Contents
Article 3.Terms interpretation
Article 4.State’s Policies on Media Activities
Article 5.International Cooperation
Chapter II:Types and characteristics of the Media
Article 7.Printed Matters Media
Article 9.Characteristics of Lao Media
Article 10.Realistic Characteristic
Article 11.Educational characteristic
Article 12.Organizational Directives Characteristic
Article 13.Fighting with Characteristic
Chapter III:Freedom’s rights of Lao Citizen in the Field of Media
Article 14.Freedom’s rights of Lao Citizens
Article 15.Rights to Freedom of Lao Citizens
Article 16.Freedom’s rights of Lao citizens on Information
Article 17.The Performance of Freedom’s Rights of Lao Citizens
Article 19.Seeking to know, Collecting Information
Article 20.Receiving the provision of Information from the Society
Article 21.Dissemination of texts, News and other Notifications
Article 26.Organizational Structure of the Media
Article 27.The owner of the Media’s Organization
Article 28.Duties and Rights of the owner of the Media’s Organization
Article 29.Media’s Organization
Article 30.Duties and Rights of the Media’s Organization
Article 31.Association of the Reporters of the Lao PDR
Article 32.Personnel of the Media
Article 33.Head and Deputy Head of the Media’s Organization
Article 34.Qualification of the Head and Deputy Head of the Mass Media’s Organization
Article 35.Duties and Rights of the Head or Deputy Head of the Media Organization
Article 36.Qualification of Lao Reporter
Article 37.Duties and Rights of a Reporter
Article 38.Media’s Technicians
Chapter VI:Establishment and Activities of the Media’s Organization
Article 40.Conditions for the establishment of the Media’s Organization
Article 41.Establishment of the Representative office of the Media’s Organization
Article 42.Printing and Distribution of media’s printed Matters
Article 43.Increasing of Printed Pages of Media’s Printed Matters
Article 44.Increasing of Radio and Television Broadcasting Program
Article 45.Broadcasting program and Pictures
Article 46.Use of Media through Internet
Article 47.Duplication of media’s Products
Article 48.Press Release Conference’s arrangement
Article 49.Finance of the Media’s Organization
Article 50.Prohibitions to the Media’s Organization
Article 51.Prohibitions for Media’s personnel
Article 52.Prohibitions for Organizations and other Individuals
Chapter VIII:Administration and Inspection of the Media
Article 53.Media’s Administration Organization
Article 54.Duties and Rights of the Ministry of Information and Culture
Article 55.Duties and Rights of the Provincial, City’s Information and Culture Division
Article 56.Duties and Rights of the District, Municipal’s Information and Culture Office
Article 57.Duties and Rights of the Sector and other parties
Article 58.Mass Media’s Inspection Organization
Article 59.Duties and Rights of Media’s Inspection Organization
Article 60.Contents of the Inspection
Article 61.Forms of Inspection
Chapter IX:Day, Insignia and Seal of the Media
Article 63.Insignia and Seal of the Mass Media
Chapter X:Privileges towards Productive Persons and Measures against the Violators
Article 64.Privileges towards the Productive Persons
Article 65.Measures against Violators
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
No 108/P
Vientiane capital, 18 august 2008
DECREE
Of the President
of the LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
on the Promulgation of the Law on the Media
The President
Of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic decrees that:
Article 1. The Law on the Media is hereby promulgated
Article 2. This Decree shall enter into force on the date of its signing.
The President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
(Seal and signature)
Choummaly SAYASONE
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
National Assembly No. 94/NA
RESOLUTION
of the
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
of the
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
on the Adoption of the Law on the Media
Following the wide and in depth discussion by the 5th ordinary Session of the National Assembly (VI legislature) regarding the contents of the Law on the Media in the morning session on 25 July 2008.
The Session decides that:
Article 1. The Law on the Media is adopted at qualified vote.
Article 2. This Resolution shall enter into force on the date of its signing.
Vientiane capital, 25 July 2008
The President of the National Assembly
(Seal and signature)
Thongsing THAMMAVONG
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
National Assembly No. 01/NA
Vientiane capital, dated 25 July 2008
LAW ON THE MEDIA
General Provisions
The Law on the Media determines principles, rules and other measures regarding the organization, activities, development, management and control of the Media in order to develop the role, upgrade the quality of the Media and to ensure the rights of performance of liberty in the area of media by the population with the aim to contribute into the tasks of protection and development of the nation.
