Vietnam pres announces amnesty of 10,000 prisoners

HANOI, August 29 (Itar-Tass) -- More than 10,000 prisoners will be
freed in Vietnam in accordance with an amnesty announced by President
Truong Tan Sang on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the victory of
the August Revolution marked on September 2 and the proclamation of
independence.
Five of 10,535 prisoners, who are to be amnestied, were accused of
crimes against national security. Another 11 are foreigners, including
citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia.
Last year Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet announced the largest
amnesty - - then 17,500 prisoners were freed ahead of time. There were 37
citizens of other countries among them.
For the first time in the history of Vietnam, a decree on amnesty was
signed by first President of Democratic Vietnam Ho Chi Minh after the
August Revolution in 1945. Then he announced the general amnesty of former
criminals convicted by the French colonial regime. Later on, an amnesty
was granted on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. Beginning from 1975,
after the victory in the war with American aggressors, the Vietnamese
authorities annually announced an amnesty on the eve of the National
Holiday of September 2 as well.