Interpreters for the Khmer Rouge tribunal swore in Tuesday, promising to contribute professionalism and accuracy as translators between Cambodian and foreign court personnel, witnesses and suspects.
The swearing-in was another tangible step forward in a tribunal besmeared with delay and followed the delivery of a confidential list of five suspects to investigators last week.
Nineteen interpreters swore to accuracy in a ceremony under a statue near the courts, before investigating judges Marcel LeMonde and You Bunleng.
"The interpreters oath this morning showed that they will pay attention to their interpretation, so that there will be transparency, truth and perfection in the interpretation job for the Khmer Rouge tribunal, for the defendants and the plaintiffs," tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said after the ceremony.
The interpreters swore publicly to "interpret faithfully, with confidentiality" to try "to the utmost of my ability to adhere to the documents that will be given me for translation, and the words which will be addressed to me for interpretation."
The interpreters said later they were happy to be sworn in and that accuracy was the key to their profession.
"All of us who work in the essence of the Khmer Rouge tribunal should take the oath," said one interpreter. "Even if we do not take this oath, in our profession we should interpret faithfully and with perfection, keeping it confidential according to our professional ethics and our moral code of conduct as interpreters."