PHNOM PENH: Cambodian parliamentarians passed on Monday legislation allowing people who collude with foreign countries to be stripped of citizenship, a law rights groups fear will be used to banish dissent.
All 120 lawmakers in attendance at the National Assembly session, including prime minister Hun Manet, voted unanimously to approve the bill.
Rights monitors have long accused Cambodia’s government of using draconian laws to stifle opposition and legitimate political debate.
A coalition of 50 rights groups issued a statement on Sunday warning the law is “vaguely written” and “will have a disastrously chilling effect on the freedom of speech of all Cambodian citizens”.
The legislation must still be passed by Cambodia’s upper house before being enacted by the head of state, but both are considered rubber-stamp steps.