Ieng Sary's Arrest Draw Praise From the US

Photos: Heavily armed police cordoned off Ieng Sary's house the morning before his arrest.

US: Ieng Arrests Another Positive for Courts
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington12 November 2007
Sok Khemara reports in Khmer-(1.14MB) Listen Sok Khemara reports in Khmer
US officials in Cambodia welcomed the arrest of Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith Monday, calling it a move in the right direction for the tribunal.
The arrests will not affect the so-far absent US funding for the tribunal.
The tribunal must still prove itself up to international standards before the US would support it through funding, US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said.
"We are evaluating that right now," he said.
The $56 million tribunal is supported mostly by the UN. But the government and other observers say the special courts will run out of money before they are able to go through full proceedings.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said last month proceedings could last through 2010, well beyond the current tribunal budget.