Re: [ATM] good news

[Woodchuck <djv@bedford.net>]

On Tue, 28 Mar 2006, Ken Hunter wrote:

> I wanted to blast your government and had to erase my comments. Let me just say that I'm sorry that you're in such a state. The items we sent are neither unique or expensive except perhaps in Pakistan. If you cannot pay the ransom, can you have the package returned?
>
>   Ken Hunter

The officials want a bribe.  Some things cannot be said openly in
some countries, despite being widely known and practiced.

If they ask $500 in tax (theft, see the .sig) that may mean that a
$50 bribe will suffice.  There is a language and a calculus of
bribery that varies by country.  ("Is there a special fee to expidite
the reassessment of the customs duties?"  "Suppose I gave the customs
service one of the items for reference?" "I am a poor man, and could
only pay a $10 fee, and perhaps a bit more." "Isn't there an alternate
way to arrange this?"  "Is there an informal procedure to negotiate
the fee?" "Could we discuss the fees in your office?"  Whatever the
local code words are.)

If no bribe is paid and no tax paid (the real tax is probably $5,
and they expect to pocket any difference), the package will be
stolen by the officials (typically).  Return it to the USA?  There
will be special "fees" to return the package, perhaps "export fees",
or "special handling fees", but it will probably simply be "confiscated"
if a bribe is not paid.

In terms of Pakistan's economy, $500 is a stunning, mind-numbing
sum, and may mean that one may have to hire a customs broker or
"lawyer" to (a) collect *his* fee, and (b) place the bribe.
Complaining about the bribe to a superior official will result in
arrest, denial or a higher bribe; the superior already is collecting
a cut of the bribe.  Having recourse to some sort of arbitration
or legal proceeding may well take several years, and of course a
bribe to the judge.

North Americans are not usually used to or conscious of "retail"
government corruption like this, except for some police forces and
some licensing agencies.  There are places where it is universal.
India is one, I expect India's neighbor is another.

Dave
-- 
      The law has converted plunder into a right and lawful defense
      into a crime.  -- Frederic Bastiat, 1850

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