Australia contributes $1.7M for Khmer Rouge trial
Mar 26, 2012, 4:48 PM
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) – Australia will contribute another AU$1.61 million (US$1.7 million) to Cambodia’s U.N.-assisted Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr announced the contribution after meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Monday. A statement said Australia has given AU$18.3 million (US$19.3 million) since 2006, making it the second biggest donor after Japan.
The communist Khmer Rouge are blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians while the regime was in power in the 1970s. The tribunal has convicted the Khmer Rouge’s chief jailer and is currently trying three senior leaders for crimes against humanity and other charges.
Further trials are in doubt because of funding issues and resistance within Cambodia to prosecuting more Khmer Rouge figures.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
