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.
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.
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.
