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Monday, 28 March, 2005, 11:55 GMT 12:55 UK

UN appeals for KR trial funding

By Guy de Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh

Tourists standing behind a display of Khmer Rouge victim pictures in Phnom Penh (archive picture) The United Nations is appealing to its members to provide funding for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia.

A pledging conference is scheduled to start on Monday in New York. Funding is the final obstacle to the tribunal after years of delay.

More than $10m still has to be found for the UN's contribution to three years of tribunal work.

Cambodia's government has also asked for help to fund its commitment to the tribunal.

Last December, the UN and the Cambodian government agreed on a budget of $56m.

Three-quarters of that will come from the UN, the remainder from Cambodia.

But so far, donors have been slow to come forward.

On Friday, Canada became only the fifth country to pledge cash to the UN.

The pledging conference aims to change that situation.

Time pressure

Cambodia has sent a three-person delegation to New York to press their claims. They will point out that speed is of the essence.

Most of the surviving former leaders of the Khmer Rouge are now in their 70s.

"It's important to understand that if we continue to delay the process, many survivors will die without seeing justice being done, and many prime suspects and perpetrators will die without being punished, which will be very difficult for many Cambodian people trying to move on with their lives," said Youk Chang, director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia - an organisation that investigates Khmer Rouge history.

But even if the UN succeeds in raising the required amount, there still remains the problem of Cambodia's contribution.

The government has just announced that they can only provide a 10th of their $13m share.



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Related to this story:
Safety plea over Cambodia trials (03 Mar 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
Japan aid for Khmer Rouge trials (10 Feb 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
Long wait for Killing Fields justice (05 Oct 04 |  Asia-Pacific )
Khmer Rouge genocide admission (30 Dec 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
UN and Cambodia sign court deal (06 Jun 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
Key figures in the Khmer Rouge (17 Mar 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
Pol Pot: Life of a tyrant (14 Apr 00 |  Asia-Pacific )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
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UN
Cambodian genocide programme
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