More than 17,500 prisoners were granted amnesty this National Day 2010. Dan Tri, an online newspaper, recorded happy moments of lucky prisoners and their relatives on the day of release. More than 17,500 prisoners were granted amnesty this National Day 2010. Dan Tri, an online newspaper, recorded happy moments of lucky prisoners and their relatives on the day of release.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong presents release papers to prisoners at Thanh Xuan Prison.

Ha Thi Huong from Son Tay town was at Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan prison at 5am to pick up her son, Nguyen Duy Tung, 25, who’d served four years in jail for robbery.

Huong brought a small backpack with clothes and a pair of sandals for her son.

“I couldn’t sleep since I heard about the amnesty,” Huong said. She was one of thousands grouped up in front of the prison very early.

Prisoner Vu Thu Thuy, 37, couldn’t hide her happiness. Serving a sixteen year sentence for trading drugs, she’d been in prison since 1999.

Nguyen Hai Yen, 27, was sentenced for seven years for robbery. “I desired to return to my family. I know that I was wrong. Now I only want to forget the past to have a new life,” Yen said.

Prisoner Do Quyet An, 22, said “I was enchanted by bad people to gamble and then rob. I was sentenced seven years in jail. Now that I’ve been granted amnesty, I’m determined to become a carpenter. I’ll never return to this place.”

Vu Huy Doan, 35, hoped that society “will welcome us like good people, not prisoners.”

Le Thi Thu, 50, hugged her daughter very tightly after ten years in prison. Her wish is to open a small restaurant.

According to senior lieutenant colonel Phan Trong Ha, vice director, 303 prisoners from Thanh Xuan prison were granted amnesty this year.

On August 30, 89 prisoners were also amnestied at Ha Long City prison.

“I would like to thank the Party, the State and the Government’s humanitarian and tolerant policy for those who commit crimes,” said his father, Mr. Nam, father of a prisoner named Pham Tien Dung at Ha Long City prison.

All prisoners were very moved. They promised to try to become good citizens.

Prisoner Phan Tien Dung met his father, his wife and children.

The Quang Ninh Province Police Agency director presented copies of the amnesty decision to prisoners.

Source: Dan Tri