Supreme People’s Court works on special amnesty

Those eligible for the special amnesty include foreigners and Vietnamese scholars, intellectuals, artists, dignitaries or those holding high positions in social and professional organisations, the court said at a teleconference in Hanoi on November 3.

For foreigners, amnesty must be proposed by foreign governments, embassies, consulates or international organisations. For Vietnamese, the release must be suggested by competent Vietnamese agencies and organisations. The reprieve should be considered necessary to aid external relations.

The list also covers people who made great achievements during their sentence postponement or suspension, invalids, sick soldiers, those who were honoured for their contributions to national defence and construction, teenagers and above 70 year olds.

The prisoners must have clear residential addresses and abide by Party policies and guidelines, State laws as well as regulations set by local authorities or their agencies during their sentence postponement or suspension.

They are requested to promise not to harm political security, social order and safety, or hinder the struggle against crimes after the clemency.

In 2015, clemency was granted to about 16,000 – 17,000 prisoners.