Cambodia’s government approved a draft law aimed at imposing penalties on individuals who deny the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge, a move described as a step towards justice for victims of the brutal regime.

The ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, widely known as "Brother Number One," was responsible for the deaths of nearly two million people during its 1975-1979 rule through starvation, torture, forced labour, and mass executions.

The draft law, which imposes penalties on those who deny these crimes, was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday, government spokesman Pen Bona confirmed.

Pen Bona stated, "The bill stipulates the prosecution of any individual who denies or condones the atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge."

According to a government statement, the crimes include genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, which were prosecuted by a UN-backed court nine years ago.

The seven-article bill specifies penalties that range from one to five years in prison and fines between $2,500 (10 million riel) and $125,000 for individuals who deny what the government termed "the bitter past." It aimed to prevent a recurrence of the Khmer Rouge’s crimes and provide justice to victims, the spokesman said.

The draft law was announced for submission to parliament for approval, Pen Bona stated. The proposal coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge’s seizure of power in April.

The initiative was reportedly introduced at the request of Cambodia’s influential former leader Hun Sen, who, in May, accused certain politicians of refusing to acknowledge the Khmer Rouge genocide and called for legal measures against them. The law was set to replace an earlier 2013 legislation, also spearheaded by Hun Sen, which criminalised the denial of Khmer Rouge crimes with sentences of up to two years.

Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades and was a former Khmer Rouge cadre, handed over the premiership to his son, Hun Manet, in 2023.

A UN-backed tribunal convicted two senior Khmer Rouge leaders of genocide in a landmark ruling in 2018, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the regime’s victims.