National counterterrorism board proposed

While discussing the counterterrorism bill at the ongoing legislative session in Hanoi on May 21, deputies said that global terrorism continues to seriously impact the politics and security of many countries.

Although international terrorist organisations have yet to perpetrate extreme acts in Vietnam, the country has uncovered terror-like plots conspired by Vietnamese nationals living in exile. It has also uncovered the attempts of several international terrorists trying to enter the country illegally.

Nguyen Kim Khoa, head of the NA Committee for National Defence and Security, delivers a supervisory report on the counterterrorism bill

Vietnam is a signatory to many international counterterrorism conventions, but its counterterrorism activities have yet to be governed by any formal legislation.

Most deputies underlined the need for counterterrorism steering boards at central, provincial, district, and communal levels.

Bac Kan Province representative Nguyen Van Minh said the bill needs to clarify the definition of what constitutes terrorism.

“Ensuring national security requires authorised agencies entrusted with the responsibility for detecting and preventing terrorist behaviours,” the deputy said, suggesting such agencies be established from the central to grassroots levels.

Nam Dinh Province representative Nguyen Anh Son echoed Minh’s view, saying the steering boards for counterterrorism should be established at the central and local levels under the government.

Hai Duong Province Representative Pham Hong Huong said the bill needs to specify the created agency’s operations, such as advising localities in terrorism prevention and control, consulting with relevant organisations to tackle terrorist-related cases, and mobilising resources in case of sudden terrorist acts.

Dong Nai Province representative Nguyen Cong Hong recommended against establishing such an agency at the national level, and instead proposed assigning the responsibility to the current national committee for crime prevention and control as a way of avoiding potential jurisdictional confusion.

The counterterrorism bill governs sensitive issues relating to national politics, diplomacy, national defence, security, and fundamental human rights.

It was first submitted to the National Assembly’s previous session for debate. NA deputies, supervisory bodies, and the NA Standing Committee examined the bill from different perspectives to ensure it would serve as firm legal foundations for terrorism prevention and control in Vietnam.