The Japanese government has announced a new contribution to the inter­national component of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, just as the court prepares to close the book on Case 002/01, the first segment of its landmark case.

The disbursement of $386,700 was announced last Friday, and brings the country’s total contribution to the court to more than $79 million.

According to the announce­ment, the donation was made “despite [Japan’s] current financial difficulties … at an important juncture when the ECCC faces a serious budget crunch”.

The Japanese are the court’s single largest donor, and have provided over 40 per cent of all of its funding since its inception.