Ministry of Public Security (Laos)
Government ministry of Laos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ministry of Public Security (Lao language: ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ) is the ministry of the interior of Laos. The current minister is Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamfong.
| ກະຊວງປ້ອງກັນຄວາມສະຫງົບ | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 5 April 1961 |
| Jurisdiction | National |
| Headquarters | Vientiane |
| Employees | (unknown) |
| Annual budget | (unknown) |
Agency executives |
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| Website | http://www.laosecurity.gov.la |
Structure and organization
The Ministry of Public Security comprises several "branches of service", which include the local police, traffic police, immigration police, border police, and other police units.
Traffic Police Department
The Traffic Police Department is responsible for ensuring road safety for people using vehicles to prevent accidents and ensure safety.[1] The Traffic Police handled almost 6800 road accidents in 2025 alone.[2]
Public Security Department
The Public Security Department is responsible for maintaining public order via suppressing rioters, robbers, criminals, etc.
Central Security Department
The Central Security Department is responsible for protecting high-ranking officials and key government facilities in Laos.
List of Ministers of Public Security
- Somseun Khampithoun (1961-1978)
- Maichantan Sengmani (1978-1980)
- Sisavath Keobounphanh (1980-1985)
- Asang Laoli (1985-2002)
- Sutjai Thammasit (2002-2005)
- Thongbanh Sengaphone (2005-2014)
- Somkaew Silawong (2015-2018)
- Vilai Lhakhamfong (2018-present)
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.[3] Their persecution of Christians in Laos is among the heaviest in the world.[4] Particularly, members of the Hmong ethnic group have been subject to violence by security forces.
Ranks
- Officers
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Laos Police |
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| ພົນເອກ Phonoek |
ພົນໂທ Phonoth |
ພົນຕີ Phon ti |
ພົນຈັດຕະວາ Phonchadtauaa |
ພັນເອກ Phanoek |
ພັນໂທ Phanoth |
ພັນຕີ Phan ti |
ຮ້ອຍເອກ Honyoek |
ຮ້ອຍໂທ Hony oth |
ຮ້ອຍຕີ Hony ti | |||||||||||||||
- Enlisted
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Laos Police |
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| ວາທີ Va thi |
ສິບເອກ Sib ek |
ສິບໂທ Sib oth |
ສິບຕີ Sib ti |
ຊັ້ນຫນຶ່ງ Sannung |
ຊັ້ນສອງ Sansong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||