Extraordinary Chambers in The Courts of Cambodia - Criticisms

Criticisms

Much of the criticisms surrounding the ECCC stems from the premature closings of Case 003 and Case 004. Many international critics say these closings stem from a reluctance by the Cambodian government to try Khmer Rouge officials who managed to switch alliances towards the end of the conflict. Furthermore, the ECCC has been criticized for its general stagnancy in relation to its finances. Since its inception in 2005, the ECCC has cost over US $150 million. In contrast, only one case has been ruled upon. Many in the international committee demand an outside committee to review the failures of the ECCC thus far. In accordance, many urge countries such as Japan, Germany, France, the US, and the UK to stop financing the ECCC until it becomes a more transparent and independent court. The court has also been criticized for its rejections of victim applications. A victim applying to participate in Case 003 was rejected because the judges claimed her psychological harm to be "highly unlikely to be true" and through a narrow definition of "direct victim", determined her an indirect victim in the case. The Open Society Justice Initiative calles for the UN to investigate the proceedings of the ECCC. A trial monitor for the OSJI claimed that the recent proceedings "don’t meet basic requirements or adhere to international standards or even comply with the court’s own prior jurisprudence." In late February 2012, the court requested another $92 million to cover its operating cost for 2012 and 2013. http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/kr-issues/Khmer-Rouge-Tribunal-Seeks-More-Money-for-Controversial-Cases--140365563.html