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Cambodian MPs Cheap repressive law on citizenship
Cambodia's legislators have passed a controversial law that gives the government the authority to deprive citizenship in the event of supposed betrayal. Critics see this a repression.
Cambodian MPs Cheap repressive law on citizenship
The Cambodian legislators passed a law on Monday that gives the government the authority to deprive the citizenship of people who are guilty of consolidating with foreign states in order to damage the national interests. This amendment to the Nationality Act was unanimously approved by the 120 present of the National Assembly Members and is seen by critics as an attempt to suppress internal resistance and political opponents of Prime Minister Hun Manet as well as the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
Criticism of the new law
Before the vote on Sunday, 50 Cambodian non -governmental organizations expressed their deep concern about the vague formulated content of the law, which gives the government the opportunity to withdraw Cambodia. They claim that this law will have "devastating effects on the freedom of expression of all Cambodian citizens".
"With this new amendment to the Nationalities Act, all Cambodians risk losing our identities based on our commitment. If citizenship is deprived of us, we lose the basis for every right in our home country," says the explanation.
The legislative process
Before the law comes into force, it must be approved by the Senate Cambodia and the head of state, King Norodom Sihamoni, which is usually formal steps. Although Cambodia is formally an election democracy, the Cambodian People's Party has 120 of the 125 seats in the National Council and controls all government institutions.
A nationalist mood
This legislation is adopted in a time increased nationalism among the Cambodians after a Border conflict with the neighbor Thailand in a five -day armed conflict in late July, which only escalated through a fragile armistice was ended.
The Cambodian Minister of the Interior Sar Sar Sokha told the legislators that the update of the law was crucial to strengthen the patriotic feeling of the Cambodian while their country had to fight with what he described as an invasion by Thailand.
Influence on the opposition
The Interior Minister pointed out that a small group of Cambodians externally and act in a way that damaged the interests and national security of the country. He appealed to the nationalist sentiment and explained that people who directly or indirectly damage the interests of the nation and their people should "no longer be qualified as Cambodian citizens".
The law would apply to lifelong Cambodians, people with double citizenship in Cambodia and another country as well as to people from other countries who have received Cambodian citizenship.
Consequences for the political landscape
As is well known, some prominent critics of the government and opposition politicians have a double citizenship. Hun Manet and his father Hun sen, who resigned as Prime Minister in 2023 after 38 years, actively tried to suppress the opposition, often by complaints about courts that are widely considered under the influence of the ruling party.
The most important opposition party in the country, which Cambodian national rescue party was dissolved in 2017 by a judicial order after the government of Hun Sen had accused her of striving for disempowerment with the help of foreign powers. The then party leader, Kem Sokha was arrested and later convicted of high treason after he had been accused of conspiring to the United States.
International comparisons
Many countries have Laws on the withdrawal of citizenship, but often under closely defined conditions. In July, Hun Manet said in a meeting with villagers and government officials in the northwestern province of Kampong Thom that among the almost 200 member states of the United Nations, 150 countries had laws to withdraw citizenship, including the United States.
"Please do not be concerned if you are patriot and do not contradict the interests of the country. However, if you have conspired with foreign powers to destroy Cambodia, then you should actually be worried, because in this case you are not a Cambodian," said Hun Manet. "No true patriot would ever conspire with foreign powers to destroy his own country."