Bankruptcy looms over Cambodian side of tribunal
Friday, 20 February 2009
Written by Neth Pheaktra and Georgia Wilkins
The Phnom Penh Post
Without donations over the next month, Cambodian employees of the the Khmer Rouge court could be working for free
DONOR countries to the Khmer Rouge tribunal have commended the war crimes court for beginning its first trial on Tuesday, a step it claims moves Cambodia much closer to achieving justice and national reconciliation.
But as congratulatory messages flood in, donors remain silent on further pledges to the financially troubled chambers, failing to allay fears by officials that the court's Cambodian side looks set to become bankrupt by the end of the month.
In a press statement Wednesday, the French Foreign and European Affairs Ministry said they would continue to support the tribunal, but made no further pledges.
"France welcomes the starting of the first initial hearing at ECCC, a fruit of cooperation between Cambodian and international justice," it said.
According to a report released last week by court monitor Open Society Justice Initiative, the Cambodian side of the court could be bankrupt in a matter of weeks, despite recent donations.
Court officials Thursday confirmed this.
"We may not have any money to run the court next month," court spokesman Reach Sambath told the Post.
Congratulations, but no cash
The court's largest donor, Japan, also commended the court's achievements, but did not indicate any further pledges.
"Japan heartily welcomes the holding of the initial hearing of the Khmer Rouge tribunal," a press release from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.
Raising additional funds for the court has long been a problem for the court, in part because of its failure to address concerns about corruption and independence, the OSJI report said.
This led the UN Development Program, which was administering donor funds to the Cambodian side of the court, to freeze funding last July.
"It will be difficult for some staff because they need a salary to support their daily life, but this is not new to us," Reach Sambath said, referring to a two-month period after the funding freeze last year in which employees worked unpaid.
"We trust our staff's commitment to keep working ... but I don't think the international side can support the running of the court [for long]," he added.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Written by Neth Pheaktra and Georgia Wilkins
The Phnom Penh Post
Without donations over the next month, Cambodian employees of the the Khmer Rouge court could be working for free
DONOR countries to the Khmer Rouge tribunal have commended the war crimes court for beginning its first trial on Tuesday, a step it claims moves Cambodia much closer to achieving justice and national reconciliation.
But as congratulatory messages flood in, donors remain silent on further pledges to the financially troubled chambers, failing to allay fears by officials that the court's Cambodian side looks set to become bankrupt by the end of the month.
In a press statement Wednesday, the French Foreign and European Affairs Ministry said they would continue to support the tribunal, but made no further pledges.
"France welcomes the starting of the first initial hearing at ECCC, a fruit of cooperation between Cambodian and international justice," it said.
According to a report released last week by court monitor Open Society Justice Initiative, the Cambodian side of the court could be bankrupt in a matter of weeks, despite recent donations.
Court officials Thursday confirmed this.
"We may not have any money to run the court next month," court spokesman Reach Sambath told the Post.
"We may not have enough money to run the court next month."According to the court's revised 2005 budget, the court needs an additional US$44.1 million on top of an original estimate of $56.3 million to see the court through to the end of 2009. This is allocated as $38 million to the United Nations to be raised by donor contributions, and $5.8 million to the Cambodian side of the court to be raised by the Cambodian government.
Congratulations, but no cash
The court's largest donor, Japan, also commended the court's achievements, but did not indicate any further pledges.
"Japan heartily welcomes the holding of the initial hearing of the Khmer Rouge tribunal," a press release from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.
Raising additional funds for the court has long been a problem for the court, in part because of its failure to address concerns about corruption and independence, the OSJI report said.
This led the UN Development Program, which was administering donor funds to the Cambodian side of the court, to freeze funding last July.
"It will be difficult for some staff because they need a salary to support their daily life, but this is not new to us," Reach Sambath said, referring to a two-month period after the funding freeze last year in which employees worked unpaid.
"We trust our staff's commitment to keep working ... but I don't think the international side can support the running of the court [for long]," he added.
8 comments:
This is what happn when the system is not free of khmer rouges and youns.
about to reveal what we called YUON tricky and killer of khmer people are truly show by khmer rouge trail .
Hahahaha, LOL, hahahaha, they don't even have enough funding to try what they have now, and they want to try more people, hahaha, LOL, hahaha, if that is not retarded, I don't know what is?
don't play tricks by hiding in the dark when you actually had bloody hands in the game ah youn 11 13. don't pretend you smart, this hybrid court must be suspended, if its objectives are just to white-wash dirty hands of ah youn involvement in the genocide.
in this regard, where is sihanouk? he helped vn and the genocide was the great payment for his greed in power ambition and self-served crazy policies.
it high time khmers condemn this stupid self-centred king!
Hey, if you want to try Sihanouk, we want to see the cash first, alright?
Otherwise, just plug your stinky mouth.
Donors realised that the KRT persons corrupted. They recruited staffs with silent system by exploiting 2 third of the salary of the staff and follow the top demanded interpretation and translation. Don't support them any more, if they don't follow the democracy and human rights system.
VietCong burns khmer alive....
www.khmer-heroes.blogspot.com/
If you voted for CPP (Cambodian People's Party):
Also known as:
Communist People's Party
Khmer Rouge People's Party
Khmer Krorhorm People's Party
You're support the killing of 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples.
You're support the killing of innocent men, women and children in Cambodia on March 30, 1997.
You're support murder of Piseth Pilika.
You're support assassination of journalists in Cambodia.
You're support political assassination and killing.
You're support attemted assassination and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.
You're support corruption in Cambodia.
You're support Hun Sen Regime burn poor people's house down to the ground and leave them homeless.
These are the Trade Mark of Hun Sen Regime.
Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin are Khmer Rouge commanders.
When is the ECCC going to bring these three criminals to U.N. Khmer Rouge Trail?
Khmer Rouge Regime is a genocide organization.
Hun Sen Regime is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Bodyguards is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Death Squad is a terrorist organization.
Cambodian People's Party is a terrorist organization.
I have declare the current Cambodian government which is lead by the Cambodian People's Party as a terrorist organization.
Whoever associate with the current Cambodian government are associate with a terrorist organization.
Post a Comment