Cambodia’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a draft law that would allow the revocation of citizenship from Cambodians by birth.

All 120 lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party present at the fourth plenary session on August 25 voted in favor of the amendments to the nationality law. Prime Minister Hun Manet was among those attending the session.

The new legislation follows a constitutional amendment signed by King Norodom Sihamoni on July 15, which revised Article 33 of the constitution to pave the way for laws stripping citizenship from any Cambodian deemed to have committed treason.

Opposition politician Suon Rida of the former Cambodia National Rescue Party wrote on Facebook that while Cambodia is facing conflict with Thailand, the Assembly has chosen instead to pass a law that he said would divide its own citizens. He argued that the approval was a consequence of past elections and suggested voters would continue to face the same outcomes if they supported the ruling party.

Former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who remains the dominant figure in the ruling party, warned on July 14 that a group of Cambodians was allegedly conspiring with Thailand to form forces against Cambodia. He said those individuals were committing treason and would be the targets of the new citizenship law.

The vote went ahead despite an appeal from 50 local civil society organizations urging lawmakers not to endorse the amendments. In a joint statement, the groups argued that the legislation could result in Cambodians losing their citizenship and would contradict international law, international treaties, and constitutional guarantees on fundamental human rights.

The ruling party has defended the changes as necessary to safeguard national security. Civil society groups, however, maintain that the amendments risk undermining the rights of Cambodians and could be misused for political purposes.