Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, was elected chairman of the council, and lieutenant general Pham Duc Chan, deputy head of the ministry’s steering committee.

Speaking at a conference on implementing the State President’s decision on the second amnesty of this year, Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Le The Tiem urged relevant ministries, agencies and localities to ensure equality and legality of the amnesty.

They were asked to strictly manage and create favourable conditions for the released inmates to reintegrate into the community.

More than 15,000 inmates were released under the first amnesty of this year on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year festival and the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3).