Why the media law is today necessary in Laos?
In the implementation of the renovation policy, the Party and Government shift to the rule of law, aiming to make the Lao PDR to gradually be a rule-of-law state. However, during this process the mass media has experienced some difficulties as follows:
- Even though there are the Decree No. 36 of the Party Politburo Central Committee and some decisions and rules, they are not a comprehensive and conscious statute. Thus, this constrains the media management and operation. Therefore, the media is not able to fulfill its task and functions and does not have legal references in order to operate correctly;
- Due to the unavailability of the media law, the state management had no legal tool for supervising and managing the media;
- Officials and people had no references for commenting social activities through the media;
- Unavailability of the media law is a loophole, which gives the opportunity to unfriendly elements to criticize Laos;
- There is no provision for the local media to operate and cooperate with the foreign media in the integration process. The media law should be available due to the reasons and objectives mentioned.
The main objectives of the media law: to determine principles, functions and responsibilities of the media, to promote the role and interest of the media and to set up the media operation scope. The aim is to ensure that people have references for exercising their right to speech and writing through the media. It is stipulated in Article 44 of the Constitution of the Lao PDR: “Lao citizens have the right and freedom of speech, press and assembly; and have the right to set up associations and to stage demonstrations which are not contrary to the laws.”
The adoption of the media law is very important since it ensures that the media gets organised and operates correctly. The law helps the media fulfill its task and functions and develop comprehensively and bring benefits to the country and people of all ethnic groups. It is the reference for the Party and State to supervise, lead and manage the media uniformly in compliance with laws.
