VIETNAM: TWO AUSTRALIANS FACING DEATH PENALTY GRANTED CLEMENCY

Two Australians sentenced to death in Vietnam have been granted clemency after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid an official visit to the Southeast Asian country.
Albanese told ABC Television on June 5 night that the “substantial breakthrough” was due to improving diplomatic relations between the two nations.
“I made representations to the [Vietnamese] prime minister yesterday morning and by yesterday afternoon, the president had signed the clemency orders,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 programme.
“Australia very much welcomed this. We make representations on behalf of Australian citizens and we are very pleased that Vietnam has agreed to the request and we thank them for it,” he added.
Albanese said he would not reveal the names of the people granted clemency as they had requested privacy.
Their families have been informed about the decision, he said.
Albanese had travelled to Vietnam over the weekend, where he met his counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
It was the Australian prime minister’s first official visit to the country and he said the trip provided “an impetus for this outcome”.