Patterns of Global Terrorism 2002 - Laos
Publisher | United States Department of State |
Author | Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism |
Publication Date | 30 April 2003 |
Cite as | United States Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism 2002 - Laos, 30 April 2003, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4681079e7.html [accessed 20 October 2022] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Government of Laos has continued to provide strong support for the global war on terrorism. The Government became a party to four international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism in July 2002, in addition to the three to which it was already a party.
Laos joined other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in taking strong positions against terrorism and, with other ASEAN nations, became a participant in the United States-ASEAN Joint Declaration for Cooperation on Counterterrorism, which was signed in August 2002.
Responding to requests by the United States and its obligations pursuant to UNSCR 1373, as well as UNSCRs 1267, 1390, and 1455, Laos has continued efforts to identify assets of terrorists and sponsors of terrorism. The Bank of Laos has issued orders blocking assets of organizations and individuals named in lists provided by the United States. The Bank, however, had yet to take steps to report on Government compliance with UNSCR 1373 or to freeze the assets of individuals and entities associated with Usama Bin Ladin, members of al-Qaida, and members of the Taliban included on the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee's consolidated list. Pursuant to Chapter VII of the UN Charter, UN member states are required to block the assets of persons and individuals on that list.
Laos has no distinct counterterrorism laws; acts of terrorism fall under Laotian criminal law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and the National Assembly are currently discussing amendments to its criminal law to identify acts of terrorism as crimes and to strengthen the penalties for those crimes. The Laotian Government has increased security at all public events, and it has tightened airport and immigration security.