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AMNESTY <br />w <br />INTERNATIONAL J <br />;«[ UF <br />Head of state <br />Nguyen Minh Triet <br />Head of government <br />Nguyen Tan Dung <br />Death penalty <br />retentionist <br />Population <br />89 million <br />Life expectancy <br />74.9 years <br />Under -5 mortality (m /f) <br />27/20 per 1,000 <br />Adult literacy <br />92.5 per cent <br />Freedom of expression, association and assembly remained severely restricted. New <br />regulations on internet monitoring were introduced. Harsh repression of peaceful <br />dissidents and human rights activists continued. The authorities increasingly used the <br />charge of attempting to "overthrow" the state against peaceful dissidents. Prisoners of <br />conscience were sentenced to long prison terms after unfair trials. Dissidents were arrested <br />and held in lengthy pre -trial detention, and others under house arrest. Members of some <br />religious groups were harassed and ill- treated. At least 34 people were sentenced to death, <br />but secrecy was maintained over the application of the death penalty. <br />Background <br />Viet Nam took over as Chair of ASEAN and hosted a series of regional and international <br />meetings during the year. <br />