by Vu Kim Chung
30-6-2001
The spring session of Vietnam's
tenth National Assembly, which had opened in Hanoi on May 22, 2001, at Ba
Dinh Hall, continued sitting in June. Deputies of Vietnam's parliament considered
a package of bills, as well as heard and discussed the government's report
on the results of work over 2000 and main directions of the country's economic
development in 2001. The National Assembly closed the session at the end
of June after voting on going ahead with the Son La Hydropower project.
NA adopts revised Land Law
The ninth session of the 10th National Assembly adopted the draft law on the amendment and supplementation to some articles of the Land Law on May 31. The draft law still affirmed that land was public property placed under the State's management. The revised law includeed stipulations on land prices and land use planning-plan, authorised levels on land allocation, lease, changing land use purpose, compensation for land clearance, and procedures of transferring land use right, and authorised levels to grant certificates of land use right.
Regarding overseas Vietnamese residents' land use right, the old law stipulated that these people while investing in Vietnam, were only allowed to rent land and not to own houses linked to the land use right. To encourage them to invest in the country, the revised law permits overseas Vietnamese residents to buy houses linked to the land use right, while making long-term investments and to live in Vietnam.
Non-governmental organisations operating in Vietnam had the right to rent houses for use as their offices. The Land Law was issued in 1993 and revised in 1998.
Road traffic law approved
National Assembly deputies on the 10th working day, June 1, discussed and approved Chapter I of the Road Traffic Law with 77.1 percent in favour. They gave opinions on prohibitions including motorbike racing, and drunk driving. The deputies also passed articles 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Chapter II which are about driving safety, traffic order, and traffic signals, with 76.9 percent in favour. They met in the conference hall on June 4 to continue debating and fine tuning the Road Traffic Law.
National Assembly deputies, after discussion, approved articles 14 to 18 of the draft Law on Road Traffic with 85.2% in favour and articles 19 to 25 with 82% in favour at the plenary meeting chaired by NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Phuc Thanh on June 4, the 11th working day of the on-going session. During the discussion, the minister of transport and communications, Le Ngoc Hoan explained and received opinions raised by deputies.
Also, Head of the Supreme People's Procuracy, Ha Manh Tri, read a statement on the explanation and reception of ideas contributed by deputies on the amended and supplemented draft Criminal Code. In the afternoon, deputies held group discussions on the amended and supplemented draft Criminal Code.
NA adopts more articles of Draft Road Traffic Law
National Assembly deputies passed Chapters II, III and IV of the draft law on road traffic on the 12th working day, June 5, of the session of the National Assembly. They discussed articles from 26 to 36 of Chapter II and approved the whole chapter on road traffic rules with 84.1% in favour. The 11-article Chapter III on regulations on road traffic infrastructure and Chapter IV on road traffic means were passed with 87% and 85.4%, respectively, in favour.
On the same day, the deputies also discussed Chapter V on drivers of traffic means. Earlier, on June 4, NA deputies passed articles from 14 to 25 in the second chapter following a two-day debate. They met in the conference hall on June 6, to continue discussing and approving Chapter V and the remaining articles of the new road traffic law.
NA passes Road Traffic Law
Automobile drivers will not be allowed to drive for more than four consecutive hours and 10 hours a day, said the newly-approved road traffic law. The law was passed by the National Assembly on June 6 in a overwhelming majority vote of 83.8 %.
The limit on the driving time was aimed at securing labour safety for drivers while still conforming with the Labour Law which limits working time to 48 hours a week, explained Minister of Transport and Communications Le Ngoc Hoan. His explanation helped ease some deputies' concern over possible driving labour abuse by some employers as well as possible violation of Labour Law on the maximum working time of eight hours a day. Under the new law, police are not allowed to stop running vehicles for inspection. Police can do their duty to check possible smuggling only at bus stops or stations and parking lots in an effort to secure traffic inflow. This was enacted in order to try to stop the abuse by police of their authority through extorting drivers for real and imagined vehicle safety violations.
