Cambodia sets age limit for foreign husbands

**StrontiumDog** · 17-03-2011, 12:13 AM

Cambodia sets age limit for foreign husbands

Mar 16, 2011

Cambodia sets age limit for foreign husbands

Male foreigners over the age of 50 have been outlawed from marrying Cambodian women under new rules. -- PHOTO: AP

PHNOM PENH - MALE foreigners over the age of 50 have been outlawed from marrying Cambodian women in the country under new rules designed to crack down on sham marriages and human trafficking, the government said on Wednesday.

Foreigners who earn less than US$2,550 (S$3,263) per month are also barred from wedding local women, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP, but the restrictions do not apply to weddings taking place overseas.

Marriages between old men and young women are 'inappropriate", Mr Koy Kuong said, and foreign men who wish to marry nationals must earn a high salary to ensure that 'Cambodian women can live a decent life'.

'We are preventing fake marriages and human trafficking,' he said, adding that the government was aware of cases, documented by rights groups, where Cambodian women were sent into prostitution or 'used as slaves' in their husband's home country.

The Cambodian foreign ministry has sent a diplomatic note to all the embassies and consulates in the country informing them of the new regulations, which came into effect on March 1.

Kek Galabru, president of local human rights group Licadho, praised the government's intention to protect Cambodian brides. But she said the new guidelines 'go against Cambodian marriage law and international law' - specifically the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. -- AFP

**chitown** · 17-03-2011, 12:28 AM

Thailand may follow with something similar as well. Both Cambodia and Thailand have extremely intrusive governments.

**dirtydog** · 17-03-2011, 01:04 AM

What happens if a 50 year old man wants to marry a 50 year old Cambodian woman?

**dirtydog** · 17-03-2011, 01:06 AM

^^if Thailand brings in similar laws I better marry my girlfriend soon before I hit 50

although she is a few months older than me.

**DJ Pat** · 17-03-2011, 01:10 AM

It would improve the appearance of Pattaya if they brought in that law.

**Dreadlord** · 17-03-2011, 01:37 AM

if Thailand instituted that law, they would love maybe millions/billions of money a year. That would be stupid. Many many Isaan families would go hungry, poor, and alcohol less.

**chitown** · 17-03-2011, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

What happens if a 50 year old man wants to marry a 50 year old Cambodian woman?

Or what happens if a 50 year old Cambodian woman wants to marry a 25 year old Westerner. Or a 50 year old Western woman wants to marry a 25 year old Cambodian man. Or.....

**Spin** · 17-03-2011, 02:43 AM

I doubt many there give a shit, if you are to believe the papers, most male foreigners over 50 who are in Cambo are kiddy fidlers anyway. The name "Gary Glitter" ring any bells?

Also the attempt to marry foreigners and sex trafficking / prostitution together in the item above provides only a limited diversion from the fact that it is mostly a homegrown problem....just like in Thailand, you can try and blame foreigners for it, but the fact remains, these fuckers never miss a chance to sell a daughter for a few quid.

**DroversDog** · 17-03-2011, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by Spin

I doubt many there give a shit, if you are to believe the papers, most male foreigners over 50 who are in Cambo are kiddy fidlers anyway. The name "Gary Glitter" ring any bells?

Also the attempt to marry foreigners and sex trafficking / prostitution together in the item above provides only a limited diversion from the fact that it is mostly a homegrown problem....just like in Thailand, you can try and blame foreigners for it, but the fact remains, these fuckers never miss a chance to sell a daughter for a few quid.

The number of falang kiddy fiddlers is miniscule to the local or local ethnic kiddy kiddlers. I doubt the law would apply to the Chinese as they look the same and newspapers and NGO's prefer that the perpetrator are white so they can get wider coverage of their articles or get larger funding to pay for their wages.

**Poo and Pee** · 17-03-2011, 03:13 AM

i am all for punishing and preventing kiddy fiddlers, but this is just a stupid law.

it's like banning flowers, instead of just poppys..

**nigelandjan** · 17-03-2011, 03:30 AM

Oh dear ,,,,,,,,,well I hope they dont make it a retrospective law if the Thai heirachy decide to introduce it

**the dogcatcher** · 17-03-2011, 03:54 AM

Me no like old man, any more.

