applied. In a latest situation, Cambodian protesters blocked the bridge and did not allow vehicles from the Thai side, particularly goods trucks to enter Cambodia to put pressure on the Thai authorities. However, tourists are allowed to cross the border on foot. Police officers including plainclothes officials have been deployed to monitoring the situation on the bridge. (TNA)