PHNOM PENH - International donors have approved the 2013 budget for the UN-back Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Donors agreed on a budget of $35 million, about $5 million less than the court had asked for, court officials said Tuesday.
The international side of the hybrid court will be budgeted for $26 million, with the rest going to the Cambodian side, according to a decision made at a Feb. 21 meeting, officials said.
The court is currently undertaking the trial of three former Khmer Rouge leaders—only its second case since its 2006 inception.
The tribunal is hoping for funding in time to avert a threatened walkout by Cambodian staff at the court who have not been paid since December.
“It’s good news, but we are waiting for concrete contributions,” said Neth Pheaktra, a spokesman for the Cambodian side of the tribunal.
Lars Olsen, a spokesman for the international side of the court, said the budget will be “a tool for fundraising” to cover the costs of ongoing proceedings.
Donors agreed on a budget of $35 million, about $5 million less than the court had asked for, court officials said Tuesday.
The international side of the hybrid court will be budgeted for $26 million, with the rest going to the Cambodian side, according to a decision made at a Feb. 21 meeting, officials said.
The court is currently undertaking the trial of three former Khmer Rouge leaders—only its second case since its 2006 inception.
The tribunal is hoping for funding in time to avert a threatened walkout by Cambodian staff at the court who have not been paid since December.
“It’s good news, but we are waiting for concrete contributions,” said Neth Pheaktra, a spokesman for the Cambodian side of the tribunal.
Lars Olsen, a spokesman for the international side of the court, said the budget will be “a tool for fundraising” to cover the costs of ongoing proceedings.
