Happy return day

(Baonghean) - There were many smiles and tears of happiness at the moment they took off their striped prisoner uniforms and put on everyday clothes. Men with gray hair, young people, women... rushed into the warm embrace of their loved ones.

That was the emotional scene at the ceremony announcing the President's amnesty decision on the occasion of National Day, September 2, at the Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center. The autumn morning was drizzling, the cool air was completely different from the previous hot and humid days, making today even more special. "I haven't been able to sleep for several days, just waiting for the morning of August 31 to welcome my child home. He made a serious mistake and was severely punished by the law, but thanks to the State's lenient policy, my child is now home 17 months ahead of schedule. I can't express my joy..." - Ms. Nguyen Thi K., mother of prisoner Phan T. sadly confided. T. is 22 years old this year. Previously, due to a momentary outburst of anger, T. committed the crime of intentionally causing injury and received a prison sentence of 4 years and 2 months. Since the day her son was transferred to the Provincial Police Detention Center, she can't remember how many times her mother has swallowed her tears, regularly visited him and encouraged him to try his best to reform well and strictly follow the camp's regulations. She said that when she heard the announcement that her son was on the list of candidates for special pardon, "her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, she was so happy!". Her hometown of Dien Ky (Dien Chau) is not far from the Provincial Police Detention Center, but she and her relatives decided to catch the earliest bus and arrive at the Provincial Police Detention Center at dawn, waiting for the moment of great joy...

The joy of the day of return of pardoned prisoners and their relatives.

The space in the hall of the Provincial Police Detention Center that morning seemed to be filled with choking emotions. When Colonel Tran Sy Phang, Warden of the Detention Center, announced the President’s amnesty decision, and the list of 33 prisoners pardoned on this occasion, everyone seemed unable to hide their overwhelming happiness. They realized the price they had to pay for their mistakes, and now, the opportunity to reform was given as a favor that they would repay with their own kindness for the rest of their lives. The amnesty day was filled with many plans and future plans… Prisoner Bui Thi T., from Que Phong district, smiled brightly with tears in the corners of her eyes, softly talking about her future plans: “Maybe I will open a small grocery store, live simply. I hope the villagers will forgive my past mistakes, so that I have more faith to start my life over again.” Prisoner Bui Thi T. is a special case in the Provincial Police Detention Center, when she herself is serving a prison sentence for human trafficking, and her daughter is also serving a sentence for illegal drug trafficking at Xuan Ha Detention Center (Ha Tinh), and her two young children have to be sent to relatives. Bui Thi T. said that the mistakes have become the past, but that is a past that should never be forgotten. Stepping out of the detention center gate, facing the colorful crossroads of everyday life, prisoners like Bui Thi T. will remember the days of education and reform to choose the right path for themselves. As stated by prisoner Vi Ngoc D. representing 33 prisoners who were pardoned on this occasion: “We promise that when we return to our families and integrate into the community, we will always comply with all policies and laws of the Party and State, local regulations, develop the economy, build a prosperous and happy family; propagate and educate our children, friends and relatives not to violate the law and social evils, contributing to stabilizing the security and order situation in the locality. We will rise up after falling with confidence and self-respect as stated in the slogan of the Detention Camp”.

Vi Ngoc D. affirmed that, and all the people in the hall that morning also shared the same belief. Believing and hoping in the desire to reform, in the deep human awakening in each person, along with the generous, tolerant, and supportive arms of the whole society. The tradition of the Vietnamese people is extremely humane, and "hit the one who runs away, no one hits the one who runs back...". The 33 prisoners who were pardoned and their families were filled with faith and respect when listening to the speech of comrade Le Xuan Dai, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the ceremony: To contribute to helping the pardoned people soon reintegrate into the community, Nghe An Provincial Police must advise the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to direct units and localities to do a good job of receiving, managing, and helping the pardoned people, creating conditions for borrowing capital, stabilizing jobs; timely provide relevant information about pardoned persons to units and localities, especially those prisoners with certain talents, strengths, and vocational certificates trained at the Detention Center, so that they can be supported and created jobs for them as soon as they are released from prison. In addition, it is recommended that the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels grasp the specific circumstances of each case, have plans to help and create conditions for them...

Thus, the peaceful sky of the day of return has opened wide, the desire to reform has now come true. 33 prisoners serving their sentences at the Provincial Police Detention Center were granted amnesty on this occasion, each with a different life story, the circumstances that led them to the path of crime are also different, but now, they share the same happiness of the day of return. The ceremony announcing the amnesty decision ended, the prisoners were guided by the wardens to the visiting room to change clothes and receive their personal papers. Those who once lost their sacred citizenship rights, now tearfully received the papers to convey their hopes for the future. They radiantly held the warm hands of their familiar wardens, rushing into the arms of their loved ones who were waiting... So many emotions filled with joy in the call that rose from each person's heart: Return!

The day of amnesty was more meaningful with the noble acts of the officers of the Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center. The 33 prisoners who were granted amnesty received support money to return to their hometowns, drawn from the welfare fund of the camp's officers and soldiers. It seemed that there was no longer any distance between them, as their eyes lit up with faith in the humanity of these people. On the rainy yard on the day of amnesty, prisoner Moong Van U. (from Huu Kiem commune, Ky Son) was taken by the prison wardens to the bus station to return home. His family lived far away, and his economic conditions were difficult. On the day of amnesty, Moong Van U. had no one to pick him up. The kindness of the prison wardens of the Provincial Police Detention Center became a source of encouragement and motivation for this person who had once made mistakes. “I am 30 years old, serving a 5-year prison sentence for human trafficking to China. Looking back on my downfall, I feel ashamed for not being able to overcome the temptation of money and harming honest people. After I get out of prison, I will always remember the kindness, encouragement, and sharing that the prison officers gave me.”

Having said that, Moong Van U. took out a calendar from his pocket. He said it was the calendar for August 31st, which he had just received from the camp officer. I looked at the calendar, which still smelled of new paper, and the folds trembled gently in the hands of a man who had gone through many hardships in life. I don’t know if it was by accident or on purpose, but the amnesty day was chosen as the last day of the month, as a hyphen to end the days of mistakes and open a new, happy page for each person’s life…