Coalition of rights groups says law covering ‘collusion’ could be abused to stifle government’s opponents
Cambodian parliamentarians have passed legislation allowing people who “collude” with foreign countries to be stripped of citizenship, a law rights groups fear will be used to banish dissent.
Rights monitors have long accused Cambodia’s government of using draconian laws to stifle opposition and legitimate political debate.
A sitting of 120 lawmakers in the National Assembly – including the prime minister, Hun Manet – unanimously passed the bill on Monday, empowering authorities to strip nationality from citizens for “an act of collusion” with a foreign power.
The law “will have a disastrously chilling effect on the freedom of speech of all Cambodian citizens”, a coalition of 50 rights groups warned in a statement on Sunday.
