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South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Revoking citizenship: Cambodia's new weapon against dissent
Cambodia 's government has given itself the legal means to strip dissidents and dual nationals of citizenship, a step denounced as 'draconian' by critics who say the government is exploiting border tensions with Thailand to silence opposition and cement its grip on power. Advertisement The National Assembly unanimously passed a constitutional amendment last Friday enabling Phnom Penh to strip citizenship from lifelong Cambodians, dual nationals and naturalised citizens found guilty of conspiring with foreign nations or otherwise endangering the country's national interest. Justice Minister Koeut Rith announced that the government would 'urgently' draft the requisite legislation to enforce the measure against those convicted of treason or collaborating with foreign entities to the detriment of Cambodia and its people. Critics have denounced the measure, describing it as a 'pre-emptive' strike against internal dissent and a calculated effort to eliminate opposition to the government and Hun Sen 's long-ruling Cambodian People's Party. Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister of almost four decades, is president of both the Cambodian People's Party and the country's Senate. Photo: Retuers The legislative shift is being driven by both the ongoing border dispute with Thailand and a desire to fortify political control as regional geopolitics grow increasingly uncertain, according to analysts.
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Cambodia to revoke citizenship of ‘traitors'
Published on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 12, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Members of parliament attending a meeting at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh. PHNOM PENH: Cambodian lawmakers amended the constitution Friday paving the way for people charged with foreign collusion to be stripped of their citizenship, despite concerns such a law could be used to silence government critics. Rights groups have long accused Cambodia's government of using draconian laws to stifle opposition and legitimate political dissent. All of Cambodia's 125 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, voted unanimously to change the wording of the constitution to say 'receiving, losing and revoking Khmer nationality shall be determined by law', AFP journalists saw. The constitution previously read 'no Khmer citizen shall be deprived of their nationality, exiled, or extradited to another country except through mutual agreement'. Justice Minister Koeut Rith told reporters that the amendment would pave the way for authorities to pass laws enabling the government to strip citizenship from anyone who colludes with foreign powers against the state. 'If you betray the nation, the nation will not keep you,' he said, adding a new citizenship revocation law would soon be submitted to the National Assembly for approval. But human rights activists fear any such law would be used to target government critics and opposition figures. Rights group Amnesty International said in a statement Friday that revocation of citizenship would be a 'heinous violation of international law'. 'We are deeply concerned that the Cambodian government, given the power to strip people of their citizenship, will misuse it to crackdown on its critics and make them stateless,' Amnesty International's regional research director Montse Ferrer said. Citizenship can be revoked on grounds of treason or disloyalty in 15 European Union countries, and only for naturalized citizens in eight of those, according to a European Parliament briefing in February. Influential former leader Hun Sen, Hun Manet's father, last month called for the constitution to be amended to enable Cambodians who 'side with foreign nations to harm our country' to be stripped of nationality. He made the call after exiled opposition figures criticised the government amid an ongoing border dispute with Thailand. Koeut Rith brushed off concerns of abuse. 'If they (government critics) do not commit any treason crimes or any act that harms the national interest, they are not subjected to citizenship revocation, but they might face other charges,' he added. Scores of opposition activists have been jailed or face legal cases filed by Cambodian authorities. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was sentenced in 2023 to 27 years in prison for treason – a charge he has repeatedly denied – and was immediately placed under house arrest. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Price for committing treason
Lawmakers amended the constitution yesterday paving the way for people charged with foreign collusion to be stripped of their citizenship, despite concerns such a law could be used to silence government critics. Rights groups have long accused Cambodia's government of using draconian laws to stifle opposition and legitimate political dissent. All of Cambodia's 125 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, voted unanimously to change the wording of the constitution to say 'receiving, losing and revoking Khmer nationality shall be determined by law', AFP journalists saw. The constitution previously read 'no Khmer citizen shall be deprived of their nationality, exiled, or extradited to another country except through mutual agreement'. Justice Minister Koeut Rith told reporters that the amendment would pave the way for authorities to pass laws enabling the government to strip citizenship from anyone who colludes with foreign powers against the state. 