Lawmakers in Cambodia have amended the country’s constitution to allow legislation that would see citizenship stripped from those deemed to have colluded with foreign powers.
The constitutional change, which was unanimously supported by 125 politicians in the National Assembly on Friday, has drawn criticism from rights groups, which have expressed concern that it could be used to target political opponents.
The government said it will soon make use of the amendment.
Justice Minister Koeut Rith confirmed that a new citizenship revocation bill would be swiftly brought before parliament.
“If you betray the nation, the nation will not keep you,” he said before dismissing critics’ unease about the move.
The justice minister claimed that those who have not harmed the national interests will not be stripped of their citizenship, adding that they might still “face other charges”.
Before Friday’s vote, the constitution specified that Khmer citizens could lose their citizenship only “through mutual agreement”.
However, after being revised, Article 33 of the constitution now states that “receiving, losing and revoking Khmer nationality shall be determined by law”.
Amnesty International condemned the change on Friday, urging the international community to criticise Cambodia over the decision.
“As the proposal moves closer to becoming reality, anyone who speaks out against or opposes the ruling party will be at risk of having their citizenship revoked,” the NGO’s regional research director, Montse Ferrer, said.
“We are deeply concerned that the Cambodian government, given the power to strip people of their citizenship, will misuse it to crack down on its critics and make them stateless.”
Last month, Hun Sen, the influential former Cambodian prime minister, called for the constitution to be changed so Cambodians could be stripped of their citizenship.
This came after exiled opposition figures condemned the government over its ongoing border dispute with Thailand.
Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile to avoid being sent to prison, was among those Hun Sen accused of speaking against the interests of the nation.
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