Vietnamese amnesty frees 5,000
The President of Vietnam, Tran Duc Luong, has granted
an amnesty to more than 5,000 prisoners. The release
will coincide with Vietnamese independence day on 2
September.
Among those freed are two prominent
anti-government figures. The writer
and journalist Doan Viet Hoat was
sentenced to 15 years in prison in
1993 after being accused of
attempting to overthrow the
government.
His case in particular achieved
widespread international publicity.
Before his detention Hoat had published an underground
newspaper, Freedom Forum, calling for a multi-party
system and the abolition of the ruling communist party.
Last June, he was honoured by the world association of
newspapers for his commitment to a free press.
The other leading dissident to be released, Nguyen Dan
Que - a doctor, was sentenced to 20 years for
advocating democratic reforms.
The Vietnamese government has been under growing
pressure from western governments and human rights
organisations to release the two men.
International image
According to reports, diplomats based in Hanoi say that
the decision to release Hoat reflects the increased
importance Vietnam is attaching to its international
image.
"This is very significant. It's buying them some goodwill
which they need right now," said an unnamed European
diplomat.
The country has been hit hard by the fall-out from Asia's
economic crisis and is in need of international goodwill
to keep open channels of aid and investment.
Announcing the release, the Director of the Presidential
Office, Nguyen Canh Dinh, reiterated the government's
long-standing position that Vietnam had no prisoners
jailed for their political or religious beliefs.
"We do not have political or religious prisoners. All
Vietnamese or expatriates who have violated Vietnam's
laws have been sentenced in accordance with the
criminal courts," he said.
However, a recent US State Department report said the
country had some 200 political prisoners.
Dinh said the prisoners would be freed because they had
behaved well and would make a good contribution to
society.
He said that if the two dissidents wished to leave the
country, their request would be considered.
Vietnamese dissident refuses to leave
One of Vietnam's leading dissidents, who is due to be
released from jail as part of a general amnesty, has said
he would rather stay in prison than leave the country.
Nguyen Dan Que, a doctor serving a 20-year sentence
for advocating democratic reforms, is due to be freed
next month.
The United States, which considers Nguyen Dan Que to
be a prisoner of conscience, has said it will accept the
prominent anti-government figure.
But the brother of the dissident has said Nguyen Dan
Que is refusing to comply with a condition attached to
his release, which stipulates that he must leave Vietnam
for good.
BBC World Service - August 28, 1998.
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