$85 Million Tribunal Budget Confirmed

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
04 March 2010

Donors have approved an $85 million budget for Khmer Rouge tribunal operations over the next two years, a court official confirmed, but actual pledges are still under consideration.

Donors in New York approved $42 million for this year and $43 for 2011, said Lars Olsen, a spokesman for the tribunal.

“What remains is then to see the donations from the different countries,” he said.

The budget request includes the possibility of trying five additional Khmer Rouge suspects for atrocity crimes, as well as administration, outreach and a Victims Unit to spur participation by everyday Cambodians.

Without specific donor pledges, it remains unclear whether the tribunal will be fully funded for its budget, but countries have said they are willing to put money forward for justice at international standards.

“In Sweden’s view, for the sake of justice and reconciliation, it is important that those ‘most responsible for the crimes and serious violations’ according to law are held accountable,” Hilding Lundkvist, first secretary of Sweden’s UN mission, said in an e-mail.

Tribunal Budget Sees End in 2015 [-Will there be any KR leaders left to put on trial by 2015?]

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
02 February 2010

Khmer Rouge tribunal officials expect to finish trials at the UN-backed court by 2015, trying only 10 defendants at a cost to donors of around $100 million, according to budget documents obtained by VOA Khmer.

According to a budget proposal for 2010 and 2011, the tribunal is seeking $93.3 million to try five Khmer Rouge cadre already in detention. In an additional proposal, from 2012 to 2015, the tribunal is seeking $320,000 to potentially try an additional five Khmer Rouge cadre, who have yet to be arrested or charged.

“All offices, including the Office of Administration, are anticipated to be closed by the end of 2015,” according to the “Preliminary Budget Estimates 2012-2015.”

The 2011 budget proposal, meanwhile, anticipates a conclusion of Case No. 002, of five leaders currently in custody, by the middle of 2012. A third case could be finished by 2014.

However, Lars Olsen, a spokesman for the tribunal, said the court is committed to the judicial process, not deadlines.

“Everyone is committed to making sure that we have expedient and fair trials in all these cases, and a deadline is currently not on the agenda,” he told VOA Khmer.

Olsen confirmed both budget proposals had been submitted to donors.

Donors have not yet pledged additional funding for the new budgets, but representatives in New Yorktold VOA Khmer last week they are considering them. At least one diplomat said some donors would like to see the court wrap up by 2012.

Cambodian tribunal asks for millions more to fund Khmer Rouge genocide trials

Monday, March 24, 2008
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Officials from Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal traveled Monday to the United Nations in New York to request US$114 million (€euro 74 million) in additional funds for trying the Khmer Rouge's surviving leaders.

The tribunal told donor countries in January it would need US$170 million (euro €110 million), a sharp increase from the originally budgeted US$56.3 million (euro €36.5 million).

A three-person delegation from the tribunal planned to answer questions about funding during meetings Thursday, said Helen Jarvis, the tribunal's chief spokeswoman.

The long-delayed trials are expected to start this year, but many fear the Khmer Rouge's aging leaders could die before facing justice.

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 gone on trial.

The tribunal opened its offices in early 2006 after years of wrangling between the Cambodian government and the U.N. Trials were originally projected to end by 2009, but are now expected to run through March 2011.

Current funds for the tribunal are projected to run out by the end of this year, Jarvis has said. The tribunal's revised budget proposal says it needs more money to expand its services and nearly double its staff to some 530 to allow it to operate through March 2011.

Five former senior Khmer Rouge leaders are under detention awaiting trial. They have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The major donors to the tribunal so far are Japan, France, Germany, Britain and Australia.

Donors have called for reforms to address allegations of corruption and lack of transparency at the tribunal.