By November this year Lao citizens will be able to apply to form Non-Governmental Organisations, after a decree was signed by the Prime Minister.
In a historic move, individuals will be allowed to seek permission from relevant government sectors to form their own associations.
State Administration and Development Department Deputy Director General, Mr Ampha Simmasone, made the announcement on Friday after Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh signed the decree on association establishment.
“The premier signed the decree on April 29 and it will become effective within 180 days,” he told Vientiane Times.
The decree provides a guideline for Lao officials as they consider applications for the establishment of non-governmental associations in Laos .
Mr Ampha said the department would spend the next six months disseminating the decree and setting up organisations in both departmental and provincial administrations to begin the registration of associations in the country.
“At present, the department is preparing facilities and equipment and training officials on how to register an association,” he said.
The department hopes to be able to process the first applications by the end of this year.
Under the decree, a group of two or more people can request formation of an association.
Mr Ampha said individuals wishing to set up an association must seek permission from the sectors concerned before lodging applications with the Public Administration and Civil Servant Authority or provincial authorities.
“The sectors concerned will have the authority to accept or reject establishment of an association. However, the authorities must make the decision based on legislation, providing the evidence for their support or rejection of the association's establishment,” he said.
Under Lao law, citizens have the right to freedom of speech, press and assembly; and have the right to set up associations and to stage demonstrations provided they are not contrary to other relevant regulations, according to Article 44 of the Lao constitution.
Mr Ampha said individuals seeking to establish an association operating in more than one province will be required to register their association with the Public Administration and Civil Servant Authority.
Those seeking to operate within a single province can request the association's establishment from the relevant provincial authorities. A number of international organisations operating in Laos have welcomed the government's decision to give the green light for Lao citizens to establish NGOs.
International donors have been encouraging the government to allow establishment of such associations for several years.
Donors often sought the assistance of non-government organisations to run development projects, because they can work more rapidly to achieve results
this is a big bigg movee and i hope everything goes smoothly if it does this is a truely bright future for laos.
i have heard in the past associations dealing with government always makes development go kind of slow but if it goes directly to what their trying to do everything like construction should go alot quicker
By November this year Lao citizens will be able to apply to form Non-Governmental Organisations, after a decree was signed by the Prime Minister.
In a historic move, individuals will be allowed to seek permission from relevant government sectors to form their own associations.
State Administration and Development Department Deputy Director General, Mr Ampha Simmasone, made the announcement on Friday after Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh signed the decree on association establishment.
“The premier signed the decree on April 29 and it will become effective within 180 days,” he told Vientiane Times.
The decree provides a guideline for Lao officials as they consider applications for the establishment of non-governmental associations in Laos .
Mr Ampha said the department would spend the next six months disseminating the decree and setting up organisations in both departmental and provincial administrations to begin the registration of associations in the country.
“At present, the department is preparing facilities and equipment and training officials on how to register an association,” he said.
The department hopes to be able to process the first applications by the end of this year.
Under the decree, a group of two or more people can request formation of an association.
Mr Ampha said individuals wishing to set up an association must seek permission from the sectors concerned before lodging applications with the Public Administration and Civil Servant Authority or provincial authorities.
“The sectors concerned will have the authority to accept or reject establishment of an association. However, the authorities must make the decision based on legislation, providing the evidence for their support or rejection of the association's establishment,” he said.
Under Lao law, citizens have the right to freedom of speech, press and assembly; and have the right to set up associations and to stage demonstrations provided they are not contrary to other relevant regulations, according to Article 44 of the Lao constitution.
Mr Ampha said individuals seeking to establish an association operating in more than one province will be required to register their association with the Public Administration and Civil Servant Authority.
Those seeking to operate within a single province can request the association's establishment from the relevant provincial authorities. A number of international organisations operating in Laos have welcomed the government's decision to give the green light for Lao citizens to establish NGOs.
International donors have been encouraging the government to allow establishment of such associations for several years.
Donors often sought the assistance of non-government organisations to run development projects, because they can work more rapidly to achieve results
By Ekaphone Phouthonesy Vientianetimes
Hoping that is the the truth and is not the trap to arrest the people and put them in Jail or Kille them. Why not allow the foreign news agencies as well so the world coud see the good intention to the human been right. Allow they NBC or CBS or CNN...etc... to go and interview who ever they want and write what ever they want ...and ducument any thing they want ....As I know for now the press in Laos could write and talk only what the gouverment want .
ummm im talkin about econmy wise this is great for laos, as for human rights, thats a differetn story i dont think this news is for human rights but more towards leaning to a better and faster economy.
