Cambodia’s government has approved a draft law that will jail for up to five years anyone denying atrocities, including genocide, committed by the Khmer Rouge.
The draft law—which aims to prevent a repeat of the Khmer Rouge’s crimes and provide justice for victims—was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister, Hun Manet.
According to a government statement, the bill stipulates “the prosecution of any individual” who denies or condones the atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge.
The bill’s definition of atrocities includes genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, for which a UN-backed court prosecuted top Khmer Rouge leaders nine years ago.
The draft bill, which comes months before the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge takeover in mid-April, will be sent to parliament soon for approval, Pen Bona said.
It was made at the request of influential former leader Hun Sen, who in May claimed that some politicians still refused to recognize the Khmer Rouge’s genocide and called on the government to punish them by law.
Read more here.
