A Trial in Denial

For Cambodia's dead, farce heaped on insult. So says Roger Cohen of the International Herald Tribune in his article calling on the U.S. to get behind an international attempt to raise cash for a war crimes trial.

A few days ago, March 28, the member states finally pledged $38.48 million for the trial, $4.52 million short of the $43 million goal.

So, in theory, the tribunal for the largest mass murder since the Nazis is being held up by a missing four million bucks.

The world's attention is elsewhere, but the farce surrounding the planned United Nations-backed tribunal to judge crimes by the Khmer Rouge that led to the deaths of more than 1.5 million Cambodians has become sufficiently grotesque to merit some consideration in Washington and other capitals.

Roger provides considerable insight as to various reasons why enthusiasm for the trial has been difficult to muster. But he pulls no punches in calling America to task on this item.

But let it be clear: The United States is legally barred from giving any money to a UN-backed tribunal to try the worst single crime since Hitler.

I doubt that Rice has had much time to focus on this anomaly. But perhaps she should find time. The accumulation of fudging and evasion that has delayed the trial would be risible if it were not shameful.

Well I for one certainly intend on keeping watch on Cohen's forthcoming columns this week to see what develops.

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