NA passes three chapters of fire protection law
The National Assembly also passed parts of the Fire Bill. National Assembly deputies met at the conference hall on June 7, the 14th day of the ninth session of the tenth National Assembly, to discuss and pass Chapters I, II and III of the Fire Protection Law. Forty-nine deputies from 34 provinces and cities gave comments on measures to prevent and fight fires.
Deputies discuss law on fire prevention
The National Assembly on June 8, held a plenary session at Ba Dinh Conference Hall in Hanoi to continue discussing and passing, chapter by chapter, the draft law on fire prevention and fighting. Furthermore, NA deputies heard chapters 4-9 of the draft law presented by Pham Thanh Son on behalf of the session's secretariat. Seventy-one opinions were raised during the debates before the National Assembly passed Article 29, the whole of Chapter 2, and Chapters 4-9 of the draft.
Deputy Public Security Minister Le The Tiem took the floor to clarify controversial issues raised by deputies from 37 cities and provinces across the country.
NA passes Fire Prevention Law
The National Assembly passed the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting on June 11. This was at a plenary at Ba Dinh Hall, Hanoi session chaired by NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Phuc Thanh.
The National Assembly, under the chairmanship of NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu, also discussed the Law on Amendment and Supplement of Some Articles of the Criminal Litigation Law. However, the NA deputies agreed not to pass the Law on this tenth National Assembly’s ninth session. The Compiling Board will study and complete the law.
The same day, the National Assembly, under the chairmanship of NA Vice Chairman Vu Dinh Cu, discussed and passed, chapter by chapter, the Law on Cultural Heritage.
NA passes part of Cultural Heritage Bill
The National Assembly passed Chapters I, II, and III of the Bill on Cultural Heritage with over 80% vote in favour in the plenary meeting chaired by NA Vice Chairman Vu Dinh Cu yesterday, the 17th working day of the NA's on-going session on June 12. NA deputies also discussed articles 28 to 31 of the bill. Forty-five deputies from 36 provinces and cities contributed their opinions.
During the discussion, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Luu Tran Tieu gave explanations and received opinions raised by deputies. The NA deputies the next day continued their discussion for the approval of the bill. The National Assembly passed some articles of Chapter IV of the Bill on Cultural Heritage with an overwhelming vote in favour in the plenary meeting.
After a debate, NA deputies passed articles 28 to 40 of the first section of Chapter IV which is about historical and cultural relic sites and places of interest and articles 41 to 46 of the second section, stipulating on national relics, antiques and precious objects. NA deputies also discussed articles 52 to 59 of section three of Chapter IV, which includes regulations on museums.
Fifty nine deputies from 35 provinces and cities contributed their opinions. During the discussion, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Luu Tran Tieu gave explanations and received opinions raised by deputies.
Cultural Heritage Law passed
The National Assembly discussed and passed the Law on Cultural Heritage on June 14 by a vote of 86.6% for. The new law consists of seven chapters and 73 articles.
In the afternoon, the law-making body heard a government report on draft amendments and supplements to the Labour Code and a Social Insurance Bill. They also heard the National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee report its examination on these bills.
Government members respond to voters' questions
The National Assembly session on June 15 began interrogating government members on the issues raised by voters. The NA Standing Committee received more than 1,548 petitions from voters nationwide. The governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Le Duc Thuy, was the first to start the hearings. He answered deputies' questions on issues relating to the dealing with assets in order to get the money back for credit organisations; mechanism on loan granting for agricultural production, poor students, co-operatives, people in flood-prone areas of Mekong River delta to build houses; restructure for outstanding debt of commercial banks; strengthening of liquidation through banks; inspection and dealing with wrong-doing and corruption within the sector.
