About 400 Banteay Meanchey province residents visited the provincial governor's office this week to ask for a reduction in the fee charged for importing motorbikes.

Without a reduction, residents said, they will not be able to officially register their motorbikes and obtain licence plates in line with the Land Traffic Law, forcing them to risk fines of up to 200,000 riels ($48).

Im Phoan Sophal, a deputy provincial governor, warned that officials would not be able to reduce the fee, which could be as high as $200. "If we were to reduce it, it would have too large an impact on the national budget," he said.

Sok Vireak, who lives in O'Chrouv district, was part of the group of 400 that visited the governor's office. "We haven't paid the fee because we haven't needed to before," he said. "But if the authorities were to reduce it, we would be able to buy number plates. We want to join together to respect the traffic law and reduce the number of accidents."