Vietnam to offer biggest-ever amnesty for up to 17,000 prisoners, including foreigners Inmates at Thu Duc prison in the south-central province of Binh Thuan are seen receiving amnesty certificates at a ceremony in 2013.Tuoi Tre Clemency will be given to up to 17,000 prisoners, including foreigners, nationwide by August 30 under an amnesty decision by State President Truong Tan Sang, making it the biggest ever, a senior police official has said. This amnesty will be given to prisoners meeting amnesty standards on the 70th anniversary of National Day (September 2), said Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong. Prisoners considered for the amnesty include those with jail terms and those with life sentences commuted to jail terms, Deputy Minister Vuong said. It is expected that 15,000-17,000 prisoners will be set free in this amnesty, the official said. “We will implement the amnesty as soon as possible, possibly before August 30, so that the released prisoners can celebrate National Day," news website VnExpress quoted the deputy minister as saying. This amnesty includes the largest-ever number of prisoners released, the Vietnam News Agency cited head of the General Department for Enforcement of Criminal Sentences and Judicial Assistance Nguyen Ngoc Bang as saying on Monday. Along with local prisoners, foreign inmates who have displayed good behavior and rehabilitation will also be set free, Bang said. The clemency is aimed to encourage prisoners to refresh themselves so that they can return to society sooner than scheduled, Bang added. At a meeting of the Central Advisory Council on Amnesty held on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized the need to grant clemency for the right inmates in order to ensure the correctness, transparency and strictness of laws. “No amnesty is allowed to be given to unqualified prisoners, and it is necessary to avoid failing to grant amnesty for inmates meeting requirements,” Deputy PM Phuc said. TUOI TRE NEWS