Thursday, October 25, 2007

Hor Nam Hong appeals for additional KRouge tribunal funds

Cambodia's foreign minister, Hor Namhong, seen here, urged donors to continue funding the country's genocide trials, saying Thursday that more arrests were imminent, but that the court risked running out of money (AFP/File/Tang Chhin Sothy)

Cambodian FM appeals for KRouge tribunal funds

Thursday • October 25, 2007
AFP

Cambodia's foreign minister urged donors to continue funding the country's genocide trials, saying Thursday that more arrests were imminent, but that the court risked running out of money.

The UN-backed tribunal established to try former leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime "could have budget shortages in the near future," Hor Namhong told reporters.

He said the tribunal, which opened last year and was scheduled to last three years, could now extend through 2010.

Officials say the court, budgeted at 56.3 million dollars, has enough money to remain operational through the beginning of 2008.

The international community is funding most of the proceedings, but the Cambodian government has failed to come up with millions of dollars that it was meant to contribute.

"I hope that the international community will help find the budget," Hor Namhong said.

"The process is going smoothly ... I believe there will be more summons or arrests of other senior leaders in the near future," he added.

So far two former Khmer Rouge leaders, prison chief Duch and regime ideologue Nuon Chea, have been arrested by the court.

Three other suspects are being investigated for crimes committed by the 1975-79 communist regime, but their names have not been made public.

Trials are expected to begin in mid-2008.

Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork or were executed under the Khmer Rouge, which abolished religion, schools and currency, exiling millions to vast collective farms with the aim of creating an agrarian utopia.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Money shortage would not be a problem, don't worry much about that. Please worry about Nuon Chea's dying day within the slow of court proceeding.

Money would be enough if court is not corrupt enough make more fund rejected.

Anonymous said...

Who is Hor Namhong?
IS he a vietcong or khmer?

Anonymous said...

He's one of member of mafia's government.
One of the advisor of Khmer Rouge.
Don't you guys think that He looks like the mafia's in the Shanghai movie ???
Pill See Pill etc

Anonymous said...

Ho Nam Hong is viet infiltrated into Khmer Rouge Rank. Ta Mok told a few people before he die, that about Top Rank khmer Rouge in government, such as Hun Sen, Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, Soc Anh, Kiet Chhun, Tean Banh.ect..

Anonymous said...

Hi Hor Namhong, you will get more money if you can bring SIHANOUK to Khmer Rouge trial.

Anonymous said...

What is the use of dragging Sihanouk out of his palace? by the time the damn trial get rolling, there will be no one left to trial.

On the other hand, like a couple bloggers said in other thread, just keep extending the trial to get the needed money, which is not a bad idea at all. The only thing is we only get a small portion of what the lawyers will get, but still better than nothing, I must agree.

Anonymous said...

what you are expecting from HO Nam Hong,he got the same job with had but one at S21 and Ho at BEUNG TRA BEK JAIL,ask the criminal to be priest?

Anonymous said...

with Mr. Duch or brother II
correction 1:35

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter. Executioner jobs is perfectly legal in all countries that have capital punishment such as Vietnam, Singapore, US, ..., and China.

Anonymous said...

Vietnam?animal living in human=not respect human right do not go there folks

Anonymous said...

Khmer Rouge have sentenced 3 millions Cambodian people to death without paying a riels in legal fee. Therefore, we don't need to spend too much monies to waste on them in the court. Their crimes were real. The death were also real. We just want to know who were their big boss. But from Pol Pot to all their communes leaders were all criminals. They should now in jail for life with their family. They are not a suspect at all. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

Agreed, but for that to happen we must give back the country to Vietnam, and the trial will only cost 56 cents instead of 56 millions USD, and will be done in days instead of years.