Ministry of Public Security (Laos)
The Ministry of Public Security (Lao language: ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ) is the ministry of the interior of Laos.
ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ | |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1976 |
Jurisdiction | National |
Headquarters | Vientiane |
Employees | (unknown) |
Annual budget | (unknown) |
Agency executive |
|
Structure and organization
The Ministry of Public Security comprizes several "branches of service", which include the local police, traffic police, immigration police, security police (including border police), and other armed police units. The current minister is Major-General Somkeo Silavong.
List of Ministers of Public Security
- Maj. Gen. Vilay Lakhamfong
- Maj. Gen. Somkeo Silavong
International cooperation
In order to increase its capacity to address issues such as the illegal drugs trade and human trafficking, the Ministry of Public Security has established working relations with a number of foreign government agencies and international organisations, including UNODC and UNICEF.
Human rights issues
The security forces subjected to the ministry have occasionally been accused of human rights violations.[1] Their persecution of Christians in Laos is among the heaviest in the world.[2] Particularly, members of the Hmong ethnic group have been subject to violence by security forces.