15,000 prisoners, including 16 foreigners, given amnesty Prisoners at Thu Duc Prison in Ho Chi Minh City are under procedures for being released under the 2013 amnesty decision by President Truong Tan Sang. Tuoi Tre Under an amnesty decision by President Truong Tan Sang on the occasion of National Day (September 2), as many as 15,446 prisoners nationwide, including 16 foreigners, will be set free on August 30. In addition, 77 other people who are suspended from serving sentences are also included in the 2013 amnesty that was announced by the Presidential Office at a press briefing on Thursday, August 29. Among the amnestied inmates, 1,842 are women, 16 are foreigners, four were charged with acting against national security, and three will receive special amnesty. Of the foreigners, five are Chinese, two are Taiwanese, four are Cambodian, two are Malaysian, two are American, one is Belgian and the last is Australian, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc told reporters. Prescribed in Vietnam’s Constitution and institutionalized by the 2007 Law on Amnesty and legal documents, the amnesty decision reflects the Party and State policy of clemency and the humane tradition of the nation, Standing Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Giang Son, said The amnesty has been prepared in a careful, transparent and fair manner, ensuring democracy during the process, Son said. Last year 10,244 prisoners and 291 people who were suspended from serving sentences were set free on National Day. Of these prisoners, 11 are foreigners. Asked by a Reuters correspondent how many of national security offenders and political prisoners would be released under this year’s amnesty, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said, “The Penal Code provides for crimes prejudicial to national security and does not provide for political crimes. This time, under the amnesty decision by the President, four prisoners who had committed acts against national security will be released.”  TUOITRENEWS