Cambodia: Old foreign farts out of luck

[Capstone]

I saw this story about a week ago and had forgotten about it until today when I saw another story about how Thailand is now considering enacting the same law - although there is speculation that the Thailand story may just be an April Fool's hoax - but this one about Cambodia is legit.

Cambodia sets marriage age limit for foreign husbands

Cambodia has imposed a partial ban on foreign men marrying local women - would-be bridegrooms will now have to be less than 50 years old.

The government says it is trying to prevent exploitation - and promote true love and what it calls "honest marriages".

But there has been a mixed reaction to the ruling. The ban does not affect foreign women - or Cambodian men.

Some participants in mixed marriages have said the ban is discriminatory.

A traditional Cambodian wedding is hard to miss - there's usually a red and white marquee blocking off half the road in front of the bride's house, and loudspeakers blasting out anything from Khmer wedding music to the chants of Buddhist monks.

At the entrance to the marquee there will be a photo of the bride and groom. Occasionally one or other of them will be non-Cambodian - a situation that has become a little problematic.

"We've been married 10 years, we have children, we're doing very well," said Jim Gollogly, a British doctor who married his wife when he was in his 50s and she was in her 30s.

"I don't think she wants to get rid of me right at the moment. I think she's done well out of it and I've done well out of it. And I don't see why that should be banned."

Dr Gollogly's wife holds a passport from Thailand - so they would not have been affected by the new rules. But others will not be so fortunate.

"They probably think there are too many older guys coming along and picking up young Khmer girls," said Dr Gollogly.

"And they feel that it's a bit immoral or something. But the girls should be of legal, consenting age - and if they are of consenting age, 18 or above, they should be able to make their own decisions."

Discriminatory?
The authorities seem to have been motivated by aesthetic considerations as much as anything else.

A government spokesman said it did not look "fitting" to see a young Cambodian woman with a much older foreign man.

They have also ruled that younger foreign men must have an income of at least $2,500 (£1,539) a month to marry a local bride.

That is many times more than what the average Cambodian earns.

"It seems to me that if there's any law about anything it should be applied to everyone - not just foreigners," said Dr Gollogly.

"It seems there's a good Asian tradition that older guys marry younger girls - and I don't see why that should be a problem just for foreign men," he said.

But perhaps true love need not be thwarted.

There is no law against couples of any age or nationality getting married outside Cambodia.

They may just have to do without the traditional Khmer wedding they had been planning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12802339

[ignorante]

It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough, kid, but its life
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Don't forget to pack a wife

[Capstone]

It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough, kid, but its life
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Don't forget to pack a wife

Is that you Jello?

[Jeff S]

Sounds like the perfect excuse, "Sorry honey, we can't get married. It's against the law!"

[piglett]

Sounds like the perfect excuse, "Sorry honey, we can't get married. It's against the law!"

maybe they can come up with a good rent to own plan


what a stupid law


pig

[AndyLee]

I wonder how it applies to common law marriage? In some countries, Canada for example, if you live with your girlfriend for 1 year you are automatically common law married. In Colombia it is two years. So, it might be you can still marry a Cambodian woman but it's a long wedding and you don't get to have the ceremony.

[michaelb]

Two years in the US? Where did you hear that? Not all states (in fact very few) have common law marriage. Even in the ones that do have specific additional requirements besides just living together.

[Capstone]

I wonder how it applies to common law marriage? In some countries, Canada for example, if you live with your girlfriend for 1 year you are automatically common law married. In US it is two years and in Colombia it is two years. So, it might be you can still marry a Cambodian woman but it's a long wedding and you don't get to have the ceremony.

Most Asian countries, including Cambodia, do not recognize common law marriage - Japan is the only one that I can think of which does. Most states in the US no longer recognize a common law marriage either - only about 10 states still do.

[Tanuki]

It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough, kid, but its life
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Don't forget to pack a wife

Been a long time since I have seen anyone reference a song from the Dead Kennedys.

[AndyLee]

I stand corrected, sorry for the confusion. My brother who lives in Kansas did it so I just assumed anybody could. I have amended my post based on this from Wiki:

Quote: "Common-law marriage in the United States was affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in Meister v. Moore (96 U.S. 76 (1877)), which ruled that Michigan had not abolished common law marriage merely by producing a statute establishing rules for the solemnization of marriages. Common-law marriage can still be contracted in 11 states and the District of Columbia, can no longer be contracted in 26 states, and was never permitted in 13 states. The requirements for a common-law marriage to be validly contracted differ from state to state. Nevertheless, all states — including those that have abolished the contract of common-law marriage within their boundaries — recognize common-law marriages lawfully contracted in those jurisdictions that permit it." End quote.