Khmer Rouge Victims Worry Over Tribunal Budget Woes

Chum Mey, a survivor from the S-21 prison during the Khmer Rouge regime. (Photo: New York Time)

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, D.C
Friday, 04 June 2010

Representatives of victims of the Khmer Rouge say they are concerned about the future of the UN-backed tribunal, following a lackluster round of funding in New York last month.

Donors pledged about $17 million for expenses in 2010, money far short of the $85 million tribunal administrators say they need for 2010 and 2011.

“This is an issue that we are critically facing,” Nov Kassie, an official at the tribunal’s Victims Unit, told “Hello VOA” Thursday. “Whatever it is, a car or motorbike, can move if it has gasoline, but if it doesn’t, it’s impossible to work. Even though the donors have pledged this, frankly speaking, money has not been coming, and my unit has had a drought since January.”

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