Translation Endorsed by the Law Committee of the National Assembly of the Lao PDR Chapter 2 Territorial Scope of Penal Law Article 3. (New) Application of Penal Law within the Territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic This law is binding in the territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. An individual who commits an offence within the territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic may be charged and punished in accordance with the Penal Law or other laws of the Lao People's Democratic Republic that define criminal penalties. In the event that diplomatic representatives or individuals benefiting from the diplomatic immunity conferred by international conventions commit offences in the territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, these cases shall be solved through diplomatic channels. Article 4. Application of Penal Law outside the Territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Lao citizens who commit offences outside the territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic shall be charged with and punished for such offences if they are defined [as offences under] the Penal Law of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Aliens and apatrids residing in the Lao People's Democratic Republic 3 who commit offences outside the territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic shall also be charged and punished. Foreign individuals who commit offences outside the territory of the Lao People's Democratic Republic shall be charged and punished as provided in the Penal Law of the Lao People's Democratic Republic if such a case is provided for in international conventions. Article 5. [Period of Effectiveness of] the Penal Law This law enters into force on the day it is promulgated. Any new law calling for lighter penalties or eliminating any offence provided in former laws shall take retroactive effect. New laws stipulating new offences or calling for heavier punishment than that provided in an earlier law shall not take retroactive effect. 3 Readers may wish to refer to the Law on Lao Nationality for the distinction between citizens, foreign individuals, aliens and apatrids (i.e., persons unable to certify their nationality). 2