Under draft legislation announced last week, anyone denying “the truth of the bitter past” could be imprisoned for up to five years.

Cambodia’s Cabinet on Friday approved a draft bill that will toughen penalties for anyone denying atrocities were carried out in the late 1970s under the rule of communist Khmer Rouge, whose brutal policies are blamed for the deaths of 1.

Cambodia's government approved a draft law that will jail for five years anyone denying atrocities, including genocide, committed by the Khmer Rouge, a spokesman said Saturday. The draft law -- which aims to prevent a repeat of the Khmer Rouge's crimes and to provide justice for victims -- was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday,