Cambodia

Japan Pledges $1.4 Million for Tribunal

In this photo released by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, Judges and clerks of the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal are standing inside the court hall of the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh, file photo.

WASHINGTON DC — 

Japan says it will provide $1.4 million for the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, which has struggled financially in recent years, even as it undertakes its most important trial to date.

The court is in the midst of the second and final phase of a trial against jailed leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, but court officials say it needs more money for basic overhead and staffing costs.

The international side of the hybrid court needs $22.9 million to continue operations this year, while the Cambodia side still needs $3 million this year, court officials said.

Japan is the largest donor to the court, having provided $82 million, about 36 percent of funding, so far.