Cambodian Government Amends Constitution to Allow Stripping of Citizenship

Author: Vera Rousseff

July 15, 2025

HRRC condemns the authoritarian practices of the Cambodian People’s Party and denounces the use of citizenship revocation as a tool for maintaining political power and suppressing dissent.

Cambodian lawmakers in Phnom Penh on July 11th vote to pass a constitutional amendment allowing the government to revoke citizenships. [Image credit: Cambodia National Assembly via AP]

Last Friday, July 11th, the 125 members of Cambodia’s National Assembly unanimously supported a constitutional amendment that would allow the government to revoke the citizenship of anyone accused of working against national interests.

The amendment to Article 33 of Cambodia’s constitution enables the government to draft legislation to strip the citizenship of Cambodians, including those holding dual citizenship, who are accused of treason or conspiring with foreign powers. Critics have expressed concern that the amendment could be used by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to target political opponents and suppress internal dissent.

Cambodia is largely considered to be an authoritarian, single-party state, with the CPP controlling all state institutions, restricting individual freedoms, and targeting members of the political opposition. The CPP has dominated the country’s politics for more than three decades, notably in the form of politician Hun Sen, who was prime minister from 1985 until he handed power over to his son, Hun Manet, in 2023. Despite promising to improve the country’s democracy and rule of law, Prime Minister Hun Manet has overseen further restrictions on individual freedoms and increased persecution of political dissidents.

The move to amend the constitution may be linked to an ongoing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, which has intensified in the past couple of months. In May, a skirmish at the border resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier, triggering an escalation on both sides. A month later, a leaked call between Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed dismissive comments made by Shinawatra regarding Thailand’s military leadership, resulting in Shinawatra being suspended from office.

In Cambodia, the opposition has criticized the CPP’s handling of the dispute with Thailand, prompting the ruling party to seek methods of further suppressing political dissent. Hun Sen made his case for the amendment in a speech last week, stating, “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. No true patriot would ever plot with foreign powers to destroy their nation.”

Representatives of Amnesty International have criticized the amendment, arguing that stripping a person of their citizenship often results in a violation of their human rights, and that rendering someone stateless may go against international law. Regional Research Director Montse Ferrer declared that, “the international community should publicly condemn the Cambodian government’s heinous proposed amendment to the constitution.”

It should be noted that many other countries, including the United States, have laws that allow the revocation of citizenship. Particularly in the United States, the question of who deserves to be a citizen has received considerable attention in the last few months amidst President Donald Trump’s efforts to revoke birthright citizenship. While revoking the citizenship of an individual born in the United States is currently prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, the law does allow for “denaturalization,” i.e., revoking the citizenship of a naturalized citizen. Under President Trump, the U.S. Justice Department is reportedly ramping up its denaturalization efforts.

The stripping of citizenship should never be used as a tool for maintaining political control, suppressing dissent, or targeting individuals who criticize the government. Whether it be in Cambodia, the United States, or any other country, the use of citizenship revocation as a tool of oppression is a clear sign of authoritarianism and must be strongly condemned.

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Glossary

• Accused: said to have done something wrong or illegal, but not yet proven.

• Amendment: a change or addition made to a law or document, like a constitution.

• Amnesty International: a worldwide human rights organization that works to protect people’s rights and freedoms.

• Authoritarian: a system where leaders have strong control and people have few freedoms or rights.

• Border Dispute: a disagreement between two countries about where the boundary between them should be.

• Conspiring: secretly planning with others to do something bad or illegal.

• Dismissive: showing that you don’t think something or someone is important or worth serious attention.

• Dissent: speaking out against the government or those in power.

• Dissident: a person who openly disagrees with or speaks out against the government or those in power.

• Dual Citizenship: being a citizen of two countries at the same time.

• Escalation: a situation getting worse or more intense, often quickly.

• Heinous: extremely bad or shocking.

• International Law: rules that countries agree to follow in how they treat each other and people.

• Legislation: a law or group of laws.

• Naturalized citizen: a person who was born in another country but later became a citizen of a new country through a legal process.

• Opposition: political parties or people who disagree with and challenge those in power.

• Patriot: someone who loves and strongly supports their country.

• Persecution: harsh treatment of people, often for their political views, religion, or background.

• Prohibited: not allowed by law.

• Revocation/stripping of citizenship: officially taking away a person’s citizenship by law.

• Ruling Party: the political party that is currently in charge of the government.

• Skirmish: a small or brief fight, often between soldiers.

• Stateless: not recognized as a citizen of any country.

• Suppressing: forcing people to stop expressing opinions or taking action, often using power or violence.

• Treason: betraying one’s country, usually by helping an enemy or trying to harm the country.

• Unanimously: when everyone agrees or votes the same way.