Week 643

The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Submitted a Funding Proposal for US$46 Million for 2010 and More Than US$47 Million for 2011 – Saturday, 19.12.2009

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 643

“Phnom Penh: An official of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal stated on 18 December 2009 that the investigating judges of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal decided to charge the former Head of State of Democratic Kampuchea, Khieu Samphan, with an additional crime, genocide, besides two previous charges: crimes against humanity and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 [“The Geneva Conventions consist of four treaties and three additional protocols that set the standards in international law for humanitarian treatment of the victims of war”].

“The additional charge was made a day after the Khmer Rouge Tribunal sent Khieu Samphan to a hospital for a medical checkup and after his two comrades Ieng Sary and Nuon Chea were accused with the same charge on 17 December 2008.

“The head of Public Affairs Office of the tribunal, Mr. Reach Sambath, told Koh Santephea via phone on 18 December 2009 that the investigating judges decided to charge Khieu Samphan in addition with genocide.

“Regarding the judgment to sentence [former Tuol Sleng prison chief] Duch to serve time in prison, no official date has been specified. But according to Mr. Reach Sambath, the tribunal will announce the judgment on Duch in early 2010, the date has not yet been set.

“Mr. Reach Sambath added that the investigating judges plan to finish the investigations for the Case 002 in the second week of January 2010. However, the tribunal has not yet specified the date for the hearing on this case. The Case 002 relates to four accused, who are in detention: Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, and Ieng Thirith. All are old and have diferent illnesses.

“The hearings of Case 002 are planed to start in early 2010.

“In the meantime, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, announced on 18 December 2009 that a proposal for funds for the tribunal, to support the process in 2010 and in 2011, was submitted to the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNKRT) and to partner countries of the Group of Interested States of the tribunal, during a meeting in New York this week. The presentation of the proposal was led by the acting head and the deputy acting head of the Administration of the tribunal, Mr. Tony Kranh and Mr. Knut Rosandhaug.

“The announcement went on to say that according to an estimation of the funds needed for this court for the process of hearings in the upcoming two years, the ECCC is requesting approval of the requested funds of US$46 million for 2010 and US$47.3 for 2011, where the international side of the ECCC needs US$34.5 million for 2010 and US$35.6 million for 2011, including reserve funds, while the Cambodian side needs US$11.5 million for 2010 and US$11.8 million for 2011, including reserve funds.

“The annual expenses might increase, because the ECCC has to conduct more activities which need full time work, and also because the trial chamber will start to work full time from mid 2010.

“The requested funds cover also expenses for the work of defense lawyers relating to other cases. The actual 2010 to 2011 funds of the ECCC will be announced publicly after they will have been approved by the partner countries of the ECCC.” Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6835, 19-20.12.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 19 December 2009

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #366, 19-21.12.2009

  • [Thai Deputy Prime Minister] Suthep Thaugsuban: Bangkok Will Restrict Its Position [for diplomatic ties] if Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Ignores the Conditions [to remove convicted and fugitive Mr. Thaksin’s position as economic advisor, refusing to honor extradition agreement]
  • Two Suspects Are Arrested over Acid Attack against TV9 Beauty Contestant Winner
  • Cambodia to Send 22 Uighur People Back to China [according to statements from Cambodian officials]
  • The Republic of Korea Grants the Ministry of Land Management US$2.5 Million [to create a map of the country and to develop a master plan for infrastructure, data, and geography in Cambodia]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2128, 19.12.2009

  • The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Charged [former Khmer Rouge leader] Khieu Samphan with an Additional Crime [genocide]
  • Cambodia and Vietnam Vow to Strengthen Solidarity and to Finish Putting Border Markers by the End of 2012

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #, 19-21.12.2009

  • [Opposition party president] Mr. Sam Rainsy: I Do Not Care about the Court That Serves the Ruling Party Only [he was sued by the Svay Rieng Municipal Court for removing temporary Cambodian-Vietnamese border markers]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6835, 19-20.12.2009

  • The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Submitted a Funding Proposal for US$46 Million for 2010 and More Than US$47 Million for 2011
  • [Thai ousted and fugitive prime minister] Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra’s Younger Brother and Niece Entered Cambodia [to visit him]
  • More Than US$400 Million Is Needed for Clearing All Mines [on 600 km2] within Ten Years [according to the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #5077, 19.12.2009

  • Tourism Officials Forecasted that in 2009, the Tourist Arrivals Will Be More Than Two Millions [within 11 months of 2009, there were already 1.9 million arrivals, increasing by 2%]

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