Decree No. 102-SL/L-004 (revoked upon request of the Ministry of Interior) on the right to form associations

DECREE

Regulations on the Right to Form Associations

THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

ISSUES THE ORDER:

Now promulgates the Law on the right to form associations which has been voted by the National Assembly during its sixth session as follows:

LAW

REGULATIONS ON THE RIGHT TO FORM ASSOCIATIONS

Article 1.

The people's right to form associations is respected and guaranteed. Forming associations must have legitimate purposes, be consistent with the interests of the people, contribute to uniting the people, and help build the people's democratic regime in our country.

Article 2.

Everyone has the right to form associations, except those who have lost their citizenship rights or are being prosecuted under the law.

Everyone has the freedom to join legally established associations and the freedom to leave them.

No one shall infringe upon another person's right to form associations or their freedom to join or leave associations.

Article 3.

To ensure that the formation of associations has legitimate purposes, to protect and consolidate the people's democratic regime, associations must obtain permission.

The regulations for forming associations shall be stipulated by the Government.

Article 4.

Associations established before this law comes into effect and operating in areas temporarily occupied during the resistance period, if they wish to continue their activities, must reapply for permission.

Article 5.

Legally established associations must operate in accordance with their own regulations and current laws, are permitted to collect membership fees from members, buy and sell necessary assets for their operations, and sue before courts.

Those primarily responsible for associations, depending on the situation, are either the founders or members of the executive committee of the association.

Article 6.

If there is a violation of Articles 3, 4, and 5 above, depending on the severity of the case, those responsible may be warned or prosecuted before the court, and the association may be dissolved, and its assets may be confiscated.

In cases where prosecution before the court occurs, those responsible will be fined from ten thousand dong (100,000 VND) to fifty thousand dong (500,000 VND) and imprisoned for one month to one year, or one of these penalties.

In cases where an association that has been dissolved continues to operate or reorganizes illegally, those responsible will be prosecuted before the court and fined from twenty thousand dong (200,000 VND) to one million dong (1,000,000 VND) and imprisoned for one month to two years, or one of these penalties, the association will be dissolved, and its assets will be confiscated.

Article 7.

Anyone who infringes upon another person's right to form associations or their freedom to join or leave associations may be warned or prosecuted before the court and imprisoned for one month to one year.

Article 8.

Anyone who exploits the right to form associations to engage in activities harmful to national interests, people's interests such as violating laws, opposing the regime, opposing the people's democratic government, dividing the nation, damaging traditional customs, destroying the cause of striving for peace, unity, independence, democracy of the country, undermining friendly relations between our people and the people of other countries, spreading war propaganda, will be prosecuted before the court and punished according to current laws, the association may be dissolved, and its assets may be confiscated.

Article 9.

Democratic mass organizations and people's mass organizations that participated in the National United Front during the resistance period, recognized by the National Assembly and the Government, are not within the scope of this law.

Article 10.

Associations with economic objectives are not within the scope of this law.

Article 11.

All regulations contrary to this law are abolished.

Article 12.

The Government shall stipulate the details for implementing this law.