On the afternoon of May 27, continuing the working program of the 5th Session, the National Assembly discussed in groups the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on People's Public Security.

Earlier this morning, when examining the draft law, Chairman of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi said that, implementing the direction of the National Assembly's leaders, on December 16, 2022, the National Defense and Security Committee sent a document requesting the Ministry of National Defense to discuss the expected time and content of the proposed amendments and supplements to the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army.

On December 22, 2022, the Ministry of National Defense responded in writing to the National Defense and Security Committee, stating that based on the summary results and roadmap for implementing Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW dated January 17, 2022 of the Politburo on the organization of the Vietnam People's Army for the 2021-2030 period and the following years; the Ministry of National Defense will consider and propose amendments and supplements to the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army as appropriate.

General Phan Van Giang speaks at the group discussion session on the afternoon of May 27. Photo: Tuan Huy

The Army has special missions.

Speaking at the group discussion session this afternoon, General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense, National Assembly delegate of Thai Nguyen province, spent a lot of time sharing about the special tasks of the People's Army and said that the People's Army has many special characteristics different from the People's Public Security force.

Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang said that the Ministry of National Defense is studying and considering amending the laws of the People's Army to ensure that they are suitable for the specific tasks; emphasizing that the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress determined that by 2030, the armed forces will be built to be regular, elite, and modern, requiring the preparation of the People's Army right now, ensuring that they have the mettle, qualities, qualifications, capabilities, and mastery of modern weapons and equipment...

National Assembly delegates from Group 7 (including Thai Nguyen, Lam Dong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Long An) at the group discussion session on the afternoon of May 27. Photo: Tuan Huy

Amending the law to ensure it is suitable for the specific tasks of the Army

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and National Assembly delegate of Binh Duong province, also said that although the Army and the Police are both armed forces, the law amendment must be based on the functions, tasks and nature of the tasks of each force.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, the Army is governed by three laws: the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army; the Law on Professional Soldiers, Workers and National Defense Officials; and the Law on Military Service. The Police force is governed by only one law, the Law on the People's Public Security.

"The Ministry of National Defense is receiving and synthesizing the opinions of voters and people to immediately amend the Law on Military Service, which currently has many shortcomings, in the direction of reducing the number of subjects temporarily exempted and temporarily deferred, ensuring fairness in society; in order to attract capable and qualified young people to the Army, meeting the requirements of building the Army in the new situation," said Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong speaks at the discussion session. Photo: Tuan Huy

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong said that the Army is implementing Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW dated January 17, 2022 of the Politburo on the organization of the Vietnam People's Army for the period 2021-2030 and the following years. After stabilizing the organization and staffing, the Ministry of National Defense will study and consider simultaneously amending the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army and the Law on Professional Soldiers, Workers and Defense Civil Servants.

In addition, expressing his agreement with the proposal of the Ministry of Public Security to increase the maximum service age of officers, non-commissioned officers, and police workers, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong said that increasing the maximum service age of the People's Public Security force is in line with the Party's policy, consistent with the provisions of the 2019 Labor Code on retirement age; meeting the specific tasks of the People's Public Security force.

Once again reiterating that "the specific tasks of the Public Security are different from those of the Army", Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong affirmed that the Ministry of National Defense will study and consider amending the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army and the Law on Professional Soldiers, Workers and Defense Civil Servants to ensure that they are consistent with the specific tasks of the Army.

NGUYEN THAO