~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

[Year 1997]
[Year 1998]
[Year 1999]
[Year 2000]
[Year 2001]

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.