Cambodia’s ruling party leader Hun Sen has said that a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the government to revoke Khmer citizenship is aimed at a specific group of Cambodians allegedly collaborating with Thailand to form an armed force against the country.
Speaking on July 14 during a parliamentary review of the draft amendment to Article 33 of the Constitution, Hun Sen clarified that the law is not intended to punish political opposition or dissent, but rather individuals committing acts of treason by conspiring with foreign powers.
Hun Sen stated that revocation of citizenship would only apply to those working with foreign governments to undermine the Cambodian nation. He added that Cambodian citizens who do not engage in such activities have no reason to fear the law.
“No Cambodian has had their citizenship revoked simply for expressing opposing views,” Hun Sen said, “but those who are worried might be the very ones engaging in acts of betrayal.”
In the same address, Hun Sen also issued a warning to two senators from the Khmer Will Party, Kong Monika and Seng Marady, after they voted against the proposed amendment. The Senate saw two dissenting votes out of 60 members present.
Kong Monika later told local media that while he did not support the amendment, he is not concerned by the threats. He stated he is not involved in any actions that would fall under the category of treason as defined by the government.
“I do not know what specific conditions would qualify someone as a traitor or collaborator with a foreign state,” said Kong Monika, adding that the law must clearly define such terms to prevent arbitrary interpretation.
The proposed amendment has drawn international attention and domestic criticism. In South Korea, the Cambodia National Rescue Youth Movement is preparing to stage a protest in Seoul on July 27, opposing the law that would allow revocation of Khmer citizenship by birth.
Some observers have described the amendment as a campaign against Cambodian identity, warning that it could be used to strip rights from native citizens while enabling the naturalization of foreign nationals. They argue it may pave the way for Vietnamese nationals to gain citizenship and electoral rights in place of native Cambodians.
Critics note that while the government is accelerating the passage of the citizenship revocation law, it has for years facilitated the granting of Cambodian citizenship to foreign nationals. According to a Ministry of Interior report released in 2022, more than 2,500 foreigners from 50 different nationalities were granted Cambodian citizenship between 1999 and 2022, mostly through naturalization or donations to the government. Vietnamese nationals made up the largest portion of these recipients.
