Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Japan rushes to the Cambodian government’s aid

Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Japan rushes to the Cambodian government’s aid
By Stéphanie Gée
ka Set

21-03-2009
As March 30th will mark the opening of the first trial before the United Nations-backed Khmer Rouge Court, the Cambodian side of the hybrid jurisdiction finds itself short of funds. Japan, who stands as the biggest donor for the tribunal, announced on Friday March 20th in a communiqué released by the Japanese embassy in Cambodia, that they decided to urgently contribute US$200,000, “In response to the request from the Royal Government of Cambodia”. The contribution is surely a modest one, but will be used to pay for salaries on the Cambodian side of the Khmer Rouge tribunal at the end of this month.

This is however just a shot in the arm of the Court, still waiting for the lifting of the suspension, by international donors, of the payment of funds to the Cambodian side of the Court. The freezing was decided back in August 2008 after allegations of corruption were reported on the Cambodian side. The government and the UN should reach a final agreement before Monday concerning the setting up of anti-corruption mechanisms, as they committed to doing last month. The agreement will supposedly lead to the release of funds allocated to the Cambodian side of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), still confident to this day. Who could possibly imagine that after nearly three years up and running, the tribunal would suspend its activity days before the opening of the first trial of a former Khmer Rouge leader, torturer Duch?