France Decides to Provide Over $ 260,000 to Support Civil Parties’ Defense in ECCC

France has decided to financially grant 267,000 dollars for ASF France to support the civil parties’ defense in the framework of ECCC, according to the press release of Embassy of France in Cambodia dated 18 November. Within the framework of this program, ASF France has committed since May 2008 to support and represent victims of the Khmer Rouge regime who are civil parties to cases 001 and 002 carried by the ECCC, it said, adding that France has supported this program since it has been created.This civil parties’ support is part of the ECCC proceedings and participates in their mission’s objective which is to try the senior Khmer Rouge leaders and the most responsible. It aims at contributing to foster the rule of law in Cambodia and to recognize the status of Khmer Rouge regime victims. The original character of the ECCC among international jurisdictions is to allow victims who have suffered to express themselves and to take an active part in finding and prosecuting crimes investigated by the Court. (Rasmei Kam, 20-21 November 2011)