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Cambodia criminalises Khmer Rouge atrocity denial Cambodia criminalises Khmer Rouge atrocity denial
(about 1 hour later)
Cambodia's parliament has approved a bill which makes it illegal to deny that atrocities were committed by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.Cambodia's parliament has approved a bill which makes it illegal to deny that atrocities were committed by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.
The move comes amid political in-fighting in the run-up to elections.The move comes amid political in-fighting in the run-up to elections.
Anyone found guilty of denying or playing down the crimes could face up to two years in prison.Anyone found guilty of denying or playing down the crimes could face up to two years in prison.
About 1.7 million people, about one-third of the population, are thought to have been killed, or died of over-work, starvation or torture from 1975-1979.About 1.7 million people, about one-third of the population, are thought to have been killed, or died of over-work, starvation or torture from 1975-1979.
President Hun Sen proposed the law after an opposition lawmaker apparently blamed Vietnam for some of the deaths, accusing them of fabricating some of the crimes - the lawmaker maintains that the recording of his words was doctored. President Hun Sen proposed the law after an opposition leader apparently blamed Vietnam for some of the deaths and reportedly said that the infamous S-21 torture prison "was staged". The lawmaker maintains that the recording of his words was doctored.
The Vietnamese invasion in January 1979 shattered the Khmer Rouge's leadership in Cambodia.The Vietnamese invasion in January 1979 shattered the Khmer Rouge's leadership in Cambodia.
The bill was passed unanimously but in the absence of opposition politicians who had been expelled from parliament because they formed a new party, the Cambodia National Rescue party. 'Election-related'
The party said it was "disappointed" by the move because, it says, the expulsion of its lawmakers left parliament without a quorum, the Associated Press news agency reported. The bill was drafted within a week and passed unanimously but in the absence of all opposition politicians. They were expelled from parliament after forming a new party, the Cambodia National Rescue party.
Critics say the law runs the risk of being used as a weapon against the political opposition. The party said it was "disappointed" by the move because the expulsion of its lawmakers had left parliament without a quorum, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Critics say the denial law runs the risk of being used as a weapon against the political opposition.
Human Rights Watch's Asia director Brad Adams said President Hun Sen's advocacy of the law was "entirely election-related".
"It's a tool to try to intimidate the opposition but also to galvanise his side, to demonise the opposition as unfit to govern, and to show that he's in charge, to show the country that he can completely dominate the opposition - and make them squirm," he said.
The Khmer Rouge regime fell in 1979, and the process of trying its senior figures has taken many years.The Khmer Rouge regime fell in 1979, and the process of trying its senior figures has taken many years.
The only former Khmer Rouge leader to have been successfully prosecuted was chief jailer Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in running the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, where thousands of inmates were killed.The only former Khmer Rouge leader to have been successfully prosecuted was chief jailer Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in running the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, where thousands of inmates were killed.