JURIST - Paper Chase: Cambodia appeals to UN for war crimes court funding

[JURIST] Cambodian officials will appeal to the UN on Monday for more than $70 million needed to establish a tribunal to prosecute remaining members of the Khmer Rouge regime [BBC backgrounder], responsible for the deaths of two million Cambodians from 1975-1979. Japan has already pledged half the court's budget, and $10 million will come from Australia, France, and Britain [government press releases]. Today's appeal is aimed at raising the remaining funds from UN members. The US has already stated that it will not contribute any money. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 [bill text] restricts assistance to the Cambodian government and prohibits such funding. The State Department [official site] does assert that "It has been the longstanding policy of this and prior Administrations to seek accountability and bring to justice those responsible for the genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979". The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has more.

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