Senate president Hun Sen has proposed amending the Cambodian Constitution to strip the citizenship of Cambodians who are found conspiring or colluding with foreign forces to undermine national interests — opponents and commentators argue the move is unnecessary.
On Friday, the former premier requested the Justice Minister to review the Constitution so it can be amended to revoke the citizenship of Cambodians who “conspire with foreigners to destroy Cambodia”.
“Cambodia cannot [accept] foreign interference through any Cambodian for their own interest,” Hun Sen said when he visited the front-line army on the Cambodia-Thailand border.
He warned opposition groups not to make “excessive demands” relating to the disclosure of various documents from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) where Cambodia has filed a complaint to seek legal resolution in four disputed areas bordering Thailand.
Hun Sen’s call to amend the Constitution could allow the government to strip Cambodians of their citizenship for colluding with foreign entities. The warning was also directed at opposition groups.
Opposition parties have voiced their disapproval over the proposed amendment to the Constitution to revoke Khmer citizenship.
The Constitution has been amended nine times since its enactment in 1993 — the most recent in 2021 — banning the top four government officers, prime minister, and heads of the Senate, National Assembly and Constitutional Council, from holding dual citizenship.
Hun Sen handed over the premiership to his son in 2023 after holding the post for nearly 40 years. The ruling CPP holds 120 out of 125 seats in the National Assembly, which has enabled the smooth passing of laws in the past.
Cambodia Reform Party president Ou Chanroth said amendments to laws should serve the interest of the people and the nation — not for other motives.
“I think stripping the citizenship of Cambodians by birth is not the right thing to do. I do not support that,” he said.
“I hope laws are not created to target only one group, but often, our law tends to target or protect certain groups,” Chanroth said.
Candlelight Party secretary general Ly Sotherayuth echoed Chanroth in opposing the amendment, urging Khmer politicians to unite and stand in solidarity against the plan — rather than discriminate or eliminate people.
“We do not support the creation or amendment of laws that could lead to division, discrimination, or elimination of another, resulting in cracks or fragmentation, because it is not beneficial to the nation,” he said.
Similarly, Kim Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, opposed the call to amend the Constitution, describing it as unnecessary as the penalty for treason is already stipulated in the Criminal Code.
“Treason is clearly defined in the Criminal Code, including offenses, such as ceding territory or conspiring with foreign powers,” he added.
Khmer nationality obtained by birth should “never be revoked”, particularly for those who “hold only Cambodian citizenship”, Phea stressed.
However, he supported the revocation of Cambodian citizenship of foreigners if they undermine national interests.
NGO rights Adhoc president Ny Sokha shared his concern over Cambodia’s fragile rule of law, particularly regarding the role of judicial authorities.
“We have observed that institutions which have the authority to impose punishments on political groups have yet to make truly independent decisions,” Sokha said.
He warned that the proposed amendment to strip Cambodians of their citizenship for conspiring with foreign forces could “disproportionately target opposition groups”.
“We are concerned that if this draft law is passed, certain groups will be powerless to defend themselves, as our judicial system is still not strong,” Sokha said.
He said the stripping of citizenships would damage the democratic process and affect civil and political rights. Cambodia’s democratic system requires multiple parties and opposition voices, he remarked.
Justice Ministry spokesperson Seng Dyna said they are conducting a detailed study on the possibility of amending the constitution on the citizenship revocation of those who conspire with foreign countries to destroy Cambodia.
“It is important to ensure that there is no interference with Cambodia or exploitation by foreign countries through Cambodian citizens to jeopardize national interests,” he said.
“We have to consider that if a Cambodian conspires with foreign countries to destroy Cambodia or fellow Cambodians, that person is no longer worthy of being a citizen,” Dyna said.
He said such laws exist in other countries, including Western countries, such as France, which allow the revocation of French citizenship of any individuals who commit offenses that affect the fundamental interests of the French nation.
