Leading climate activist released from Vietnam jail

-Prominent climate activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong has been released early from jail, hours ahead of a visit by Vietnam’s top leader to the United States.

A second high-profile detainee, dissident Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, was also released, his friend and former human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh said.

The release of Hong and Thuc comes as General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam’s top leader, departed on Saturday for the United States for a working visit and to attend the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Last September Hong was sentenced to three years in prison for dodging US$275,000 in taxes related to her environmental campaign group CHANGE.

She was one of five environmentalists jailed for tax evasion, in what activists have called a campaign to silence them.