The Japanese government has provided a $960,000 grant to the UN component of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) to support its operations, ECCC spokesman Neth Pheaktra said on Tuesday.
The ECCC’s proposed budget for 2020-2021 is $34.38 million – $18.50 million for this year and $15.88 million for next year he said.
“We thank the Japanese government for supporting the ECCC since its inception. Japan is the biggest national donor to the ECCC. Between 2006 and the present, the ECCC has received $312.48 million from 35 donor countries,” said Pheaktra.
He said the international component of the ECCC needs an estimated $24.56 million for 2020-2021 to conduct its activities as outlined in its completion plan – $13.46 million for this year and $11.10 million for next year.
Its national component requires about $9.83 million – $5.04 million for this year and $4.79 million for next year.
“The government of Japan decided to provide this contribution to support the operations of the ECCC,” the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh said in a press release issued on Monday.
The Japanese government urged the ECCC to continue to handle the remaining cases properly, effectively and swiftly, saying that the convicted Khmer Rouge officials are getting older and their health is deteriorating.
“The government of Japan has placed great importance on the ECCC, based on three concepts.
“First, the prosecution of the Khmer Rouge [officials] is the concluding stage in finding peace for Cambodia and preventing the recurrence of the brutality committed by the Khmer Rouge regime.
“Second, the tribunal will help find justice for the victims of the Khmer Rouge. This will lead to national reconciliation. Third, the tribunal will help strengthen the rule of law in Cambodia,” the embassy said.
The Japanese government has contributed about $88.5 million to both national and international components of the ECCC, accounting for 29 per cent of total funds contributed by donors.
Documentation Centre of Cambodia director Youk Chhang could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