The media is a stage to release information which is consist of printed matters, electronic and media’s products, has the role to be the voice of different organizations of the party, the state and the society in the dissemination, service training on the directives of the party, laws of the State, mobilizing the patriotism, providing data, political socio-economic, scientific, technology, news, knowledge, entertainment to the society, contributing to fight against the negative phenomena in the society, the misrepresentation of the reality, is a stage to develop the democracy and the rights to be the master of the nation of the multi-ethnic population.
Article 3.Terms interpretation
The terms used in this law must be read according to the meanings as follows:
Article 4.State’s Policies on Media Activities
The State promotes and develops the State’s media activities to have a widely expansion, a strength and a quality by implementing different policies such as: the capacity building and recruiting of personnel, providing budget, vehicles, technical materials and equipments, modern technology.
The State encourages both internal and foreign organizations to contribute in the development of the media by providing vehicles, materials and equipments, capital and others into the Lao media’s activities.
The State has the policies to persuade organizations and individuals to participate to conduct the media’s activities according to laws and regulations.
The State facilitates to the production, the diffusion and the distribution of lawful media’s products with a widely and thoroughly manner in the entire country and export to abroad as deemed reasonable.
The State promotes and protects the owner of the media’s agencies, media’s agencies, reporters, collaborators and media’s technicians who are legally operated according to laws and regulations.
The State guarantees to Lao citizens to enjoy their liberty and perform their obligations on the media, create opportunities, convenience and protects the persons who provide information, give opinion, present their views, make a critic though the media which are not in contradiction against laws and regulations and not contradict to the benefit of the nation and the population.
Article 5.International Cooperation
The State promotes the relationship and cooperation on the media with foreign countries, regional and in the world by encouraging the technical operations, the exchange of lessons, information, science, technology, the capacity building of personnel, the attraction of the support and assistance in different fields for the general benefit of the nation, making the Media’s activities to have a quality and modernization based on the observance of the independence, mutual integrity, mutual benefit.
Types and characteristics of the Media
The media is divided in two types, such as: printed matter’s media and electronics media which is printed in Lao language, ethnic language and foreign language.
Article 7.Printed Matters Media
The printed matters media is referred to means of information which are in pieces of paper that contain information in letters or pictures by having a specific name.
The printed matters media may distribute in daily or periodically which are consisted of news paper, magazines, leaflets, gazettes.
The electronic media is a means to propagate information by creating a radio program, television program or other types of internet program then diffuse through the transmitter on line, on air or band frequency.
The electronic media consists of radio broadcasting, television, microphone, and internet.
Article 9.Characteristics of Lao Media
The Lao media has main characteristics as follows:
Article 10.Realistic Characteristic
The contents and forms of all types of Lao media shall be objective, proper to the reality, clear, prompt and consistent to the benefit of the nation and people.
Article 11.Educational characteristic
The contents and forms of all types of Lao media shall focus to educate, disseminate the directives of the party, laws and regulations of the state, other knowledge, promote outstanding persons, persuade the historical patriotism, unite the solidarity of people, and expand the fine culture of the nation in the protection and development of the nation.
Article 12.Organizational Directives Characteristic
The contents and forms of all types of Lao media shall aim to stimulate, organize, and direct the mass to implement the directives of the party, laws and regulations of the State, socio-economic development plan and correctly instruct and explain the rumor in the society.
Article 13.Fighting with Characteristic
The contents and forms of all types of Lao Media shall protect the correctness of the directives of the party, laws and regulations of the State, criticize all phenomena of violation against laws and regulations, negative phenomena in the society and react to all kinds of distortion, defamations that create the dishonor to the dignity, reputation, benefit of the nation and the population.
Freedom’s rights of Lao Citizen in the Field of Media
Article 14.Freedom’s rights of Lao Citizens
In the field of media the Lao citizen has the rights of freedom in the field of media by contributing their opinions, showing their views that are not in contradiction to laws and regulations, benefits of the nation, of the population and the reception of information on the internal and foreign counties situation, general knowledge, entertainment and other issues which are useful.
Article 15.Rights to Freedom of Lao Citizens
A Lao citizen has the freedom’s rights to contribute his opinion through the media regarding:
Article 16.Freedom’s rights of Lao citizens on Information
The Lao citizen has the freedom’s rights on information through the media as follows:
Article 17.The Performance of Freedom’s Rights of Lao Citizens
A Lao citizen has received his performance of freedom’s rights through the media by a press or a diffusion of news, text, opinion, illustration, respond to the proposal, their suspended points of disagreement through the media or organization or interested person. In the event that it cannot be printed, diffused or responded, the media shall officially inform the reason to the citizen.
Media’s Activities
The media has the activities as follows:
Article 19.Seeking to know, Collecting Information
The media shall activate for seeking to know, widely, completely, clearly, promptly and timely collect information, to make research, compose the text, news and other notifications.
