The people will be better served after the nationwide restructuring of the two main agencies of justice – the People’s Supreme Court and the People’s Supreme Prosecution.
Lawyers made the comment on Friday after submitting amended laws on both bodies to the Lao National Assembly for consideration and approval.
The assembly is scheduled to debate the two amended laws this week.
If they are approved, the People’s Supreme Court and the People’s Supreme Prosecution will have the power to abolish their district offices around the country and establish new offices in every three or four districts.
The change is based on the belief of policy makers that merged courts would provide a better system of justice for local people than that dispensed by individual district courts.
They would be equipped with sufficient staff, judges and modern facilities, lawyers said.
Ministry of Justice Law Department Director General, Mr Khamlien Phomachanh, said the merger of district courts was necessary because there were insufficient lawyers to work in each district, so it had been decided to set up courts in grouped districts.
Budget constraints in building courts and providing the necessary equipment was another factor leading to the decision.
A shortage of lawyers in district courts and prosecution offices was a deterrent to the Lao people having access to the justice system and fulfilling their rights and duties in accordance with the constitution and laws of Laos, he said.
Deputy Chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s Law Commission, Mr Davone Viengvichit, said amendments to the laws will include the rights and duties of the newly established courts so they have a legal reference for carrying out their work.
He said people would not suffer by having to travel long distances because at present some districts had no court and people were in the habit of going to a court that was some distance away.
Officials said district courts were no longer popular, adding that most people appealed to a higher court for judgement because they felt they were poorly served by district court judges.
Lao National Assembly Spokesman, Mr Thongteun Sayasane, said on Thursday the revision of the laws was part of the country’s efforts to strengthen the judicial system to ensure everyone had access to justice.
However, he was unable to say whether the assembly would approve the amended laws, as members will have to debate and vote on them at the end of the ongoing session.
A sound judicial system is one of the main criteria for Laos to attract foreign investment, because investors can be confident their interests will be served.
By Ekpahone Phouthonesy
November 16, 2009
Vientiane Times
