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March 11, 2006
To bribe or not to bribe...
Yesterday I was stopped by the police in Ouagadougou.
Just as I was turning the corner at the traffic lights, the lights changed from green to amber. I heard a whistle blow, and knew I was in trouble. I looked up to see a policeman waving me down. I pulled over and he told me I had crashed a red light.
Patiently, but knowing it was a lost cause, I tried to convince him that the lights had changed as I was coming through. He sent me off to see his boss down the road, where I joined a small and growing group of frustrated moped riders trying to get the attention and sympathy of an older, and unsympathetic-looking policeman.
After dealing with the immediate scrum, he turned his attention to me, and gave me a piece of paper with official stamps on it.
"You crashed a red light. You will need to take this paper to the central police compound tomorrow morning at 8am, and pay a fine of 4800cfa (about £5). Then you can get your moped back."
Once more I tried to persuade him that maybe his man had made a mistake. I was careful not to accuse directly, but was trying to give him a way to back down. He drew me aside.
"Look, I want to help you. If you can pay half the price now, I can let you go with your moped. But I can't give you a receipt... In that way we can settle this as friends. But if you need a receipt, you will have to go tomorrow to the police compound, and then you will have to pay the full price..."
What should I do? If I paid now, I knew the money would not go into the proper box. Policemen - like everyone else in Burkina - are using whatever means they have to make ends meet. Their salaries are often barely enough, and the weekend was coming. If I pay the gift to my "friend", am I not sustaining the system of corruption that so weakens the economy of the country?
And yet, would it really be so bad? If I paid now, the money would at least be helping the poorly-paid policeman's family, rather than the over-populated bureaucratic system. I also had a very full programme, and to be deprived of my moped for the rest of the day would throw it into complete chaos. Without wheels, I would be forced to walk in the sun a fair distance to find a taxi to get me where I needed to go. For just £2.50 I would be free to get on with my day, and no-one - except maybe you, dear reader - would know any more about it.
What should I do?
What would you do (honestly)?
And what did I actually do?
Part two can be found here.
Tags: africa burkina burkina faso bribery travel ouagadougou mission sahel corruption
Posted by Keith at March 11, 2006 05:45 PM
Comments
for such cases i carry a recommendation letter from the burkinabe embassy in austria with me. i often eases such cases, along with some very indirect hints that i might have a plugin somewhere in his ministry. doesn't always help, but in most cases.
an official doesn't even get an aspirin from me - unless his question sounds like a "no" would be ok. of course, there are cases where a bribe can't be avoided - and surely having to turn in my mobilette would be such a case - but in most case patience and persistence do the job.
Posted by: helge at March 11, 2006 08:17 PM
Honestly... I probably would have paid. May not be right, but it's the truth.
I look forward to hearing how you managed... :)
Posted by: wilsonian at March 11, 2006 10:11 PM
Honestly I would do whats legal because its your testimony..They may someday ask you to do something else illegal..But I truly understand your heart to help the officer and his family..Also you are the only one who knows what decision will impact the people and your testimony for Christ.. Let God lead you..I also praise God for your honesty in posting this and I truly want to know how you handled it..(no condemnation) Blessings Donna
Posted by: Donna at March 12, 2006 01:15 PM
Take the nice man's name and write it down conspicuously. He can not legally refuse to give you that. Then make an official complaint at the police station. Make an issue of it, but without getting angry. Our colleague Paolo recently got stopped twice in one week - it is getting out of hand - people need to have the guts to stand up to harrassment.
Posted by: steve at March 12, 2006 05:42 PM
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arca
http://arca.ilcannocchiale.it
Posted by: arca at March 13, 2006 12:14 AM
The first time I got stopped by a policeman here in Cambodia I was so scared that I asked him very loudly (I was too scared to take my helmet off) if he wanted some money. I gave him everything I had (about 50 cents) and was very surprised when he actually gave me some change. I am pleased to say that the men in blue don't scare me anymore and now I am quite happy to hang out with them all afternoon if that is what it takes to get an official receipt. I have more peace about doing things this way even if it is inconvenient. Bless you!
Posted by: Charlie at March 13, 2006 10:29 AM
I'd probably paid... good, bad, indifferent but true.
Posted by: rick at March 14, 2006 03:42 PM
Tell him (gently and humbly!) I was a Christian and couldn't do it.Give him the money and say it was a gift to Bless him for his work and offer, but you would have to take the consequences as regards whatever might happen as regards the bike going through the proper channels.Tell him his kindness was much appreciated and, hopefully, he might ask about God and Jesus!!Even if he didn't...he might wonder about this incident.Then...its off into the hot sun and sand, with a shattered itinary...BUT...God could have worked a miracle...by way of an immediate taxi appearing out of nowhere!!But even if not it...,well,...we'll have to wait and see what Keith says.This is, of course, what i would HOPE to do...but would I???Answers on a postcard, please!For those that know me..answers on a postage stamp should do it!! :-)
Posted by: Lorimer at March 14, 2006 07:04 PM
good point from charlie: "I am quite happy to hang out with them all afternoon if that is what it takes to get an official receipt."
i remember a mauritanian border office who wanted to know what was on my car's roof yet refused to look - "the sun is already high up in the sky, we'll have to wait!" - at 10am.
i said ok, took out a book (i was prepared for such a situation - the place has quite a reputation) and started to read. about 10 minutes later the guy gave up and continued with his investigation. took 40 minutes in total, no gifts or bribes paid.
Posted by: helge at March 15, 2006 08:44 PM
These things always boil down to the heart motive so I could see possibilities where both choices might work. But breaking the law fr personal gainis not a great thing. Especially in the little areas like infringing copyright instead of buying an item.
But it seems that its not so much a bribe but blackmail. "If you don't pay me privately, I will book you for something you didn't do". I think its a different question. And perhaps you are not under the weight of your original question.
Good to be talking with you again Keith.
Garth@emergingBlurb
Posted by: Garth at March 17, 2006 02:13 AM
"stop the white guy day" in ouaga: http://realtravel.com/ouagadougou-journals-j683300.html
Posted by: helge at April 14, 2006 03:06 PM