Article 20.Receiving the provision of Information from the Society
The media has the rights to receive information from organizations and individuals to consider to publish news as deemed appropriate.
In the event that it has received information on the violation of laws and regulations and negative phenomena in the society, the media can inform to the interested organization or individual for consideration
For the case that is in the course of interrogation-investigation or the case that have not a court’s decision yet, the organization which takes action has the rights to reserve its confidentially on the information to the media, but the media has the right to publish the news according to the trust worthy news and be useful to the society by taking its responsibilities before law, unless it has on order to prohibit or suspend the publication of news from organization concerned.
The media cannot disclose the name of the provider of the information if it has seen that such will cause damages to the provider of information, except the provision as requested by the interrogation-investigation or prosecution office or people’s court organization.
Article 21.Dissemination of texts, News and other Notifications
When the media has collected information or received the information from the society; it shall meticulously consider, if it has seen that it is useful to the nation and the society then it will elaborate the texts, news, notifications and other programs in order to disseminate through its means to the society to completely and timely aware.
The media has the rights to propose to organization or an individual concerning the answer to the issues that a Lao citizen or other organizations have requested to have a clearly explanation when an organization or an individual has received such proposition then it shall have a timely response and be responsible to its response.
The Lao citizen and other organizations have the rights to propose to the media to clarify on the dissemination of news which are not clear and the media shall promptly give the response.
An organization or an individual has the rights to request the media to deny news which are published not proper to the reality.
The media organization which publishes the news that are not proper to the reality, lack of ground, touching to the role and dignity of the organization or individual shall deny the news and make an excuse through the media according to laws and regulations.
In the event that the media organization fails to apology or has properly apologies, such concerned media management organization or individual has the rights to propose to the supervision organization of the media or filing to the people’s court when it has seen damages are arisen.
The service of the media is the fact that the media has made goods advertising or provided services to customers without collecting services fees.
All types of media can make goods advertising or provide services to customers but it shall obtain the authorization from the concerned media’s supervision organization.
The contents of the goods advertising or services passing through all types of media shall be proper to the reality, not exaggerated, over the quality of the goods or such services and shall obtain the authorization from the concerned media’s supervision organization.
The goods advertising or providing services to customers through the media including the collection of services charges are provided in a separate regulation.
The entertainment is an activity of the media to create an ambiance, a happiness for the society and also it is a propagation of information, an education training, an introduction, a mobilization to be alert, but must be responsible to participate in the protection and development of the country.
The entertainment which is done through the media is comprised of the cultural representation, singing, folk song, musical performance, theatrical representation, sport, gymnastics, literary work and others which is consistent to the directives of the party, laws and regulations of the State, custom, culture, fine tradition of the nation, of the ethnics and can connect with the region and the world.
Article 26.Organizational Structure of the Media
The organizational structure of the media includes:
Article 27.The owner of the Media’s Organization
The owner of the Media’s Organization are the Organizations of the Party, of the State, Lao National Front for Construction, Mass Organizations, Social Organizations, organizations and Individuals which have obtained the approval to establish the Media’s Organization and conduct the activities on the media according to laws and regulations.
Article 28.Duties and Rights of the owner of the Media’s Organization
The owner of the Media’s organization has the main duties as follows:
The owner of the media’s organization has the main rights as follows:
Article 29.Media’s Organization
The media’s organization is an organization of the owner of the media’s organization which conduct activities of some types of media as provided in Article 6 of this law.
Article 30.Duties and Rights of the Media’s Organization
The media’s organization has the main duties as follows:
The media’s organization has the main following rights:
Article 31.Association of the Reporters of the Lao PDR
The Association of the Reporters of the Lao PDR is a political, social, professional organization of those who work in the field of media that having the role to educate, train, aggregate the solidarity and the duty to protect the equitable rights and benefits of its members and those who work on the media, participate into the implementation of directives, policies of the party, laws and regulations of the state and policy on the media.
The duties and rights of the association of the reporters of the Lao PDR are defined in a specific regulation.
Article 32.Personnel of the Media
The personnel of the media is composed of the Head, Deputy Head of the media’s organization, reporters, technicians in the field of media and contributors.
Article 33.Head and Deputy Head of the Media’s Organization
The Head and Deputy Head of the media’s organization:
Article 34.Qualification of the Head and Deputy Head of the Mass Media’s Organization
The Head and Deputy Head of the mass media’s organization have the following main qualifications:
Article 35.Duties and Rights of the Head or Deputy Head of the Media Organization
The head of the Media Organization is the person to direct and manage the activities of his media organization, has the duty and right to consider for approval of the news’ publication, texts in the printed matter media, the program of the broadcasting and pictures and also be responsible before the owner of the media organization concerning the contents of the advertisement and the operations of the media organization of which one’s takes charge of the responsibility.
