UN Gives Go-Ahead for the Trial of Cambodian Khmer Rouge Leaders (moved from ATSNN), page 1

The UN has raised enough money from international donors to set-up a tribunal to bring Cambodia's Khmer Rouge leaders to justice. The Khmer Rouge regime which ruled from 1975-79 is accused of killing 1.7 million people but to date no Khmer Rouge leader has ever faced justice for the atrocities.

news.bbc.co.uk
A tribunal to try Cambodia's Khmer Rouge leaders can finally begin to be set up, the United Nations has said.

Enough money has been received from international donors to fund work at the court for a "sustained period of time", the UN said in a statement.

The Communist regime which ruled from 1975-79 is believed to have killed at least 1.7 million people out of an eight million-strong population.

Cambodia first sought UN funding for the court eight years ago.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the Cambodian to move fast now that the money is in place.

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It's good to hear that the court will finally begin the trials to bring the Khmer Rouge leaders to justice. But, why did it take 8 years for the UN to meet the financial requirements? The international donors pledged $38mil out of which Japan contributed $21.6mil. What were the other "rich" countries doing? Surely, this amount is no fortune.

Justice delayed is justice denied. The Khmer Rouge's leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998. Many fear other ageing leaders will die before the legal process ends. If setting up the legal proceedings takes so much time, probably its time for the UN to revamp its legal process.

Related News Links:
www.reuters.co.uk

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
NEWS: Cambodians Mark Start of Genocide

[edit on 2-5-2005 by Quake]

[edit on 2-5-2005 by Quake]