Lao Ministry of Justice affirms to coordinate effectively to resolve issues related to the border area with Vietnam.

Lao Minister of Justice, Comrade Phay-vi-Xibuali-pha affirmed that the 40-year tradition of legal and judicial cooperation between Vietnam and Laos has brought about many practical results, not only helping people in the villages on both sides of the border stabilize their lives and firmly protect the national border, but also contributing to fostering the special and loyal friendship between the two peoples.

In the coming time, the Lao Ministry of Justice hopes that ministries and authorities at all levels of the two sides will continue to cooperate and implement solutions to further improve work efficiency, especially in solving the problems of illegal migration and unregistered marriages.

Regarding the legal and judicial cooperation between Vietnam and Laos over the past 40 years, the representative of the Department of Judicial System Management and Promotion, Lao Ministry of Justice said that this is the content implemented according to the Decision dated July 8, 2013 of the two governments of Laos and Vietnam on solving the problem of free migration and unregistered marriage in the Laos-Vietnam border area, implementing the Minutes of the 30th Conference of the Delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the work of naturalizing Lao nationality for Vietnamese citizens living in the Lao border area.

Leaders of the Lao Ministry of Justice attended the Conference on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Vietnam on August 24, 2022. Photo: Pham Bang

According to statistics, there are currently 6,571 Vietnamese people living in 10 provinces of Laos that share a border with Vietnam. The 10 provinces include: Bolikhamxay, Kham Noon, Va Van Na Khet, Xa La Van, Xe Kong, At Ta Pu, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Phong Xa Li. Of which, the Lao Ministry of Justice has considered and proposed naturalization for 929 Vietnamese people in the two provinces of Bolikhamxay (893 people, including 419 women) and At Ta Pu (36 people, including 10 women). For Bolikhamxay province, where many Vietnamese people live, the Lao Ministry of Justice will continue to resolve existing cases.

Previously, to ensure the legality of Lao nationality for Vietnamese citizens, the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR issued Notice No. 69/TTg, dated January 22, 2021, assigning the Central Border Joint Committee to coordinate with the provincial, district and local authorities where Vietnamese people are residing to re-check their actual presence. The focused contents are: Re-checking the list of people present in the household register, if they are not physically present or lost, or are temporarily detained, they will not be proposed to higher authorities for consideration of naturalization. Re-checking the date, month and year of migration, from 1985 to 2013, they will be proposed to Lao nationality. Re-checking the number of cases of unregistered marriages, from 1985-2017, they will be proposed to higher authorities for consideration of Lao nationality.

Vietnamese Justice Department officials carry out procedures to obtain Vietnamese citizenship for Lao people. Photo: Khanh Ly

By August 2022, implementing the Notice of the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, the Lao Central Joint Committee has representatives from departments such as the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Home Affairs to coordinate with provinces, districts and local authorities where Vietnamese people are residing to check the list of unresolved subjects. The inspection showed that there are 5,642 Vietnamese people living in 9 provinces and 22 districts of Laos whose nationality issues have not been resolved. Also through the review, the Lao Ministry of Justice is currently proposing that the Government resolve the Lao nationality for 2,726 Vietnamese people, including 1,821 women. For 2,916 cases of Vietnamese people residing in the two districts of Vieng Thoong and Kham Cot of Bolikhamxay province, the Joint Committee will continue to collect actual information and submit to the Government to resolve the issue of granting Lao nationality to the correct number of people actually present.

In addition to the number listed in the Decision of the two Governments, the Ministry of Justice has also received many applications from Vietnamese citizens requesting Lao nationality. For these cases, the Lao Ministry of Justice has completed the application in accordance with the procedures of the Lao PDR Nationality Law from 2017-2022. Up to now, the Lao Government has granted naturalization to 149 people, including 66 women.

Assessing the cooperation process with the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and relevant sectors and localities, the Lao Ministry of Justice said that the cooperation has become increasingly effective thanks to the efforts of both sides to create the most favorable conditions in terms of law as well as practical activities. In particular, it is necessary to mention the Decisions of the two Governments as a solid basis for implementation; there is regular direction from superiors in work activities and always exchanging specific information lists from provinces sharing the border. Leaders at all levels and relevant departments always pay attention to and attach importance to the functions, tasks and responsibilities of the work, all for the goal of peace, friendship and stability.

However, in order for the cooperation between the two sides to be increasingly effective, it is necessary to clearly recognize some existing problems and limitations and agree on specific solutions. Regarding the difficulties and problems that need to be resolved, the two sides should pay attention to controlling and reviewing information on cases of migration after 2013; cases living in sparsely populated areas or in remote highlands; many cases with poor communication skills; some information is still incorrect...

Leaders of the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Laos signed the Cooperation Program for 2023. Photo: Pham Bang

And to ensure positive effects for the contents of legal and judicial cooperation in the coming time, the Department of Judicial Management and Promotion, Lao Ministry of Justice will have orientations and develop plans, and discuss with relevant departments of the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice. In particular, the following contents will be focused on: Considering allowing Lao and Vietnamese nationality for Vietnamese and Lao citizens who migrate freely and marry without marriage in the Laos-Vietnam and Vietnam-Laos border areas. Procedures for naturalizing Vietnamese nationality for foreigners, expatriates and stateless people according to the procedures of the Law on Nationality. Training and capacity building for the provincial Department of Justice and the district-level Justice Office on grassroots judicial work, to ensure effective cooperation such as: marriage and village model law enforcement; capacity building for leaders and leaders of village-level dispute mediation work and village-level dispute mediation teams. Coordinate with the Central multi-sectoral working group with the provincial and district multi-sectoral working groups to continue to re-examine the remaining list of Bolikhamxay province, to ensure the settlement of the issue of Lao nationality in accordance with the Decision of the two Governments of Laos and Vietnam.

In addition, in order to continuously improve the effectiveness of solving the problem of spontaneous migration and unregistered marriages for people on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border, contributing to maintaining border stability and fostering the special friendship between the two peoples, the leaders of the Department of Judicial System Management and Promotion, Lao Ministry of Justice also proposed 2 contents. That is the establishment of the Joint Border Committee according to the decision of the two Governments, so that many relevant departments participate in the composition. Organize a joint conference between the Lao Joint Border Committee and the Vietnam Joint Border Committee to discuss the work of solving the problem of naturalization for people who spontaneously migrated and married without marriages in the Laos - Vietnam border area.