Laos lawmakers look to courts, prosecutorates for improvements

Consistency in prosecutions, improved measures to deal with detainees and better communication between courts are among the developments being called for by lawmakers in Laos.

The calls came at the submission of reports by the nation's judicial bodies, the People's Supreme Court and the Supreme Public Prosecutor, to the current session of the National Assembly (NA), the country's unicameral legislature.

According to the report, Laos' courts dealt with about 2,800 cases during the 12-month period, with verdicts delivered in 2,500.

State-run media Vientiane Times reported assembly members concerned over the length of time some accused had been held in detention without the formal laying of charges which is sometimes exceeded that stipulated in law.

Some lawmakers also complained that too many judicial decisions at lower levels appeared unduly hasty or exhibited evidence of undue commercial influence.

Lawmakers also called on the NA to consider the capacity of the country's legal system to deal with increased amount of legislation in effect, now numbering some 108 pieces.

"We should not ignore this because the situation affects the role of the Party, government, National Assembly and national security quite a bit," member for Luang Prabang province Brigadier General Vilay Duangmany was reported as saying.

Laos' Legal Sector Master Plan was officially adopted by the government in September 2009 and lays out a framework for legal reform to achieve its ultimate goal of establishing a rule-of-law state by 2020. Endi