Trade Minister Vu Khoan responded to six main questions from NA delegates. These covered areas such as relations between home and foreign trade, the expansion of the market for farm produce, solutions for selling of farm produce in the coming time and the import of farm produce. He also answered deputies' questions on home-made motorbike accessories, trade activities in mountainous areas, quotas for textile and garment products, measures to control negative behaviour such as corruption, steps and measures of the State in the integration into the regional and international economy.
Minister of Industry Dang Vu Chu answered deputies' questions concerning investment for development of electricity in rural areas, the production and assembling of motorbikes, domestic production of motorbike accessories and responsibility concerning road safety. Minister of Culture and Information Nguyen Khoa Diem responded to issues on karaoke bars, discotheques, and circulation of videos, CDs and VCDs of ill, corrupt, and socially unacceptable content. The session was broadcast live on the Vietnam Television and Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
Ministers continue question and answer session
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Le Huy Ngo took his turn at the second day of the National Assembly's hearing session on June 16, to clarify the national programmes on plant saplings and animal breeds, agricultural co-operatives, reforestation and poverty elimination. He said the programme on plant and animal varieties was one of the key programmes of the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry. It had been deployed through 23 projects in 44 cities and provinces across the country.
"Currently, 60% of Vietnam's rice areas and 60% of its corn regions are being planted with high-yield hybrid seeds; and 70% of its pig herds are made up of piglets hybrid for a larger lean meat proportion," Mr Le Huy Ngo told the National Assembly.
"Now," he added, "the ministry and localities are concentrating their efforts on improving the quality of fruit tree varieties, especially those for export." As for re-structuring agricultural co-operatives, the minister said at present, 41% of the 13,000 co-operatives had been restructured under the co-operative Law, while 1,500 others were newly set up and more than 3,000 co-operatives were dissolved. The ministry is co-ordinating with all localities in deploying projects on personnel training for co-operatives. It has trained 500 co-operative chiefs, 3,000 co-operative auditors, and 100 owners of plantations. In addition, it had organised different study tours of Thailand for co-operative officials, and joined hands with the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission in implementing a programme on rural development in 182 communes as an effort to improve the capacity of co-operative chiefs and skills of rural labourers.
Mr Ngo spent much time clarifying the programme on poverty elimination, saying.
"Vietnam is now at the stage where 17% of its households and 23% of its communes are considered to be below the poverty line." He added that in recent years, both central and local governments had made tireless efforts to carry out the programme in various forms and through various projects such as the project to help develop infrastructure of communes described as the most difficult.
"Now, five other programmes are being deployed to invest more in the national programme on poverty elimination, including VND 236 billion for the sedentary farming and re-settlement programme, VND 68 billion for the programme to provide stable lives for migrants, and VND 19 billion for the programme to support migrants' agricultural production. The government has also invested VND 37 billion for the programme to plant forests in 182 communes and VND 470 million for the programme to build small-sized irrigation works to water 380,000 ha of rice fields and 880,000 hectares of subsidiary food crops," Mr Le Huy Ngo told the National Assembly.
He stressed "besides its investment for the programme to help develop infrastructure in the communes termed as the most difficult, the government has given between VND 700 million and 1 billion to each commune of such kind." Minister Ngo was also questioned by National Assembly deputies on the progress of the national programme to plant 5 million hectares of forests, farm produce imports and exports, change of plant cropping structure, and development of irrigation works.
Also on June 16, Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Hang informed the National Assembly of the results of settling voters' petitions and National Assembly deputies' questions on issues relating to social policies. The issues dealt with treatment to those people who had rendered great service to the country during the past wars, allowances to workers involved in special occupations, the use of female workers, and the situation of labour exports and remedies thereto.
Public Health Minister Do Nguyen Phuong was, on the same day, questioned by National Assembly deputies on issues relating to public health for highland and remote areas, healthcare for poor people, health insurance policy, management of private establishments involved in medical and pharmaceutical practices, as well as management of medicine production and circulation.
