Hong Kong – UCA News, July 08, 2025
Could political activists like Theary Seng be denaturalized and deported?
Nine political activists have been denied bail in Cambodia amid a long-running crackdown on dissent, which has taken another turn with the influential former prime minister, Hun Sen, warning those who plot against the country might have their citizenship stripped.
An extraordinary session of the National Assembly is expected to be held on July 11 to amend the constitution, enabling denaturalization, an issue that was pushed to the top of the domestic political agenda as the military stand-off at the Thai border erupted.
“Don’t be worried if you are a patriot and do not oppose national interests. But if you conspire with foreign powers to destroy Cambodia, then yes, you should be concerned. In that case, you are not a Cambodian.” Prime Minister Hun Manet recently told a gathering of students and teachers.
“No true patriot would ever plot with foreign powers to destroy their nation,” he said, echoing the sentiments of his father, Hun Sen.
The amendment is all but assured given Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) holds absolute control of parliament, raising serious concerns for more than 60 political activists who are behind bars and others in exile holding convictions ranging from incitement to treason.
