T he mysterious case of Col. Yves, one of the last UNTAC personnel in town,

has been resolved. In spite of all the rumors, he didn't go AWOL and he wasn't

kidnapped by a senior, high-ranking, female, military spy so that all of the

UN's cloesly guarded secrets could be pried out of him. In fact, he went home to

France, to report for his next duty station - just like he was supposed to do.

Remember the adage "Honesty is the best policy" or "Crime doesn't pay?"

Well, a businessman in town was obviously raised on those notions, and when it

came time to pay his taxes he went to the tax office, said he'd recorded a

$20,000 turnover for the month, and was there to pay his 10% or $2,000. The tax

man looked both confused and astonished. He said "No, no, no" telling the

entrepreneur that $2,000 was way too much and that a hundred bucks would be just

fine, but that the receipt for the taxes paid would cost 20,000 riels. Both

perplexed and rankled, the businessman insisted he pay the proper $2,000 and

wouldn't pay one riel for the receipt. After some discussion, the two grand was

paid.

A month goes by and the guy goes back to pay the next month's

taxes. This time, because turnover was down, he only owes $1,700. But the taxman

says "No, no, no," telling the man that he can't pay less than last month. He

has to pay more! The businessman was both confused and really confused. He tries

to explain that he only owes 10% of that month's turnover, which should be only

$1,700. The taxman doesn't budge - the would-be taxpayer blows a fuse, says "No,

no, no," that he won't pay anything and threatens to complain to the Ministry of

Finance. This is as far as the story has progressed so far, and the Gecko is

waiting to hear the next episode. But, if anyone knows the moral of this story,

please send in your thoughts to: Gecko c/o PPPost.

A Cambodian journalist

on the loose in Bangkok said he hailed a taxi and headed off for the Thai

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not realising that the MFA has several premises

around town. He arrives at one building, as it happens the wrong one. After a

chat with the cabbie the problem was cleared up. See, the cabbie thought the

Khmer wanted to defect and had taken him to the office for political asylum

seekers.

Phone antics. Tri-Cel-Cam has a new policy - maybe a world

first. If you want a print-out of your local phone calls, you now have to pay

$10 extra.