Cambodian lawmakers unanimously passed a groundbreaking bill on Tuesday, escalating penalties for denying the Khmer Rouge genocide that claimed 1.7 million lives during the regime’s brutal 1975–1979 rule. The law prescribes up to five years imprisonment and fines reaching $125,000 for individuals who deny or question proven atrocities.
The National Assembly emphasized the legislation aims to prevent recurrence and deliver justice for victims, with all 115 lawmakers voting in favor. This update significantly toughens a 2013 version, which capped prison terms at two years and fines at $1,000.
The draft law targets those rejecting crimes validated by the UN-backed tribunal,stated the National Assembly, referencing trials confirming genocide, crimes against humanity, and Geneva Convention breaches.
Key developments include:
- Timing ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge’s 1975 takeover
- Allegations of political motives by opposition groups
- Historical ties of current leaders like Senate President Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander
The legislation follows Hun Sen’s May 2024 assertion that outdated laws risked color revolutions destabilizing Cambodia. Critics argue such measures historically targeted dissent under his 38-year premiership, now continued through his son Prime Minister Hun Manet.
As the bill proceeds to the Senate – a procedural step before royal assent – survivors and historians underscore its symbolic weight. The UN tribunal, active until 2022, leaves an indelible record of forced labor, executions, and starvation deaths under Pol Pot’s regime. With fewer than 10% of Cambodians born post-1979, lawmakers stress preserving this legacy against revisionism.
