US Plans to Pledge funds for KRT
The US ambassador says the US plans to pledge funds for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal if the court resolves earlier kickback allegations.
The ambassador says the the US is in the process of making the decision.
Kickback Allegations Cause Salary Delay
The Khmer Rouge tribunal this month launched a new ethics monitor to tackle with ongoing claims of corruption within the court after the UN Development Programme (UNDP) made llegations of kickbacks on the Cambodian side of the court, forcing international donors to withhold funding for July.
International backers have become reluctant to fund more money to the court process after previous allegations of political interference and mismanagement that Cambodian staff paid money in exchange for their jobs.
At the beginning of the establishment of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, about $ 56.3 million was expected to be spent on the court cases. Later, the court requested to triple the original budget $ 56.3 million to 107 million and continue operation through 2011.
ECCC welcomes New Cambodian Chief of Personnel
On August 7, Rong Chhorng replaced Keo Thyvuth, the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s Cambodian chief of personnel, who was transfered to a position at the Council of Ministers.
Rong Chhorng holds a master’s degree in industrial relations and is completing another degree in human resources management, both from the university of the Philippines.
International Community’s Interest in KR Tribunal
Quite a few reasons why the international community is interested in the KR tribunal court.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is, in other words, called “The Khmer Rouge Tribunal” established under the negotiation between the Cambodian government and the worldly-famous United Nations (UN). For sure, the international criminal courts around the world are a source of political interest from the international community everywhere.
What’s special about this KR tribunal is that both the national and international legal systems are used whereas the previous international courts in Yugoslavia and Rwanda adopted only the international legal system. People who are interested to see how the court is going to proceed with two different legal systems like that will keep watching the future procedure.
What is necessary to be mentioned is that most of the financial assistance to the tribunal is given by the United Nations and other governments. The UN and donor community wants to find out what will happen to their aids. Sending people to observe the court process for them is important. Furthermore, many international NGOs and some donor NGOs are determined to help Cambodia find justice and reconciliation. Since the establishment of the ECCC, there have been many significant steps made in the reconciliation process in Cambodia.
It is essential to point out that justice for the whole nation is never too late to be found.
Kickback Allegations in KRT court
Cambodia’s UN-backed genocide tribunal is facing new kickback allegations, prompting international donors to withhold at least 300,000 dollars from the cash-strapped court as it reviews the situation.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) said it was withholding funding for July, which includes operating expenses and salaries for Cambodian staff members, but it did not reveal the amount.
Ieng Sary Discharged from Hospital
After being hospitalized for one week of treatment, Ieng Sary left the hospital and was taken back to the detention court on Friday afternoon (08 of August).
After discovering blood in his urine, he was rushed to the hospital on August 1.
Mr. Reach Sambath was quoted as saying that he (Ieng Sary) is getting better now and that the doctors are still taking care of him because he has many illnesses. The blood found in his urine was from this old illness.
Ieng Sary is one of the five top leaders which has been detained by the Khmer Rouge tribunal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ieng Sary was previously hospitalized in January for his chronic heart disease and he was in hospital again in Frebruary after he urinated blood.