By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 11 – Alleged killers of over 1 million people in Cambodia may never be tried, due to the court's shortfall of $9.5 million.
Inner City Press asked the UN at Monday's noon briefing about the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the threat by Cambodian staff to stop working, since they have not been paid since November.
After the noon briefing, the UN sent Inner City Press these two paragraphs:
Subject: Your question on Cambodia
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 12:31 PM
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 12:31 PM
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com
We urge the Royal Government of Cambodia to take urgent steps to ensure that the salaries of national staff at the Extraordinary Chambers are paid, to avoid any disruption to the important work of the Court.
The Special Expert of the Secretary-General, Ambassador David Scheffer, is in contact with the donors to encourage them to explore ways to assist the Government in meeting its obligation to pay the salaries.
Japan stepped up once in the past. But will it, this time?
Others in UN Headquarters, where the Staff Union passed a resolution of “no confidence” in Secretary General Ban Ki-moon after he characterized as selfish those who oppose his human resources plans which into $100 million in budget cuts, 70% from personnel cost or salaries, wondered is Ban would call the Cambodian staffers “selfish” if they stopped working if not paid. Watch this site.
