Phnom penh: The National Assembly (NA) in its 4th Session of the 7th Legislature, held at the NA Palace this morning under the chairmanship of its President Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, discussed and approved the Draft Law on the Amendment to the Law on Nationality. A total of 120 lawmakers present at the parliamentary session unanimously voted for this important draft law.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, this amendment establishes a legal framework for revoking Cambodian citizenship from individuals convicted of treason or colluding with foreign powers in ways that seriously harm national interests. This two-article amendment aims to strengthen national sovereignty and security by deterring foreign interference and punishing acts of treason. It aligns with Article 49 of the Constitution, which mandates every Khmer citizen to prioritise national interests and participate in the defence and development of the motherland.
Cambodia has a legal history of regulating annulment of citizenship, including the Civil Code of 1920 and the Law on the Loss of Khmer Citizenship promulgated in 1968. According to H.E. Koeut Rith, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, over 150 countries-including major democracies like the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Italy, Belgium and nations across Asia such as Singapore, India, and South Korea-have laws permitting citizenship revocation. More than 28 Asian and 18 European nations maintain such provisions.
During the same session, the NA also endorsed the three-article Draft Law on the Approval of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.