(VOVworld) -  The President’s 2016 amnesty decision were announced on Thursday in prisons nationwide for offenders who are currently serving prison terms and convicts whose sentences have been postponed or suspended.

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh at the ceremony at Phu Son Prison, Thai Nguyen Province. (Photo: VOV)

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Amnesty Consultancy Council Truong Hoa Binh said that since 2009 nearly 82,000 prisoners have received an early release and 900 others have been given reprieves of their sentences. Most of them have stabilized their lives since their release and the rate of recidivism has been low.

Mr. Binh said the 2016 amnesty once again demonstrates the Party and State’s clemency and the national humanitarian tradition which is tolerant and forgives those who show remorse while serving their sentences.

“Amnesty is the first step back to being good. In the future, you will face many challenges in addition to temptations and threats by bad people,” said Mr. Binh, adding: “but your efforts toward re-education and improvement so far convince me that you can overcome all difficulties and be confident about your re-integration.”

Dong Van Tuat of Phu Luong district, Thai Nguyen province, a pardoned prisoner, said: “I want to say thank you to the Party and State’s clemency policy. I’m determined not to return to crime and will try to become a useful citizen despite many challenges. I will continue to do farming and grow tea.”