“Cambodian lawmakers on Monday approved a bill giving the government power to revoke the citizenship of anyone found guilty of conspiring with foreign nations to harm the national interest ” (BBC New, 2025).
The Nationality Law was approve by the National Assambly, which are being criticized since this bill is seen as a way to supress internal disconeten and control political opponents of the Cambodian People’s Party and prime minister Hun Manet.
Ahead of the official voting, many non-gobermental organization protesested againsts, worried by the vaguely written way it has presented and how this will impact in the freedom of speech of Cambodian citizens.
Before this becomes a law, it must bee approve by the Senate and the Head of State, , King Norodom Sihamoni. Yet, Cambodian People’s Party controls most of the seats.
This legislative process comes in a time of uncertinty with their neighboor Thailiand. The two countries engage in a border dispute that lasted 5 days before a ceasfire was achieve. Now, internal prime minister Sar Sokha is telling lawmakers that the rule is necesaary to boost a patriotic feeling while the nation is suffering an invasion from Thailand.
The law will aplay to liflong Cambodian, dual citenzhip and people who nationalize, many of the opponents of Huan Manet are known to have dual citenzhip. Besided, the Prime Minisiter has prosecuted their opponent, Cambodia National Rescue Party, the major opponet, was disolved in 2017 after Minister Manet accused them of trying to revoke his government with foreign powers help.
“Please don’t be concerned if you are a patriot and do not oppose the interest of country. But if you have conspired with foreign powers to destroy Cambodia then, yes, it is true you should be worried, and in such case you are not a Cambodian.” Hun Manet said. “No true patriot would ever plot with foreign powers to destroy their nation.” (BBC News, 2025).
CNN Associated Press. (2025, August 25). Cambodian lawmakers pass bill to revoke citizenship that critics call repressive. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/25/asia/cambodia-revoke-citizenship-bill-intl-hnk