**meepho** · 17-03-2011, 04:12 AM

just ban tourists over 50

simples

crocodilexp · 17-03-2011, 04:18 AM

Foreigners who earn less than US$2,550 (S$3,263) per month are also barred from wedding local women

Cambodia's YEARLY GDP per capita is $820 (that's $68/month). Apparently, it takes 37 times that much money to ensure a "decent life" for a family there.

Equivalent limit in the U.S. (37 * $46k GDP per capita) would be $1.7 million per year ($140k/month). Most CEOs are too poor to afford this.

In Thailand, the equivalent is 37 * $3900 / 12 = $12,000 / month = 360,000 baht / month. Khun Abhisit does not qualify, since Thai PM salary is measly 125,000 / month... and he's a British citizen, too.

As for the age limit of 50... it's not much of a worry, since in a place like Cambodia, I doubt many limits apply to people with 37x the local salary.

**Mr Earl** · 17-03-2011, 05:53 AM

Stupid law which ain't gonna international water.

But she said the new guidelines 'go against Cambodian marriage law and international law'

**teddy** · 17-03-2011, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

What happens if a 50 year old man wants to marry a 50 year old Cambodian woman?

He's sent to an insane asylum

**Simon43** · 17-03-2011, 06:55 AM

Are kiddy fiddlers all aged over 50 years then?

Simon

**genghis61** · 17-03-2011, 07:14 AM

one local scenario, just to highlight the economic implications if similar rules were to be introduced here, though of course nothing will change if the couple choose not to marry just live together, or head offshore to wed

11 years ago man, 67, marries woman 23.
Big party
buys land off her parents for house (family discount for sure!!)
builds two 3 bedroom house for him, bride and the 1 kid she already has, second house for parents
buys two 4wd pickups, replaced with new ones every 3-5 years, plus two motorbikes
stocks houses with furniture, tvs etc that are updated as technology improves, now have big LED screen tvs, satellite tv
Wife moves to other house, easier to look after parents from there

In over 10 years he has put millions of baht into the local economy, and after his death will continue to do so as the inherited wealth is spent. Builders, car sales . . . all money they would not otherwise have earned

Possibly this type of situation happens every day, and maybe could have happened if he'd stayed in UK - still his money to spend - and wouldn't have had the 23yr old bride.

**Thormaturge** · 17-03-2011, 07:27 AM

It doesn't apply to overseas marriages.

Thus it just means people who fall into this situation cannot have a Cambodian wedding.

For the sham marriages it won't make any difference at all since they will get married elsewhere. For the occasional genuine marriages it will upset the local Cambodian women who are denied a legitimate Cambodian marriage.

More political stupidity.

FarangRed · 17-03-2011, 07:36 AM

can live together or what in Cambodia?

FarangRed · 17-03-2011, 07:39 AM

The legislation does not apply to foreign women looking to marry Cambodian men.

**rickschoppers** · 17-03-2011, 08:24 AM

Just live with them.......who needs a piece of paper anyway.

**teddy** · 17-03-2011, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Just live with them.......who needs a piece of paper anyway.

True. Renting has always been cheaper than purchasing in Asia. When she touches 30 or becomes stroppy, trade her in for a better model; however, avoid the ones with extra knobs. And never ever buy land or property for her.

**graym** · 17-03-2011, 09:51 AM

It is a comfort to know that I still have the next 8 months to enjoy a degree of normality in my life before turning into a depraved sex pest.
I wonder, does it come on slowly or hit you all at once on your birthday...

**The Muffinman** · 17-03-2011, 10:42 AM

This new law is comedy gold.

Cambodia is an absolute paradise compared to Thailand regarding visas. 12 month bus visa costs $250/280, no proof of income/money in the bank required. No 90 day reporting, multiple entries jada jada...
Basically the Barang can stay there indefinetely as long as he can afford the visa.
There's absolutely no reason whatsoever for a Barang to marry a local woman, unless she insists on being made an honest woman of course. If that's the case just marry her overseas.

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