Corrupt Police-Rat Costumes

One of the more entertaining and interesting things we saw were kids dressed as police wearing rat masks and tails. The kids would approach you and in very rapid and stern tones scolding you that you had done something wrong or illegal. They then demanded you pay them a bribe to avoid jail. If you put a coin in their little black bags they would go away. I ask a local why they were wearing rat costumes and was told those working as police are like rats and not trusted by the locals. If a police caught you doing anything remotely illegal, they would try to get a bribe from you (the example I was given was urinating in the street which is a very common practice here). Personally I found them the best part of the parade activities and admired the kids for the ingenuity!