Cambodia 'prosecutes any individual' who denies or excuses crimes committed by Khmer Rouge

On January 25, Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona announced that the government had passed a bill that would impose a five-year prison sentence on anyone who denies crimes, including genocide, committed by the Khmer Rouge.

Photos of victims under the Khmer Rouge regime at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Cambodia. (Source: AFP)

The law - aimed at preventing the recurrence of Khmer Rouge crimes and bringing justice to victims - was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet on the same day, Mr. Pen Bona said.

The bill provides for "prosecution of any individual" who denies or excuses crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge, according to a government statement.

The law's definition of crimes includes genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes - charges that a UN-backed tribunal tried senior Khmer Rouge leaders for nine years ago.

According to the above 7-article law, those who "deny the truth about the painful past" will be imprisoned from 1-5 years and can be fined from 2,500-125,000 USD.

The law would replace a similar law passed in 2013 that banned statements denying Khmer Rouge crimes and carried penalties of up to two years in prison.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/campuchia-truy-to-bat-ky-ca-nhan-nao-phu-nhan-hoac-bao-bien-cho-cac-toi-ac-do-khmer-do-gay-ra-302290.html