Battle over dual nationality in Cambodia

Battle over dual nationality in Cambodia

By Matthew Lee

PHNOM PENH (AFP): A battle over legislation that would prohibit dual nationals from running for office or holding top government positions is threatening Cambodia's already shaky coalition government, analysts and diplomats say.

"This could be the straw that breaks the camel's back," said one western diplomat. "Neither side seems willing to compromise." "I see a serious rift with potentially severe consequences," said another diplomat.

The proposed ban, strongly supported by second Prime Minister Hun Sen's formerly communist Cambodian People's Party (CPP), would prevent dual passport holders from running for parliament or serving in ministries at the number two or three positions.

But the royalist FUNCINPEC party, led by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, is just as adamantly opposed to the restriction, which has apparently been added to a draft nationality law that is expected to be debated before the end of June.

All but one of FUNCINPEC's 11 ministers, including the prince who holds Cambodian and French passports, are dual citizens or foreign nationals, having spent much of the 1980s as refugees in France, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Thousands more FUNCINPEC senior officials and rank-and-file members also hold foreign citizenship.

If the regulation passes, foreign nationality would have to be abandoned if these people wanted to serve in senior positions.

The behind-the-scenes fight over the law has left the capital on tenterhooks with daily rumors of altercations between representatives of the two parties and suspected intrigue, especially since Prince Ranariddh is in France now and has not yet set a firm date for his return.

The two parties are already at odds over power sharing and FUNCINPEC has threatened to withdraw from government and possibly parliament if the CPP does not follow up on agreements to split posts at all levels between them.

The CPP has refused to consider further power sharing and argues in favor of the draft nationality law saying that representatives of the people should only hold allegiance to one country: Cambodia.

The party notes that other countries have similar provisions. "Why should we be any different," said one CPP official, who like almost everyone interviewed refused to be named. "There should be no split loyalties. "

But FUNCINPEC says such a law would only hurt Cambodia, which is struggling to rebuild after more than 20 years of civil war. Qualified professionals, who were systematical exterminated by the Maoist Khmer Rouge, are urgently needed to help in the process, they say.

"Cambodia is in a unique position," said one FUNCINPEC MP, who holds two passports, also speaking on condition of anonymity. "Our human resources were decimated by the Khmer Rouge and the war afterwards followed. We need to encourage trained Cambodians living overseas to come back. Having to give up an adopted nationality would make these people reconsider," he said.

The MP and many others say the provision has been added simply to further erode FUNCINPEC's position which has been weakened by infighting since it won the UN-brokered election in 1993 but was forced to form a coalition with the CPP when it threatened to continue fighting.

"I don't think there is too much question that Hun Sen and the CPP are pushing this because they think it will be an easy way to get rid of FUNCINPEC," said one parliamentary adviser.

"If FUNCINPEC can unite on this issue, and it should be able to because almost all of them have something at stake here, they might be able to stop it, but it will be tough. The CPP is out for blood on this one."