Vietnam marks independence with pardons for prisoners
HANOI - Vietnam has released nearly 9,000 prisoners, including 10 inmates whose cases it says had drawn international attention, as part of traditional pardons granted ahead of independence celebrations on September 2. Foreign ministry officials told a news conference the release of the 8,611 prisoners reflected their "good rehabilitation records" and the "humane tradition" of Vietnam. Fifty-one foreigners were among those released.
"For some cases for which many countries have expressed their concern, on this occasion 10 will be released or receive commutation," said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang. Diplomats who saw the list of the 10 said they recognized only a few names -- including those of Nguyen Ha Hai and Ho Van Trong, members of a dissident Hoa Hao Buddhist sect. The list said Hai died on June 14, 2004, two weeks after his release. Bang, a former envoy to Washington, repeated Hanoi's refrain that "in Vietnam there are no prisoners of conscience, no dissidents, no one convicted and put into prison related to human rights."
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch as well as western governments have called for the release of those imprisoned after criticizing Hanoi in public forums or on the Internet or for practicing non-sanctioned religions. Of the foreigners to be released, 28 are from northern neighbor China, 13 from Laos, six from Cambodia, three from Australia and one from Japan. Their offences included spying and breaching Vietnam's national security laws. In 2002, the last time the state issued pardons, it released more than 9,000 prisoners.
Those seeking pardons must meet certain criteria including paying any fines that have been assessed and complete at least one third of their terms. Those sentenced to life in prison must serve at least 10 years behind bars, while those sentenced to death and later commuted to life must have completed a minimum of 12 years of their prison term. There are no available statistics on how many are imprisoned in Vietnam.
Reuters - August 30, 2004
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