02 Jul '12

Third Ordinary Session of the National Assembly

The 3rd Ordinary Session of the National Assembly (7th Legislature) considered and adopted 7 laws at the National Assembly of the Lao PDR

The 3rd Ordinary Session of the National Assembly (7th Legislature) was officially held on 20 June to 13 July 2012 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Consequently, the 7th Legislature of the National Assembly considered and adopted 7 laws which entailed two new laws and five amended laws:

  • The new laws include a law on Terrorist Extradition and a law on Lawmaking; and
  • The five amended laws are as follows:
  • – Amended the law on State Property No.09/NA, dated 12 December 2002.
  • – Amended the law on Civil Procedures No.02/NA, dated 17 May 2004.
  • – Amended the law on Criminal Procedures No.1/NA, dated 15 May 2004.
  • – Amended the law on Sports and Gymnastics No.11/NA, dated 25 December 2007.
  • – Amended the law on State Inspection No.02/NA, dated 02 July 2007.
Requirements to enact new laws and amended laws
  • The new law on Terrorist Extradition was proposed by the Minister of Justice. The law consists of 9 charters and 39 articles that define the principles, rules and measures on extradition of international terrorists and is to ensure the internationalization of terrorist extradition.
  • The new law on Lawmaking was proposed by the Minister of Justice and focused on the procedures, modalities, rules to enact accurately the new laws and its regulations in the future base on the international principles and its standards and is to adapt the domestic laws to be conformed to the treaties and internationals conventions which the Lao PDR is a signatory party and ratified. The aim of making this law is to ensure Laos’s accession to the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) by 2015 and to the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the end of this year. This law has 7 parts, 12 charters and 89 articles.
  • The amendment of law on State Property was proposed by the Minister of Finance. The amended law focused on strengthening mechanisms existing to supervise, use, inspect and protect state properties including movable assets, immovable assets appearing on land, water, underground and airspace belonging to the national community, represented by the State in the Lao territory and including state assets of the Lao PDR aboard. This amended law has 11 parts and 70 articles.
  • The amendment of law on Civil Procedures was proposed by the President of the People’s Supreme Court. The law raises and focuses on improving some articles in connection with civil procedures in order to close lacuna under the previous provisions that are including procedures to submit a demand letter to the Court, consideration process of judges at the court, argument process at the court room of the parties, etc. The amended law was also to adapt the law to be in conformance with the current circumstances of a case. The amended law has been increased to 18 parts, 30 charters and 370 articles.
  • The amendment of law on Criminal Procedures was proposed by the President of the People’s Supreme Court. The aim of the law is to improve certain articles of the previous law to adapt and to encourage the mechanisms and existing procedures and to ensure enforcement of the law with transparency, justice and effectiveness under the laws and regulations.
  • The amendment of law on State Inspection was proposed by the Vice-President of the State Inspection Organization. The law focused on improving certain articles of the previous law for facilitating and enforcing independence, strictness, transparency and effectiveness in connection with the existing inspection mechanisms in the Lao PDR. The amended law has 10 parts and 74 articles.
  • The amendment of law on Sports and Gymnastics was proposed by the Minister of Education and sports. This law focused on improving certain articles of the previous law and to adapt new provisions to be in conformance with the current circumstances. The amended law has 19 parts, 18 charters and 107 articles.

The 7 laws are expected to be promulgated for implementation by the presidential decrees of promulgation soon.

Mr. Rawat Chomsri, Partner
Email: rawat@siampremier.com

Mr. Phanthasak Mingnakhone, Associate
Email: phanthasak@laopremier.com