Union Minister for Legal Affairs and Union Attorney-General Dr Thida Oo participated in the discussions of the First Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers/ Attorneys-General of the Central Authorities on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (“AMAG-MLAT”) held yesterday in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
Brunei Attorney-General Dato Seri Paduka Ahmad Isa and delivered an opening speech.
In her speech, Union Minister for Legal Affairs and Union Attorney-General Dr Thida Oo said that drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking in persons, and terrorist attacks have become transnational organized crimes. Such crimes not only deteriorate the rule of law of a nation but also threaten international and regional peace, security, and stability. Hence, to enhance the rule of law among social communities, ASEAN must combat those transnational crimes, she added.
Since the legal systems of the countries are different, cooperation among respective authorities is very important in fighting against transnational crimes. Accordingly, all ASEAN members have already ratified the ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). Being a member state of the United Nations as well as ASEAN, Myanmar actively participates in combating transnational crimes. Myanmar also joined the Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes in 2004 and the ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in criminal matters in 2009. Moreover, after signing bilateral agreements with Thailand and Viet Nam, Myanmar is cooperating with on another by providing mutual assistance for criminal cases.
As localization measures, Myanmar drafted and stipulated the Law of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters among nations and its rules in 2004. According to that law, Myanmar can seek legal assistance from a foreign country or vice versa, directly or through diplomatic channels regarding criminal matters. Myanmar abides by, complies with, and implements the obligations under the international convention, ASEAN treaties, and bilateral agreements relating to the fight against transnational crimes. Not a single country can prevent them alone, and thus it is very important for all nations to cooperate in combating the transnational crimes that are threatening the whole world, she emphasized.
The ASEAN Ministers, Attorneys-General of the Central Authorities on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters as well as responsible personnel from the Legal Division of ASEAN Secretariat were present at the meeting. Union Minister for Legal Affairs and Union Attorney-General Dr Thida Oo also held a sideline discussion with Deputy Attorney-General of Thailand Mr Jumpon Phansumrit on the exchange of legal assistance and promotion of cooperation between the legal authorities of the two countries, and measures being taken by legal officers from Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos under the Golden Triangle Legal Officer Network Programme as well as holding annual meetings on a rotational basis. Moreover, they cordially discussed and exchanged views on the establishment of the ASEAN Legal Officers Network to realize better and more effective cooperation among ASEAN Attorney-General Offices. — MNA/ZN