The on-going National Assembly (NA) session on the following day continued with minister, head of the Government's Organisation and Personnel Department, minister of Public Security and head of the People's Supreme Court. Minister, head of the Government's Board for Organisation and Personnel, Do Quang Trung, was questioned on examination for a higher scale for teachers, examination for State employees; the strengthening of local administrations and mechanism; policy for local authorities and the reduction of State's employees.
Minister of Public Security Le Minh Huong answered NA deputies' questions on drug-related crimes, solutions for the fight against these crimes; negative behaviours among several policemen, particularly traffic policemen; the responsibility of the police force in economic cases; forced confession, corporal punishment while investigating crimes and that adolescent drug addicts and HIV/AIDS carriers are to be sent to rehabilitation centres.
Head of the People's Supreme Court Trinh Hong Duong was questioned on some complex cases and wrong-doings and corruption of local courts.
People's Procuracy head questioned
The head of the Supreme People's Procuracy, Ha Manh Tri, took his turn at the National Assembly (NA)'s hearing session on June 19, the 23rd working day of the on-going session. Mr Tri was questioned on the confiscation of assets; the investigation of arrest, temporary impounding and jail of criminals; suspension from investigation; penalty concerning civilian and economic relations; arrest, temporary impounding and jail of innocent people; settlement of complaints and denunciation of the People's Procuracy. Mr Tri also answered NA deputies' queries on solutions to strengthen efficiency of the law enforcement, measures to protect legal rights and interest of citizens and punishment of the cadres in the sector who violated the law.
The same day, NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu read a report on amendments of and supplements to some articles of the Constitution in 1992 on the organisation of the State apparatus.
NA deputies also heard a report delivered by Industry Minister Dang Vu Chu on the Son La hydro-electric power plant project. The deputy director of the NA's Commission for Science, Technology and Environment, Vu Minh Mao, read a report on verification of the Son La hydro-electric power plant project. NA delegates today hold group discussions on the investment on the Son La hydro-electric power plant project and the amendment of and supplements to some articles of Constitution in 1992.
Amendments to Constitution discussed
The National Assembly deputies on June 20 held group discussions on the Son La hydro-electric power project and amendments of and supplements to some articles of the 1992 Constitution. During the discussion, most of NA deputies expressed their agreement to the great and comprehensive significance of the Son La hydro-electric power project. They all agreed on the necessity to build the Son La plant which would aim at increasing energy, preventing flooding and providing water for a large area.
As for the amendments of and supplements to the 1992 Constitution, NA deputies held that the amendment should focus on the State apparatus in order to ensure a more streamlined, purer, stronger and more effective State apparatus. Several deputies contributed their ideas on the model of the organisation of the local administration; the organisation and operation of the People's Court and the People's Procuracy. Opinions contributed by NA deputies would help create a basis for the Amendment Committee of the Constitution to map out a draft document of the amended and supplemented Constitution.
NA passes part of Customs Bill
The National Assembly, after some discussion, approved the preamble, Chapters I, II and articles 15 to 27 of the Chapter III of the draft Customs Law during its plenary meeting on June 21. During the discussion, head of the General Department of Customs, Nguyen Duc Kien, answered and gave explanations on issues raised by deputies. Forty nine delegates from 29 provinces contributed their ideas.
At the beginning of the session, NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu congratulated journalists on the occasion of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, June 21, further wishing that all journalists would raise high their responsibility and duties and successfully fulfil tasks assigned by the Party and people of Vietnam.
National Assembly deputies passed articles 28 to 56 of the third Chapter of the draft Customs Law on the 26th working day, June 22. The deputies also discussed articles 57 to 60 of the draft law. Head of the General Department of Customs, Nguyen Duc Kien, took the floor to clarify controversial issues raised by deputies. Forty nine delegates from 33 cities and provinces across the country contributed their opinions.
NA deputies discuss amendments to Constitution
The National Assembly (NA) deputies on June 25 discussed the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution during the plenary meeting chaired by NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu. Fourteen delegates from 13 provinces and cities contributed their opinions concerning the guidelines to the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution on the organisation of the State apparatus and the purpose, requirement and sphere of amendment of some articles of the Constitution.
