Uganda peoples defense force

KAMPALA - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", drawing Western condemnation and risking sanctions from aid donors. Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law goes further. It stipulates capital punishment for "serial offenders" against the law and transmission of a terminal illness like HIV/AIDS through gay sex. It also decrees a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality. "The Ugandan president has today legalised state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia," said Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan rights activist. United States President Joe Biden called the move "a tragic violation" of human rights and said Washington would evaluate the implications of the law "on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda." "We are considering additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry … [Read more...] about Uganda enacts harsh anti-LGBTQ law including death penalty

At the event, a representative of the N.A. Standing Committee reported that the draft law supplemented the operational principle of the civil defense. Accordingly, the operation of the civil defense must ensure the humanity, justice, transparency, and gender equality. Regarding the level of the civil defense, the draft law also defines four criteria to be based on, including the local authorities and civil defense force’s capability in responding to and overcoming consequences of incidents. This criterion is set according to each locality’s socio-economic condition, helping promote the pro-activeness and responsibility of local authorities in incident and disaster response. According to the N.A. Standing Committee, local authorities’ announcement of civil defense levels in their managed areas does not overlap with current regulations on announcing risks related to natural disaster, diseases and others. On behalf of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National … [Read more...] about Legislators basically agree on draft Law on Civil Defense

Sen. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan (R), Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army , meets with Maj. Gen. Viengxay Xaysamone , Director of the Engineering Department of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army , in Hanoi on May 19. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Sen. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, received a delegation of the Engineering Department of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army led by its Director Maj. Gen. Viengxay Xaysamone in Hanoi on May 19. The host official emphasised that leaders of Vietnam and Laos attach importance to the maintenance and reinforcement of great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. He perceived that defence cooperation, one of the important pillars of bilateral relations, has been enhanced unceasingly and developing comprehensively and effectively. In the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and … [Read more...] about Engineering forces of Vietnam, Laos to boost cooperation

During the four-day event, participating forces will conduct exercises in response to incidents, carrying search and rescue, shifting the armed forces to higher combat readiness statuses, shifting the locality to the national defense status, and preparing and conducting defensive operations to firmly protect the locality. The exercise aims to enhance the leadership and direction capabilities of local party committees and authorities and the advisory capacity of the armed forces, departments, agencies, and organizations to help deal with circumstances in a timely manner, contributing to firmly maintaining political security and facilitating local socio-economic development. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Thai Dai Ngoc, Commander of Military Region 5, emphasized that provincial and municipal defense exercises are an important content in defensive area building, related to locality’s political, economic, social, defense, and security aspects. From exercises’ … [Read more...] about Gia Lai’s defensive area and civil defense exercise 2023 kicked off

Since 2019, the Northern province has organized 225 defense-security refresher courses for around 16,000 people. The provincial armed forces have also consolidated personnel organization as regulated in accordance with missions of each force and invested in combat bases at all levels and the system of combat works, contributing to improving combat capabilities and strength and building linked and firm district- and province-level defensive areas. In addition, the province well organized defensive area and civil defense exercises at all levels. Concluding the inspection, Sr. Lt. Gen. Huynh Chien Thang asked Lang Son province to study and adjust the document system, defensive operation plans, and plans to mobilize resources for defense missions to be in line with reality. The deputy chief of the General Staff urged the province to regularly renew methods to enhance the quality of training and exercises, focus on building regularity and defense and security education, foster … [Read more...] about Lang Son well carries out defensive area building mission

The event was chaired by General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and Minister of National Defense (MND). At the meeting, leaders of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army briefed the defense minister and delegates on the regional and international situations and the military’s outcomes in military, defense, and military building work over the past time. Meanwhile, the MND’s functional agencies updated delegates on the results and progress of the building of MND-chaired draft law projects which will be submitted to the N.A. for consideration and approval. Concluding the meeting, Gen. Giang emphasized the importance of the fifth session of the 15th N.A. He said that this session will discuss important contents related to the military and asked military N.A. deputies to responsibly contribute quality opinions to the session’s contents. The defense minister requested each deputy to study and carefully prepare their reports which must … [Read more...] about Defense minister meets with military N.A. deputies

Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that while leading a delegation of the Ministry of National Defense to conduct a field survey at Regiment 916, Division 371, the Air Defense - Air Force Service and of the construction site of the Vietnam Museum of Military History in Tay Mo and Dai Mo wards, Nam Tu Liem district on May 26. The deputy defense minister said that Gia Lam and Hoa Lac Airports are two standby options. During the trip, the working delegation said that the venue for the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 should be large enough and not be too far from central Hanoi, so as to better serve delegates and visitors. Importantly, the chosen venue must meet all requirements of security and safety. Having surveyed the area, Gen. Chien said that in the short term the area next to the Vietnam Museum of Military History is likely to be the venue for the 2024 edition. In the long term, this area could be a place for hosting professional … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 likely to be held in Tay Mo ward

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Head of the Inter-sector Working Group, and Chairman of the Ministry of National Defense's Steering Committee on Vietnam's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, chaired the conference. The attendees included Deputy Director of the General Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam People's Army Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet and President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga, along with representatives from various agencies, ministries, and sectors. The conference aimed to comprehensively evaluate the implementation and results of Decree 162, identify specific recommendations and proposals as the basis for the Ministry of National Defense to propose amendments, supplements, or replacements to Decree 162, in order to ensure the regulations and policies for individuals and units participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations. … [Read more...] about Policies for Vietnamese peacekeeping force ensured

Since 2019, the MR1 Command, together with localities, units, and agencies, has implemented defensive area building and obtained significant outcomes. In particular, MR1 has built strong armed forces in the fields of politics, ideology, and organization while successfully accomplishing political education programs and law dissemination activities for troops. Therefore, officers and soldiers always place absolute trust in the Party’s guideline and policies. Meanwhile, MR1 has consolidated personnel organization as regulated to ensure enough personnel, weapons, and equipment for defense-security tasks in the stationed localities. Along with strictly maintaining regulations on combat readiness, natural disaster prevention, and search and rescue operations, MR1's affiliated units have promoted training work and organized defensive area and tactical exercises. Additionally, MR1 has prioritized strategic and campaign projects and ensured adequate logistic and technical supplies for … [Read more...] about MR1 focuses on building potential of defensive area

Deputy Defense Minister cum Chairman of the MND’s Committee for Population, Family and Children Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh chaired the event. The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs (GDP) Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Gau, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff (GS) Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan. Addressing the ceremony, General Vinh affirmed that over the past year, the Central Military Commission, MND leaders and chains-of-command in the military have actively taken care of the family protection and children education work with good results. Annually, thousands of children with disabilities, children in extremely difficult circumstances, children who are martyrs’ relatives and orphans have received meaningful support from the MND’s Children Protection Fund. Meanwhile, thousands of troops’ households in difficult circumstances and policy families have been supported to develop economy, among others. In order … [Read more...] about Activities of defense leaders at military units