DPA
Phnom Penh - A top prosecutor for the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders Wednesday added his voice to calls by the Cambodian government to extend the court's budget. The 56-million dollar joint UN-Cambodia Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) was initially budgeted for three years, ending in 2009.
However, so far only two suspects are in custody after a series of delays to the process and Cambodian deputy prime minister Hor Namhong last month called on international donors for more funds.
"Obviously we could not end the process ... when we run out of money," International co-prosecutor Robert Petit told a press conference at the ECCC, adding that the 2009 deadline to finish investigations, prosecutions and hearings now looked unlikely to be met.
"If we were to do that at this point I don't think we would leave a very credible process," he said. "We need more money and time."
The court has said previously that it expects at least five former leaders of the Khmer Rouge's Democratic Kampuchea regime to be charged, although it has not named the suspects.
So far only former S-21 torture centre commandant Kang Keng Iev, alias Duch, and late former leader Pol Pot's second in command, Nuon Chea, have been charged with crimes against humanity. Nuon Chea has also been charged with war crimes. Up to 2 million Cambodians died under the 1975 to 1979 regime.
However, so far only two suspects are in custody after a series of delays to the process and Cambodian deputy prime minister Hor Namhong last month called on international donors for more funds.
"Obviously we could not end the process ... when we run out of money," International co-prosecutor Robert Petit told a press conference at the ECCC, adding that the 2009 deadline to finish investigations, prosecutions and hearings now looked unlikely to be met.
"If we were to do that at this point I don't think we would leave a very credible process," he said. "We need more money and time."
The court has said previously that it expects at least five former leaders of the Khmer Rouge's Democratic Kampuchea regime to be charged, although it has not named the suspects.
So far only former S-21 torture centre commandant Kang Keng Iev, alias Duch, and late former leader Pol Pot's second in command, Nuon Chea, have been charged with crimes against humanity. Nuon Chea has also been charged with war crimes. Up to 2 million Cambodians died under the 1975 to 1979 regime.
3 comments:
I know they called for more KRT funds but how much are we talking? How does the potential donors know how much to give if we don't say? are we expected them to read our mind or something? Hello!
The donors not that stupid .if you not arrest Hun Sen,Honam Hong and Sihaknuk are khmer rouge leaders and put them on trial they think Cambodia is Micky mouse so no more money please find your own money,they do not wanted to be cheated by communist government.
No, we will get the money the soon we deported all Ah Khmer-Yuon criminals back to South Vietnam.
Post a Comment