Thousands of Taiwan prisoners get election amnesty

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

TAIPEI, July 16 (Reuters) Taiwan prisons released almost 11,000 minor offenders, most of them drug abusers, today thanks to a pre-election amnesty ordered by President Chen Shui-bian.

The 10,943 prisoners left prisons across the island in small groups, many boarding buses to take them home. The ministry of health will monitor the 643 AIDS patients among them.

Presidential office spokesman David Lee said the mass early release, the like of which has not been seen since 1991, gave the prisoners a new start.

"The president's idea was to give them an opportunity to become people again," he said.

Others saw the move as election strategy -- Chen's Democratic Progressive Party faces tough campaigns for seats in the legislature on January. 12 and for the presidency on March 22. Chen steps down next year due to term limits.

Reuters SW PM1042

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