July 4, 2025
PHNOM PENH – The amendment to the Constitution to revoke the citizenship of Cambodians who collude with foreigners against the Kingdom’s national interests is imminent. Today, both the prime minister and the president of the Senate emphasised the necessity of this law, comparing it to similar laws already in place in many countries.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) provincial headquarters in Kampong Thom this morning, July 3, Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that among nearly 200 UN member states, 150 countries have laws allowing the revocation of citizenship, including the US, a superpower.
He further noted that 134 of these 150 countries have laws to revoke citizenship for acts of treason or actions against national interests.
“If you plan to destroy or collude with foreigners to harm Khmer national interests, then you should be afraid. Such people should not be considered Khmer, to put it plainly,” said the prime minister.
Last week, Senate president Hun Sen proposed that the Ministry of Justice examine the possibility of amending the law. On July 2, the Constitutional Council held a meeting and concluded that amending Article 33 of the Constitution, which pertains to citizenship, “is feasible”.
Currently, Article 33 stipulates that Cambodian citizens cannot be stripped of their citizenship.
Speaking from Kamchay Mear district in Prey Veng province on July 3, Hun Sen stated that the Constitution would be amended to allow for citizenship revocation, with the proposal already submitted to the King by members of the National Assembly and the government.
“The Constitution will be amended to allow for the revocation of Khmer citizenship. Keep opposing and colluding with foreigners against Khmers if you wish to,” Hun Sen said, in reference to those who criticise the Cambodian government amid ongoing border tensions with Thailand.
He announced that on July 11, the National Assembly will convene an extraordinary session and amend the Constitution.