National Assembly hears reports on two draft laws on national defense and security

On the morning of October 29, the National Assembly heard the first report on two draft laws related to the field of security and defense: the draft Law on National Defense and Security Education and the draft Law on Counter-Terrorism Prevention and Control.

Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang - Photo: VNA

Previously, these two draft laws were submitted by the drafting agencies, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, to the National Assembly Standing Committee for comments at previous meetings.

Creating a legal basis for preventing and combating terrorism

Agreeing with the Government's Submission on the necessity of promulgating the Law on Anti-Terrorism, the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security (the examining body) said that when the draft law is issued, it will institutionalize the Party's viewpoints and policies on protecting national security; create a solid and complete legal basis for anti-terrorism work in accordance with the reality of our country; and implement international cooperation commitments without affecting national interests.

Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang said that according to incomplete statistics, from 2001 to present, there have been 5,774 terrorist attacks worldwide, killing 48,173 people, injuring 86,045 people and causing many other serious consequences.

In Vietnam, although there have been no terrorist attacks caused by international terrorist organizations, since 2000 there have been 4 terrorist attacks committed by Vietnamese exiled reactionaries in collusion with other reactionaries and criminals in the country that have been discovered, investigated, and handled.
In addition, security agencies have discovered many international terrorists infiltrating Vietnam with various disguised purposes, and have also discovered a number of domestic reactionaries who have contacted and had relationships with a number of international terrorist organizations to carry out activities that show signs of being related to terrorism.

Specialized forces for counter-terrorism already exist in the Police and Military forces. Therefore, the draft regulations on specialized anti-terrorism forces do not create any changes in staffing and organization, but only create a more complete legal basis for the operations of the existing forces.

Regarding the leadership body, the National Defense and Security Committee agreed to establish the Central and local Counter-Terrorism Steering Committees to operate regularly on a part-time basis.

National defense and security education will be a core subject.

The draft Law on National Defense and Security Education, presented to the National Assembly by Minister of National Defense Phung Quang Thanh on behalf of the Government, stipulates that National Defense and Security Education "is a core subject in the high school education program".

The content of the subject of National Defense and Security Education in high schools and universities includes: Basic guidelines and viewpoints of the Party and State on national defense and security; Patriotism and the nation's tradition of fighting against foreign invaders; Clearly recognizing the plots and tricks of hostile forces against our country's revolution; Necessary basic knowledge of military techniques and tactics and civil defense.

National defense and security education for primary and secondary school students is integrated through the content of subjects in the program combined with extracurricular activities to form the foundations and initial understanding of national defense and security.

However, the National Defense and Security Committee believes that the draft Law needs to be redesigned in terms of this content in a way that is consistent with the educational purposes and requirements of each level of education, ensuring the continuity of the program and the state management authority of ministries and branches consistent with the provisions of the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education, the Law on Vocational Training and related legal documents.

The auditing agency also did not agree with the regulation that "National defense and security knowledge training is a mandatory requirement for cadres, civil servants, and management officials. Training results are one of the criteria for considering the appointment of leaders and managers in state agencies and organizations...".

According to the review agency, the criteria for considering the appointment of civil servants to leadership and management positions are not within the scope of this Law but are within the scope of the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants. On the other hand, this provision is not consistent with the Law on the Organization of the National Assembly, the Law on the Organization of People's Councils and People's Committees for positions approved and appointed through elections.

Therefore, to ensure the consistency of the legal system and avoid overlap and contradiction, this criterion should be stipulated in specialized laws.

The above two bills will be discussed by the National Assembly in groups and in the hall.

According to (Chinhphu.vn) – LT