The NA deputies also raised opinions on the renovation and consolidation of organisation and operation of the NA, the government, the People's Council, the People's Committee, the People's Procuracy and the People's Court as well as the membership to the Drafting Committee on the amendment of the Constitution. Generally, most of deputies held that the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution should focus on several articles of great necessity which relate to the function, duty and the right of each office in the State apparatus. This is to ensure a more streamlined, stronger and more effective State apparatus.
NA discusses amendments to Constitution and Son La project
National Assembly deputies on June 26 continued discussing the amendments of and supplements to some articles of the 1992 Constitution and the investment of the Son La hydro-electric power project during their plenary meeting. Eight deputies from eight provinces and cities contributed their opinions concerning the guidelines to the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution. Before concluding the discussion on the Constitution, NA Chairman Nong Duc Manh said that most NA deputies agreed with the NA Standing Committee's statement saying that only some articles of the 1992 Constitution on the State apparatus needed to be amended and supplemented but there was no need to change the Constitution.
Deputies contributed their ideas on the renovation of organisation and operation of the NA; the method of operation and organisational structure of the government apparatus; the role and organisation of the People's Council and the People's Committee and the organisation and jurisdiction of the People's Procuracy and the People's Court.
In the afternoon, six deputies from six provinces and cities contributed their opinions on the investment in building the Son La hydro-electric power plant, dealing mainly with the scale of the project; the safety for the project and for the lowland areas; the socio-economic efficiency of the project; resettlement; protection of environment and cultural heritage, the guarantee for security and defence; the water supply in the dry season and flood prevention in the wet season and the finance for the project.
The 26th communique of the National Assembly
The National Assembly held a plenary meeting on June 27. In the morning, NA deputy chairman, Mai Thuc Lan chaired the meeting on a personnel matter.
Resignation and election of new NA chairman:
Regarding to resignation:
NA deputy chairman Mai Thuc Lan, on behalf of the NA Standing Committee, presented a report on the resignation of NA chairmanship proposed by Mr Nong Duc Manh. Next, NA Chairman Nong Duc Manh delivered a speech. NA chairman Mai Thuc Lan read a report on a proposed list of the Vote Counting Committee. The NA voted and passed the list of the Vote Counting Committee with NA deputy Tran Huy Nang from Haiphong as head of the committee. The NA voted on resignation.
Mr Tran Huy Nang, head of the Vote Counting Committee reported the results. The NA agreed on Mr Nong Duc Manh’s resignation as NA chairman.
Regarding to election:
NA deputy chairman Mai Thuc Lan, on behalf of the NA Standing Committee, presented a statement on the introduction of Mr Nguyen Van An to be a candidate for NA chairmanship. The NA discussed, no one stood for the election of NA chairman and no more candidates were introduced so the NA agreed to introduce Mr Nguyen Van An for NA chairmanship election. The NA voted for NA chairmanship. Mr Tran Huy Nang, head of the Vote Counting Committee, reported the result. The NA agreed to elect Mr Nguyen Van An as the NA chairman. Former NA Chairman Nong Duc Manh presented flowers and greeted Mr Nguyen Van An. Mr Nguyen Van An delivered a speech and presented flowers to Mr Nong Duc Manh.
Ratification of State president’s proposal on members of the Defence and Security Council.
State President Tran Duc Luong presented a statement on members of the Defence and Security Council. The NA voted on ratification of the president’s proposal. Mr Tran Huy Nang, head of the Vote Counting Committee, reported the result. The NA agreed to pass the Resolution on Mr Nguyen Van An’s holding the post of member of the Defence and Security Council, replacing Mr Nong Duc Manh.
Ratification of prime minister’s proposal on the resignation and appointment of some ministers.
