Monday, March 26, 2012

Australia gives $1.6m to Khmer Rouge trials

The Australian Government has announced it will contribute an extra $AU1.6 million to fund the Khmer Rouge trials.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr made the announcement after meeting the Cambodian deputy prime minister in Phnom Penh.

Senator Carr is in Cambodia on his first overseas trip since being sworn in as Foreign Minister.

The Khmer Rouge controlled Cambodia in the late 1970s and a fifth of its population is believed to have died as a result of the regime's policies.

Senator Carr says it is important the people of Cambodia see justice.

"I think it would be intolerable, an insult to their memory, if Cambodia and the international community were not able to proceed with the process of justice," he said.

"The process of justice is proceeding with Australian aid to Cambodia, which is a developing country and would find it difficult to mount a robust judicial investigation without our assistance."

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