Nearly the entire national side of the Office of the Co-Investigating Judges yesterday announced it would join strikes at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, which have been ongoing since September 1.

In a letter sent to the Office of Administration, the seven OCIJ staffers write that they will begin striking on Monday as they do not see “any quick solutions as expected”.

Co-Investigating Judge You Bunleng is the only national staffer in the office not joining the work stoppage.

Salaries for the national side have not been paid since June, and more than 140 staff members from most of the court’s departments are now striking, spokesman Neth Pheaktra said.

“We are very concerned [about the] eventual delay of the judicial process if the financial crisis will be not resolved as soon as possible,” he wrote in an email, adding that nearly all staff save the highest-ranking members were currently on strike.

Already, the strikes have led to a slow-down. Trial Chamber president Nil Nonn yesterday agreed to push back the deadline for closing briefs by a week in recognition of the impact work stoppages have had.