Cambodian interpreters angry that they have gone without pay for three months have stopped working at the genocide trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In a setback for international justice, 30 Cambodian translation staff members assigned to the U.N. backed trial and who have gone without pay since December, have announced they are going on strike.

The announcement came just before the court was to hear testimony from a foreign expert, according to Khmer Rouge tribunal spokesman Neth Pheaktra. "This morning's hearing is temporarily delayed so judges can meet with administration staff to talk about pay," said Pheaktra.

Testimony that had been scheduled to be given this week and next has been postponed until the dispute can be resolved.

The 30 striking interpreters have offered to return to work if they receive their December paychecks but will walk out again at the end of the month unless they have a new contract. The interpreters' old contract expired in January.

Trial Chamber President Nil Nonn said the strike has affected the translation of documents as well as court proceedings.

Local staff at the tribunal has been without pay since December because countries that agreed to fund the court have no timeline for sending in their contributions. The court is still waiting for $300,000 the European Union pledged for 2012.

The Khmer Rouge Tribunal was established as part of a joint agreement between the Cambodian government and the United Nations to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Further information on UN assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials may be found at this website.

By Alex Dupont
Marketing Communications Specialist
Language Translation Inc.

See Also

• Language Interpreting is the process of translating spoken words from one language into another.
  Language interpreters are essential to the proceedings of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, which uses three languages: English, French and Cambodian.
• Business conferences are often attended by people from all over the world who don?t speak the same languages as the presenters. Simultaneous interpretation is typically required in this setting.
  The Khmer Rouge Tribunal is a major UN backed gathering, which employs some 300 Cambodians including, drivers, prosecutors, judges as well as language interpreters and translators.
• Cambodian translators for Khmer Rouge trial go on strike; haven't been paid since December
  Cambodia Khmer Rouge tribunal staff goes on strike