Cambodian lawmakers have passed a constitutional amendment that allows the government to revoke a citizen’s nationality.
Rights groups fear the move could be used to silence critics, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.
All 125 members of the National Assembly voted in favor of the change last week. Prime Minister Hun Manet also backed the amendment.
The constitution now states: “Receiving, losing, and revoking Khmer nationality shall be determined by law.”
Previously, it read: “No Khmer citizen shall be deprived of their nationality, exiled, or extradited to another country except through mutual agreement.”
Justice Minister Koeut Rith said the change will allow the government to go after those accused of working with foreign powers.
“If you betray the nation, the nation will not keep you,” he told reporters. He said a draft law would soon be submitted.
Amnesty International condemned the move. The group said it 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,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s regional research director.
Koeut Rith denied the amendment would be abused. “If they do not commit any treason crimes or any act that harms the national interest, they are not subjected to citizenship revocation,” he said. “But they might face other charges.”
The amendment follows a call by former Prime Minister Hun Sen. He urged the government to act against Cambodians who “side with foreign nations to harm our country.” His comments came after opposition figures abroad criticized the government over a border dispute with Thailand.
Cambodia’s government has jailed dozens of critics and opposition leaders in recent years. In 2023, Kem Sokha was sentenced to 27 years in prison for treason. He denied the charges and is now under house arrest.
According to a European Parliament report, 15 EU countries allow revocation of citizenship for treason. In most cases, this only applies to naturalized citizens.