On resignation:
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai presented a proposal on the resignation of Mr Nguyen Khoa Diem from his post of minister of culture and information. The NA voted on its approval of the resignation. Mr Tran Huy Nang, head of the Vote Counting Committee, reported the result. The NA agreed to pass the Resolution of ratification of the prime minister’s proposal to relieve Mr Nguyen Khoa Diem of the post of minister of culture and information, so that Mr Diem could take up another task.
On appointment:
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai presented a proposal on the appointment of the posts of minister of culture and information and minister, head of the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports. The NA voted for ratification. Mr Tran Huy Nang, head of the Vote Counting Committee, reported the result. The NA agreed to pass the Resolution of ratification of the prime minister’s proposal to appoint Mr Pham Quang Nghi, member of the Party Central Committee and former secretary of Ha Nam province Party Committee as minister of culture and information and Mr Nguyen Danh Thai, deputy head of the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports to hold the post of minister, head of the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports.
In the afternoon, under the chairmanship of NA deputy chairman Vu Dinh Cu, the NA continued to discuss the investment policy to build Son La Hydro-electric Power Plant. Eleven deputies from 11 provinces and cities contributed their opinions. The deputies’ opinions focused on some issues: the necessity to build the Son La Hydro-electric Power Plant; the selection of different projects (high, low, small); the security coefficient of the project; the combination of objectives (electricity supply, flood prevention and water supply); the resettlement of local people; the mobilisation of capital sources.
NA deputies discussed in groups on the Draft Law of Amendments of and supplements to some of the articles of the Labour Code and the Draft Law on Social Insurance on June 28.
National assembly session closes
The tenth National Assembly, NA, closed its ninth session in Ha Noi on June 29 after more than one month of sitting.
The NA passed the Law on Amendment and Supplementation to some Articles of the Land Law, the Road Traffic Law, the Fire Prevention and Fighting Law, the Customs Law, and the Cultural Heritage Law during the session. NA deputies discussed the draft Law on Amendment and Supplementation to some Articles of the Criminal Litigation Code and gave comments on the Social Insurance Law and the Law on Amendment and Supplementation to some Articles of the Labour Code.
Also during the session, the NA studied the Government's supplementary reports on the results of implementing socio-economic and State budget tasks in 2000 and the first four months of 2001 and on steps to be taken to fulfill those tasks in the remaining months of the year. NA deputies heard reports by the NA Standing Committee and the Council of Nationalities and other Committees of the NA, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy. They also reported on the settlement of voters' petitions and heard Cabinet members' interpellation, adopted resolutions on principles to build the Son La Hydro-electric Plant, and formed an ad-hoc Committee to amend and supplement some articles of the 1992 Constitution.
The NA elected a new Chairman and approved the appointment of several Government members.
Closing the session, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An noted that positive changes had been made in implementing yearly targets in the past six months, stabilizing the socio-economic situation. He said that the gross domestic product (GDP) was higher than that of the corresponding period last year, industrial and agricultural production continued to grow, services continued to improve, and foreign direct investment continued to increase.
The Chairman admitted that the economy developed unsteadily with a low competitive edge.
He, therefore, pointed to measures to be taken in the coming period to help the economy continue its upward trend:
"The National Assembly basically agrees with the six groups of measures as proposed by the Government. The National Assembly also stresses the continued exploitation and development of internal resources and capabilities of all economic sectors; the acceleration of economic re-structuring; and the development of highly-competitive products and outlets.
"Immediate support should be given to farmers in order to help them overcome difficulties in selling farm produce, and to the re-structuring of production to make it more suitable with market demands.
"Streamlining and renovating State-owned enterprises should be accelerated while removing difficulties and creating favourable conditions for enterprises to boost production and business operations.
"Investment should also be increased for the renovation of technology for industrial and agricultural production with a view to raising the competitiveness of domestic products while seeking ways to expand markets.
"It's necessary to readjust the structure of investment and increase investment from State budget allocations and credits; to rectify the running of the State budget and banks and at the same time to increase savings and exercise stricter control of State budget revenues and spending."