The following was translated by Moeun Chhean Nariddh from the July 22 edition of

Raksmei Kampuchea

At the moment, employees from some small district banks have been coming to see me,

A Romyol (*), for help-just to try if they can get a few cents for the July salary.

According to these folks, during the last 18 months, the employees of the small district

banks have not received any cents for their salaries.

Hearing this, A Romyol myself burst out laughing from the heart, admiring the fact

that they have been able to survive and work without any salary for 18 months. This

might be because they are working in the countryside where they can do some part-time

farming or are supported by their farmer parents or relatives. If they lived in "Ampenh"

(**) and in the situation of such a salary crisis, their lives might have been claimed.

They said when they made requests at the provincial level, the provincial banks said

no revenue had been earned yet. The same folk added that even though they had not

netted any income, they had collected debts and transferred them to the provinces.

Now, everything has been finished, including their work and salaries.

Therefore A Romyol myself would like to whisper to your excellencies who are the

general bank governor or deputy governors to check if there are any possibilities

to solve their too serious problems. We do not know how many districts or provinces

are in this same boat. However, one thing worth considering is that people's work

should be paid for-a little is also desirable, if not much; and if you cannot pay

for the 18 months' salaries, then July's will be better than nothing.

Ramyol (hanging festoon)

(*) A humorous Khmer name.

(**) Spoken Khmer word for Phnom Penh.