'If you betray the nation, the nation will not keep you,' he said, adding a new citizenship revocation law would soon be submitted to the National Assembly for approval. But human rights activists fear any such law would be used to target government critics and opposition figures. Rights group Amnesty International said in a statement yesterday that revocation of citizenship would be a 'heinous violation of international law'. 'We are deeply concerned that the Cambodian government, given the power to strip people of their citizenship, will misuse it to crack down on its critics and make them stateless,' Amnesty International's regional research director Montse Ferrer said. Citizenship can be revoked on grounds of treason or disloyalty in 15 European Union countries, and only for naturalised citizens in eight of those, according to a European Parliament briefing in February. Influential former leader Hun Sen, Hun Manet's father, last month called for the constitution to be amended to enable Cambodians who 'side with foreign nations to harm our country' to be stripped of nationality. He made the call after exiled opposition figures criticised the government amid an ongoing border dispute with Thailand. Koeut Rith brushed off concerns of abuse. 'If they (government critics) do not commit any treason crimes or any act that harms the national interest, they are not subjected to citizenship revocation, but they might face other charges,' he added. Scores of opposition activists have been jailed or face legal cases filed by Cambodian authorities. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was sentenced in 2023 to 27 years in prison for treason – a charge he has repeatedly denied – and was immediately placed under house arrest. — AFP
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Cambodia passes constitutional change allowing gov't to revoke citizenship
Lawmakers in Cambodia have amended the country's constitution to allow legislation that would see citizenship stripped from those deemed to have colluded with foreign powers. The constitutional change, which was unanimously supported by 125 politicians in the National Assembly on Friday, has drawn criticism from rights groups, which have expressed concern that it could be used to target political opponents. The government said it will soon make use of the amendment. Justice Minister Koeut Rith confirmed that a new citizenship revocation bill would be swiftly brought before parliament. 'If you betray the nation, the nation will not keep you,' he said before dismissing critics' unease about the move. The justice minister claimed that those who have not harmed the national interests will not be stripped of their citizenship, adding that they might still 'face other charges'. Before Friday's vote, the constitution specified that Khmer citizens could lose their citizenship only 'through mutual agreement'. However, after being revised, Article 33 of the constitution now states that 'receiving, losing and revoking Khmer nationality shall be determined by law'. Amnesty International condemned the change on Friday, urging the international community to criticise Cambodia over the decision. 'As the proposal moves closer to becoming reality, anyone who speaks out against or opposes the ruling party will be at risk of having their citizenship revoked,' the NGO's regional research director, Montse Ferrer, said. 'We are deeply concerned that the Cambodian government, given the power to strip people of their citizenship, will misuse it to crack down on its critics and make them stateless.' Last month, Hun Sen, the influential former Cambodian prime minister, called for the constitution to be changed so Cambodians could be stripped of their citizenship. This came after exiled opposition figures condemned the government over its ongoing border dispute with Thailand. Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile to avoid being sent to prison, was among those Hun Sen accused of speaking against the interests of the nation.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia moves to strip citizenship from those who commit treason or engage with foreign entities to undermine the govt
Lawmakers approve a constitutional amendment to strip Cambodian citizenship from individuals who conspire with foreigners to destroy the nation on July 11. - Photo: Khmer Times PHNOM PENH (Bernama): The Cambodian National Assembly unanimously approved a draft constitutional amendment to strip Cambodian citizenship from individuals who commit treason or engage with foreign entities to undermine the government. All 125 members of the National Assembly approved the amendment to Article 33 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia during a parliamentary session held on Friday. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Koeut Rith said the move is to protect Cambodia's sovereignty, targeting those who work against the national interest. "The initiative aims to safeguard national sovereignty by targeting individuals who conspire with foreign powers to undermine the nation. "The measure will not affect citizens who remain loyal to Cambodia,' he said, as quoted by state media Agence Kampuchea Presse. The move to denaturalise citizens was mooted amid escalating tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border since May 28. This proposed amendment on Friday now paves the way for the creation of a legal framework to revoke citizenship. Rith also said Cambodia is hardly alone in pushing for such legislation. - Bernama