The Deputy head of the Media Organization has the duty and right to assist the head in some works and tasks, takes in charge the post by interim when the Head is absent as assigned by the Head.
Article 36.Qualification of Lao Reporter
A Lao reporter has the main qualifications as follows:
Article 37.Duties and Rights of a Reporter
A reporter has the main duties as follows:
A reporter has the main rights as follows:
Article 38.Media’s Technicians
A media’s technician is person who works in the media’s organization that are consisted of composers, poets, speakers, masters of ceremonies, program producers, stage directors, printing matters designers, painters, decorators, technical mechanic and other technicians who serve to produce other media’s products.
Rights and duties of the media’s technicians are provided in a specific regulation of each media’s organization.
The contributors are those who have not a professional skill as reporters but they write news, texts, take pictures to regularly provide to the media’s organizations by receiving their labour costs and other privileges from the media’s organization.
Duties and rights of the contributors are provided in a separate regulation.
Establishment and Activities of the Media’s Organization
Article 40.Conditions for the establishment of the Media’s Organization
The establishment of the media’s organization shall have the following conditions:
Article 41.Establishment of the Representative office of the Media’s Organization
The government is the body to approve the establishment of a Lao representative office of the media’s organization in foreign countries and allow to foreign media’s organization to permanently enter or establish a headquarters’ office of foreign media’s organization in the Lao PDR. Reporters and technicians of media and the committee of responsibility of the foreign media’s organization which operates in the Lao PDR shall comply with laws and regulations of the Lao PDR.
Regulation on the establishment and activities of the internal and foreign media’s organization representative are separately regulated.
Article 42.Printing and Distribution of media’s printed Matters
The printing of the Lao media’s printed matters shall mainly print in the Lao PDR. All media’s printed matters that will be sent to print or distribute in foreign countries shall obtain the authorization from the concerned media’s supervision organization.
The media’s organization is the organizer to distribute its media’s printed matters or assign to some organization or individual to take in charge of the distribution service on its behalf.
Internal and foreign organization and individual that wishing to bring the foreign media’s printed matters to print, distribute in the Lao PDR shall request the approval from the concerned media’s supervision organization.
Article 43.Increasing of Printed Pages of Media’s Printed Matters
The media’s organization wishing to print and distribute additional media printed matters, increase the number of pages, print inserted or annexed sheets, print additional special announcement, such can be made according to his duties and rights but shall obtain the authorization from the concerned media’s supervision organization.
Article 44.Increasing of Radio and Television Broadcasting Program
The television and radio broadcasting station that needs to increase some program shall obtain the authorization from the concerned media’s supervision organization.
Article 45.Broadcasting program and Pictures
The broadcasting program and pictures of the Lao media shall produce and put on air from the territory of the Lao PDR. In the event that there is a purpose to broadcast such program in foreign counties it shall obtain the authorization from the concerned media supervision organization.
The broadcasting program and pictures of foreign counties that there is a purpose to put on air in the Lao PDR shall obtain the authorization from the government of the Lao PDR.
Article 46.Use of Media through Internet
The use, services through the internet shall coordinate and obtain the authorization from the competent concerned organization including to strictly implement laws and regulations.
Article 47.Duplication of media’s Products
All types of media’s products shall reserve the copyright, be duplicated and shall keep in good condition at least for a period of twenty five years.
Article 48.Press Release Conference’s arrangement
The organization and individual wishing to arrange a press release conference on some issues shall obtain the authorization from the media’s supervision organization after having coordination and the consent from the concerned organization.
Article 49.Finance of the Media’s Organization
The finance of the state’s media’s organization is supported by the state’s budget, academic income, the assistance from sponsors, individuals and organizations within the country and from overseas.
The media’s organization can correctly and appropriately establish a fund for development of the media in compliance with laws and regulations on the Finance.
The management and the use of money, the fund of the state’s media organization are regulated in a specific regulation in consistency with the Law on State’s Budget and other concerned laws.
The media’s organization has the right to conduct business and provide some services according to its possibilities and in compliance with laws and regulations in order to create an additional income for its own development.
Prohibitions
Article 50.Prohibitions to the Media’s Organization
Prohibitions to the media’s organization include:
Article 51.Prohibitions for Media’s personnel
It is prohibited to reporters, contributors, media technicians to create all types of information that breach the ethics of Lao reporters, use the half breed language, and use the rude words including other prohibitions to media’s organization as provided in article 50 of this law. For the speaker, master of ceremonies, it is prohibited to wear impolite dress during the on air time on television.
