Australia is maintaining diplomatic pressure on Vietnam...

Australia is maintaining diplomatic pressure on Vietnam to waive the death penalty against an Australian woman convicted of drug trafficking.
Since Le My Linh, 43, was arrested in November 2001 attempting to smuggle 880 grams of heroin on to a Sydney-bound flight, Australia has maintained a diplomatic barrage, attempting to dissuade Vietnam from carrying out the death penalty.
Linh was sentenced in late August for narcotics trafficking, and on September 6 lodged an appeal against the death sentence, Australian foreign affairs officials said.
The appeal is expected to be heard by the sentencing court in December.
Officials said if the death sentence was upheld on appeal, Australia would support any requests by Linh for clemency. Linh was arrested with the heroin concealed in boxes hidden on her person as she was about to board the flight to Sydney.
Vietnam has adopted a tough stance against drug trafficking and corruption, with those found possessing, trading or trafficking over 100 grams of heroin or five kilograms of opium facing the death penalty.
Regular representations have been made by the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, while Vietnam's diplomats in Australia have been reminded of Australia's opposition to the death penalty.
The threatened death sentence is set to strain diplomatic relations.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, in a statement at the time of Linh's sentencing in August, appealed to Vietnamese authorities not to carry out the death penalty. Australia was universally and consistently opposed to capital punishment and supported its abolition, Downer said.
He said if the death sentence was imposed and confirmed on appeal, Australia would seek to have the sentence commuted to a custodial sentence.
But Downer added Australia's opposition to the death penalty and the concerns over Linh's sentence did not diminish Australia's continued support for firm penalties for drug trafficking offences.
Linh's arrest came just two months before another Australian, Nguyen Thi Kim Hieu, 35 was arrested at Ho Chi Minh City International Airport with just over 800 grams of heroin as she was about to board a flight to Australia. Hieu's case has still to come before the court.
Australia has so far appealed to Vietnam on humanitarian and human rights grounds.