State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a decision to parole 2,434 prisoners, including 16 foreign nationals, on the coming Vietnam’s National Day, September 2.

The 16 foreign inmates to be released include four Chinese, three American, two Cambodian, two Malaysian, and one from each of Canada, France, Australia, Nigeria, and Laos, according to the decision issued by the Presidential Office at a press conference on Wednesday.

In addition, two foreigners, including one South African and one Laotian, are among 10 inmates whose death sentence have been commuted to life imprisonment in this year’s granting of amnesty, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Inmates qualified to receive amnesty include those having served at least half of their prison terms or 15 years, along with conduct that ranked as fairly good of higher, according to the decision.

They must also have fulfilled any financial obligations related to their crimes, with an exception given to those in special financial situations, but not applied to those charged with corruption.

Prisoners who have achieved merits, suffer from fatal or frequent illnesses or disabilities, have reached 70 years of age or higher, are the sole bread-earners in families with financial problems, and are pregnant or care kids under three years old also qualified for amnesty if they have served at least one-third of their sentences, or 13 years for inmates with a commuted life sentence.

Amnesty was not considered for prisoners convicted of treason, espionage, or activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration, among others, the decision said.

The granting of amnesty once again affirms the leniency policy of the Party and State and the humanitarian tradition of the Vietnamese people on encouraging people who have committed wrongdoings to repent and strive to become useful people, Pham Thanh Ha, deputy head of the President Office, said at the press briefing.

Such amnesty, Ha added, is also a recognition of the inmates’ good performance in various aspects of how they have served their prison terms.

The official also reiterated that there is no discrimination against any prisoners, whether they are Vietnamese or foreigners, during the parole consideration process.

Compared to previous years, this year’s amnesty was accompanied by tougher conditions, so the number of prison inmates granted parole was fewer, the official stated.

Currently, diverse activities are being conducted nationwide to celebrate Vietnam’s 77th anniversary of National Day on September 2.

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