Article 52.Prohibitions for Organizations and other Individuals
Prohibitions for organizations and other individuals are as follows:
Administration and Inspection of the Media
Article 53.Media’s Administration Organization
The government administrate the media in centralized and uniform manner in the entire country by assigning to the Ministry of Information and Culture to directly coordinate with ministries, other concerned sectors and the local administrative authorities in the administration of the media, the media’s administration organization is comprised of:
Article 54.Duties and Rights of the Ministry of Information and Culture
In the administration of the media, the ministry of information and culture on behalf of the logistic arm of the government has the following duties and rights:
Article 55.Duties and Rights of the Provincial, City’s Information and Culture Division
In the administration of the media, the provincial, city’s information and culture division has the following duties and rights:
Article 56.Duties and Rights of the District, Municipal’s Information and Culture Office
In the administration of the media, the district, municipal’s information and culture office has the following duties and rights:
Article 57.Duties and Rights of the Sector and other parties
Sectors, organizations and other concerned parties have duties and rights to coordinate with the information and culture sector in the administration, promotion and development of the media according to their roles;
Article 58.Mass Media’s Inspection Organization
The Mass Media’s Inspection organizations are comprised of:
Article 59.Duties and Rights of Media’s Inspection Organization
The Media’s Inspection organization has duties and rights as follows:
Article 60.Contents of the Inspection
The inspection of the media has the following main contents:
Article 61.Forms of Inspection
The inspection of the media has three forms as follows:
An inspection upon advance notification refers to an inspection which is not performed according to plans but only when deemed necessary and of which the media to be inspected is notify in advance.
An immediate inspection refers to an emergency inspection of which the inspected person is not notified in advance. In performing the mass inspection, the officials shall strictly and properly comply with laws and regulations.
Day, Insignia and Seal of the Media
The 13th August is the National Media’s Day. In addition, the media of each country has also their particular day to celebrate and recall the history, achievements, lessons in order to improve, and better develop the media’s activities.
Article 63.Insignia and Seal of the Mass Media
The Media of each country has their own insignia and seal to use into the official activities that are set out by the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Privileges towards Productive Persons and Measures against the Violators
Article 64.Privileges towards the Productive Persons
Individuals or organizations which have outstanding deeds in the contribution to the media will receive commendations such as: medals, decorations, congratulation certificate, honorary titles and other privileges as deemed suitable.
Article 65.Measures against Violators
Individuals or organizations which violated laws and regulations on the activities of the media including prohibitions as provided in Article 50, 51 and 52 of this law will be imposed measures depending on the severity of the case such as be educated, admonished, fined, temporary suspended, withdrawn the establishment and activities’ license on the media, reporter’s card, media’s technician, liable to civil compensation or criminal penalty.
Final Provisions
The government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic implements this law.
This law enters into force after sixty days from the date of the president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic issues a decree to promulgate it.
Any provisions, regulations which contradict to this law are hereby repealed.
The President of the National Assembly
(Seal and Signature)
Thongsing THAMMAVONG
Name | Description | Status |
---|---|---|
Prohibition on Individuals and Organisations from bribing media personnel or media organisations | Individuals and Organisations are prohibited from bribing media personnel or media organisations | Active |
Prohibition on Individuals and Organisations from bribing media personnel or media organisationss | Individuals and Organisations are prohibited from bribing media personnel or media organisations | Active |
Prohibition on Individuals and Organisations from interfering with the lawful contents of news, texts and programs | Individuals and Organisations are prohibited from interfering with the lawful contents of the news, texts and programs | Active |
Prohibition on Individuals and Organisations from obstructing the production and dissemination of all types of lawful media products | Individuals and Organisations are prohibited from obstructing the production and dissemination of all types of lawful media products | Active |
Prohibition on Individuals and Organisations from producing importing and/or disseminating media products without authorization | Individuals and Organisations are prohibited from producing importing and/or disseminating media products without authorization | Active |
Head and Deputy Head of the Mass Media Organisation to be at least 23 years old | The Head and Deputy Head of the Mass media Organisation must be at least twenty three years old | Active |
Head and Deputy Head of the Mass Media Organisation to be a Lao National | The Head and Deputy Head of the Mass media Organisation must be of Lao nationality and an age of twenty three years old or more | Active |
Head and Deputy Head of the Mass Media Organisation to be permanent resident of Lao PDR | The Head and Deputy Head of the Mass Media Organisation must have a permanent residence in the Lao PDR | Active |
Approval for the use of the media through the Internet | The use and services provided through the internet shall require the obtaining of authorization from the competent concerned organization | Active |