Phnom Penh: UN Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khiary has expressed high interest in the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and the work of the Khmer Rouge Museum. His interest was expressed during a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum on Friday afternoon.
Mr. Khaled Khiary has expressed his condolences to all the victims who died in Tuol Sleng Prison and also expressed his condolences to Mr. Bou Meng and Chum Mey, the survivors of Tuol Sleng Prison.
The UN Assistant Secretary General also praised the achievements being made by the Khmer Rouge tribunal and says that Cambodia has indeed achieved those achievements with autonomy in responsible management and leadership.
The Chairman of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee and Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Royal Government Working Group for Supporting the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Mr.Keo Remy has informed Mr. Khaled Khiary that the Royal Government has always supported the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. He also told Mr. Khaled that the tribunal as a hybrid tribunal between the United Nations and the Cambodian courts, and allows victims to participate in the trial on behalf of other civil parties that did not has in the International Court of Justice.
He added that the tribunal is an example of an international tribunal that retains the full sovereignty of the host country and is being adapted by some countries. In addition to providing justice to the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime, the tribunal also maintained national unity and paid relatively little compared to other international courts. Its only paid about $ 22 million a year, while other international courts spend about $ 100 million a year.
The Khmer Rouge Tribunal began its work in early February 2006 and has completed four cases, including Case 001 on former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav aka Duch, Case 002/01 on Khieu Samphan And Nuon Chea, Case 004/01 dropping the charges against Ms. Im Chaem and Case 004/02 dropping the charges against Mr. Ao An. The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is scheduled to close by the end of 2022 after more than 16 years of operation and a total budget about $ 330 million.
