A prominent social analyst has warned that any move by Cambodia to enact legislation allowing for the revocation of Khmer citizenship from native-born Cambodians would amount to an attempt to erase its own national identity.
In a Facebook post today, civil society observer Vorn Chanlat argued that such a law, as suggested by Senate President Hun Sen, would be both unconstitutional and socially destructive. He stated that Cambodian-born citizens cannot be stripped of their nationality under any circumstances, unlike foreign nationals who acquire Khmer citizenship through naturalization.
Vorn Chanlat emphasized that native Cambodians are intrinsically connected to the land, language, culture, and collective national identity, and that threatening to revoke their citizenship would be tantamount to dismantling the nation from within. He drew parallels to past political abuses, warning that such measures echo actions taken during authoritarian regimes.
The warning follows a recent threat by Hun Sen, who said citizenship could be stripped from any Cambodian who cooperates with Thailand against the Cambodian government during the current border dispute. In a nationally televised address today, Hun Sen directed the Minister of Justice, Koeut Rith, to study possible constitutional amendments that would allow for the revocation of citizenship from any Cambodian citizen alleged to be aiding Thailand during this period of heightened tensions.
Hun Sen added that any individual found working with Thailand should be stripped of Khmer citizenship and allowed to receive Thai nationality and weapons to act against Cambodia. The remarks were specifically aimed at opposition groups living abroad, whom he accused of siding with Thailand to destabilize Cambodia.
The Senate President further warned that if Thailand allows these opposition figures to use Thai territory as a base for anti-Cambodian activity, it would constitute a violation of ASEAN’s principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.
Men Nat, head of the Cambodian Watchdog Council, responded by accusing Hun Sen of using the border crisis not to unify the country but to target dissent. He called the threat of revoking citizenship a baseless attack on the opposition, made without evidence of any collusion with a foreign power.
Meanwhile, former Cambodia National Rescue Party official Mougn Sarat, speaking from Canada during a broadcast of Idea Talk by The Cambodia Daily on the evening of June 27, denied that the opposition has any political alliance or plan to cooperate with Thailand. He said such accusations contradict the spirit of national unity and reconciliation.
Mougn Sarat stated that the opposition’s main goal is to pursue national reconciliation through peaceful political dialogue. He added that they seek the release of all political prisoners and the return of exiled opposition members to participate in genuine national unity efforts, not to continue the cycle of blame and division.
