Vietnam to free 1,000 prisoners in fresh amnesty
HANOI - Vietnam will
free 1,000 prisoners to mark the
country's anniversary of
independence next month, official
media reported Tuesday.
The Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Rural
Area Today) newspaper said the
prisoners, all on good behavior,
would be released around the
anniversary date of September 2.
Last year a number of political
dissidents and Buddhist monks were
freed as part of two amnesties for
some 7,800 prisoners that coincided
with the independence
commemoration.
However, several of those dissidents
and monks have since complained of
regular harassment from the
authorities.
It was unclear if any dissidents would
be part of the fresh amnesty, and
officials were not available for
comment.
The Nong Thon Ngay Nay
newspaper added that nearly 10,000
other inmates that had shown good
behavior were expected to have their
sentences reduced from now until
year-end.
That move would not be part of the
amnesty, it said.
Foreign governments regularly
criticize Vietnam for its poor human
rights record and tough prison
conditions -- criticism Hanoi
vehemently rejects.
Reuters - August 17, 1999.
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