Cambodia: Australia Pledges New Funds To Help Keep Cambodian Genocide
Tribunal Running
News 2008-04-03 18:11
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: Australia pledged 500,000 Australian dollars (US
$458,000) Thursday (3 Apr) for Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide
tribunal, whose operations have been threatened by a shortage of funds
as it prepares for trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Bob McMullan, the Australian parliamentary secretary for international
development assistance, announced the pledge during a meeting with
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.
He said his government made the decision to help pay Cambodia's share
of the expenses because "we want to make sure that the resources are
available so that this im****tant step in justice is capable of being
properly undertaken."
The money is "available now," McMullan said.
Helen Jarvis, the tribunal's chief spokeswoman, said the contribution
"takes the pressure off."
The Khmer Rouge is accused of responsibility for the deaths of an
estimated 1.7 million Cambodians during its 1975-1979 rule. So far,
none of the regime's senior leaders has faced trial.
The U.N.-assisted tribunal opened its offices in early 2006 after
years of wrangling between the Cambodian government and the world
body. Trials _ conducted jointly by international and Cambodian
jurists _ were originally projected to end by 2009, but are now
expected to run through March 2011.
To extend its operation, the tribunal is seeking an additional US$114
million. It told donor countries in January it would need US$170
million, a sharp increase from the originally budgeted US$56 million.
The United Nations was supposed to provide US$43 million for its share
of the original budget, and Cambodia US$13.3 million.
Jarvis said the funds that Cambodia has available are US$4.9 million
short of its original share. The Cambodian side now has enough money
to keep operating until the end of May, rather than April as
previously projected, she said.
The pledge announced by McMullan is Australia's first direct
contribution to the Cambodian side, which is "very encouraging,"
Jarvis said.
Australia previously gave about US$2.3 million for the U.N.'s share of
the budget. (By SOPHENG CHEANG/ AP)
MySinchew 2008.04.03
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