NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân delivers speech at the 14th National Assembly Standing Commitee (NASC) session.– VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – Providing the foreign Minister, and heads of Supreme People’s Procuracy and Supreme People’s Court with bodyguards was proposed in the draft Law on Guard Force which was discussed in the 14th National Assembly Standing Commitee (NASC) session.

Senior Lieutenant-General Tô Lâm, Minister of Public Security delivered a report on the Draft Law in the morning session.

Protecting more senior officials was suitable with current guarding activities, Lâm told the meeting.

“They [the Foreign Minister, and heads of People’s Supreme Procuracy and People’s Supreme Court] are leaders of procedural agencies and foreign affairs so their jobs are high risk”, he said.

“With the trend of legal reform and crime fighting, and expanding international co-operation, their jobs will become more complicated”, he added.

“So, they need to be offered bodyguards”, said Lâm.

Deputy Nguyễn Khắc Định, Chairman of the NA Legal Committee suggested that the minister of the Public Security, and Defence should also have bodyguards.

NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân opposed providing bodyguards to the senior officials. She said this was not neccesary.

The draft law also included allowing body guards to shoot their weapons.

Many deputies agreed that use of weapons must be mentioned in the law because it relates directly to human rights and citizenship.

The NA chairwoman said that the draft law should regulate in details the use of weapons by guards, and when guards can shoot and who they can shoot.

The draft Law on the Guard Force was discussed for the first time at the second session of the NASC and is set to be submitted to the upcoming NA session.

Participants said an ordinance on the guard force was issued in 2005, providing an important legal foundation for the force to fulfill its tasks. 

It is necessary to make a law on the guard force to concretise relevant articles in the 2013 Constitution, they said, adding that the law will facilitate the force’s security safeguarding activities and ensure human rights and citizens’ rights. 

The draft comprises five chapters with 29 articles. Concluding the discussion, NA Vice Chairman Đỗ Bá Tỵ said lawmakers agreed to upgrade the ordinance on the guard force to a law. 

As this was the first time the draft law came under consideration, the drafting board needs to continue working with agencies prepare for further discussion, he noted. 

During the three-day session, lawmakers will also make an initial assessment of the 14th legislature’s first session in July and talk about arrangements for the second session.

It will also examine draft laws on communal police which will be appraised at the NA’s second session. Participants will also discuss the Government’s proposals on the adjustment to the 2016 foreign capital plan.

The NASC resolution on evaluating and monitoring the State budget estimation, distribution and expense will be discussed during the meeting. – VNS