Q: What are major developments of the VLA in the past 50 years?
A: Looking at the VLA’s 50-year history, we recognize some significant steps. Organizationally, the Association has developed at all four levels, i.e., central, provincial, district and commune. From only 40 members at the time of its establishment, VLA now rallies more than 30,000, representing ministries, bran-ches, departments, provinces and cities throughout the country. The Association has made great contributions to building a State governed by law and defending socialist legality.
Performing tasks assigned by the National Assembly and the Government, VLA has recently submitted the draft Ordinance on Commercial Arbitration to the National Assembly Standing Committee and been involved in drafting and commenting on many other laws and legal documents. In 2004, we had 600 consultations with legal experts about three codes, 12 bills, six draft ordinances and three draft decrees. As a professional organization in the field of law, VLA is actively participating in a number of judicial activities, including legal assistance, law popularization and education, and grassroots reconciliation. We also maintain, strengthen and expand relations with foreign and international lawyers’ organizations and international organizations and agencies like the Association of International Democratic Lawyers, LawAsia, Asia Law Association, UNDP, SIDA of Sweden and the KAS Institute of Germany, as well as relations with Vietnam-based foreign embassies.
As a political organization, VLA has issued declarations to condemn the so-called “law on human rights in Vietnam,” passed by the US House of Representatives; the law passed by the Virginia legislature permitting the flying of the flag of the former Sai Gon regime at Virginia’s offices and schools; the July 17, 2003 additional clauses to the bill coded HR 1950 on external relations expenditures of the US Department of State which slanderously accused Vietnam of violating human rights; and the US State Department’s annual reports on religious freedom in Vietnam, which listed the country among those of special concern. Recently we have also criticized the US district court’s decision on the Agent Orange lawsuit of Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims against US chemical firms which supplied toxic chemicals to the US army in the Vietnam War.
Q: One of the VLA’s key tasks is to give comments on laws. In your opinion, how may the Association, as a legislation-assisting body, involve itself more in the law making process?
A: As a legislation-assisting body, the VLA’s Research Committee regularly organizes discussions and meetings with different sectors and branches to gather comments on lawmaking. Those discussions and meetings, however, are still limited and inactive. That’s why last year we established a Scientific Advisory and Research Council, consisting of 27 experts, led by Professor Dao Tri Uc, director of the State and Law Research Institute. Through this Council, VLA successfully organized symposiums and conferences attracting many domestic and foreign specialists as well as scientists. They included three symposiums on judicial reform strategy in northern, central and southern Vietnam, organized in coordination with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Home Affairs; two on the revised Civil Code, in coordination with the STAR organization; one on children’s rights, in coordination with UNICEF; and one on goods label protection, in coordination with the INVENCO firm. In addition, VLA organized investigations, surveys and scientific research into legal issues of public concern. We also proposed that the National Assembly and the Government should soon promulgate a mechanism and forms for VLA to examine or independently appraise drafts of legal documents prepared by other organizations or agencies.
Q: In his speech delivered at VLA’s 50th founding anniversary, State President Tran Duc Luong pointed to the urgent task of socializing a number of judicial and legal assistance activities, considering this a breakthrough in the promotion of the Association’s legislative and legal advising, assisting and reconciling activities. What is your plan to fulfil this task?
A: To perform the task of socializing a number of judicial activities, I think promotion of legal assistance is the most important work. Concerning this work, VLA has actively joined the Justice Ministry in drafting the Ordinance on Legal Assistance. In my opinion, the State may assign tasks to lawyers organizations at all levels since there is a contingent of strong and qualified lawyers nationwide and the State need not put them on the payroll. In fact, lawyers organizations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Tien Giang, Hai Duong, Long An and Hai Phong annually provide legal support to thousands of people and contribute a number of initiatives in this regard.
This year, we plan to coordinate with law colleges in organizing youth volunteer movements to join lawyers organizations in providing legal assistance to people, popularizing the law and educating people in remote areas, and opening legal assisting centers at law colleges.
As for lawyers and solicitors, they are legal practitioners who have the task of defending socialist legality, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of defendants in particular and of the people in general. In my opinion, the Justice Ministry should enhance State management of ideological and political education work, and increase the exchange of work experience and professional fostering. VLA, for its part, should actively involve itself in this process, based on the agreement between its Standing Committee and the Justice Ministry.
Q: VLA has actively participated in the ongoing Agent Orange lawsuit against US chemical firms. What have you been doing to help Vietnamese Agent Orange victims in this regard?
A: As a social and professional organization, VLA has designated its members to take part in the lawsuit from the beginning onto the hearing of the case. We have issued an official declaration to criticize the recent decision of the district court in Brooklyn as biased and unjust, disregarding truth and justice. At the moment, we are doing more research and will further support Agent Orange/dioxin victims.-