Fierce debate on proposed Lao media law

(KPL) The Lao PDR is presently not ready to grant permit to any foreign investor to operate a media company in the country as the local media do not have strong experience in this area. This was said by the Chairman of the Cultural and Social Affairs Commission, Mr Duangdy Outhachak.
The debate on the new media law at the 6th session of the National Assembly has been going on for two days. During the debate, National Assembly members contributed to the debate by articulating a whole range of views on this topic.
Mr Duangdy commented that presently some clauses of the proposed media law are lacking in clarity.
The Chairman of the Cultural and Social Affairs Commission told the KPL News in an exclusive interview yesterday that Laos was not yet ready to give the green light to foreign investors to operate their media businesses here. The Lao media, he said, does not have much experience in this area and the question is still politically sensitive. “However, the government will have to give very serious and careful consideration to this issue,” added Mr Duangdy.
“Now, we can only allow domestic investors to run the businesses on the media but they must be subjected to detailed conditions and that they also profess to uphold the nation’s high interests” said Mr Duangdy Outhachak.
An official who did not want to be identified disclosed that the media is like a double-edged knife so that it can kill and at the same time protect the people. Having said that he added that the government finds itself in a difficult position regarding the granting of permission to any foreigner to run a media company here. To do so and to bend to grant the media permit to a foreigner is to face the risk of politically instability, the source stressed.