National Assembly approves six laws

The sixth session of the National Assembly's sixth legislature came to an end yesterday after approving two new and four amended laws as well as an increase to the state budget for 2008-09.

Mr Thongsing Thammavong speaks at the closing of the National Assembly session yesterday.

The two new laws relate to publication and plant quarantine and the four amended laws cover electricity, contracts, inheritance and mining.

National Assembly President Thongsing Thammavong said at the closing of the session the laws would be instrumental in enabling Laos to be governed by the rule of law.

But the assembly did not approve a proposed law on state investment projects as it was considered to be unclear and not sufficiently comprehensive.

Member for Vientiane province, Mr Duangdy Outthachak, said if the proposed law were approved it could create more problems than it would solve as people would try to use gaps in the law for personal gain.

The assembly approved the government's proposal to spend an additional 622 billion kip in the 2008-09 fiscal years.

More than 435 billion kip will go towards assisting flood affected areas in 12 provinces, paying off government debts in state-invested projects and increasing expenditure for the National Assembly, Ministry of Justice, People's Supreme Court and People's Supreme Prosecution.

Flood rehabilitation projects will be supervised by the agriculture and forestry, public works and transport, education, health and social welfare sectors.

The remaining 622 billion kip will be used to fund priority development projects in local areas in line with government directives.

The session also saw the approval of an ethnicity research project that failed to gain approval at the previous session in July.

The research concludes Laos has only 49 ethnic groups rather than the previously accepted 68 groups. Classification of ethnic groups is based on three main criteria - language similarities, historical background and traditional customs, including festivals and religious beliefs.

Mr Thongsing congratulated the government for ensuring the continued growth of the country's economy.

Although our country has been affected by the global financial crisis, the government has been able to manage the country's macro-economy and implement priority projects stipulated in the socio-economic development plan for 2007-08, he said.

The assembly also congratulates the government for mobilising funds and villagers to participate in flood relief efforts and praises villagers for their solidarity in undertaking those efforts.

He congratulated National Assembly members for fulfilling their role of representing the people of Laos at the assembly by contributing their opinions and knowledge towards establishing new laws and amending existing laws.

The National Assembly is a legislative body which meets twice a year.

By Somsack Pongkhao