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The two-day international conference of
Agent Orange/dioxin victims, which was jointly organized in Hanoi by the
Vietnam Association of Agent Orange Victims, Vietnam’s War Veteran
Association and Union of Friendship Organizations, attracted 150
delegates, including Agent Orange/ dioxin victims, lawyers, scientists and
social activists from the US, South Korea, Australia, Canada, New
Zealand....
The
conference aimed to rally people in the struggle for the legitimate
interests of not only Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims but also
those of other countries, for not only one generation, but also many
generations as well as a peaceful and just world. It also aimed at
triggering a wave of strong public opinion, attracting the attention of
everyone in every country around the world to Agent Orange/dioxin victims and
receiving their support for victims, including the Vietnamese victims’
lawsuit against the US chemicals companies.
At the
conference, the delegates told about their contact with the defoliants and
the subsequent consequences they have to suffer.
“I myself and
my sons have suffered health effects as a result of exposure to the
Agent Orange/dioxin and other defoliants that were sprayed for nine years during
the Vietnam War. I hope all countries, international humanitarian
organizations and people of different religions will stand together, help
us overcome the sufferings and prevent the
use of the defoliants as well as other mass-destruction weapons in wars,” said
Bui Tho Tan, an Agent Orange/dioxin victim from Thai Binh
Province.
At the
conference, the Korean delegation affirmed Korean war veterans who
participated in the war in Vietnam have suffered serious diseases and the
US’ spraying of toxic chemicals over Southern Vietnam had violated the
Geneva Protocol in 1925 in term of banning the use of chemical weapons in
wars. It also called on the US to make compensation for Agent-Orange
victims.
Canadian
citizen Art Connolly told about severe effects caused to Canadian
environment by the defoliant which was experimentally used in Canada by
the US Government. He raised his voice demanding justice for the Agent
Orange/dioxin victims, stating that he would support the Vietnamese Agent
Orange/dioxin victims’ lawsuit against the US chemicals
companies.
Daniel J.Shea, a war veteran serving in the US Marine Force in Vietnam
in the 1968-1969 period, confided: “In 1968, I joined the war in Vietnam
and was stationed in Da Nang, Phu Bai and Quang Tri. After the war, I
got married and had two children. Unluckily, my children were affected by
the Agent Orange/dioxin and both of them died. The death of my children
and others as well as the disabilitating effects on thousands of people
claim for justice and compensation from the US for Agent Orange/ dioxin
victims”.
“I suggest
you seek justice for the Agent Orange/dioxin victims. You will have
to firmly define an international principle to force governments and
companies to take responsibly for their actions and defend future
generations from the harm caused by such weapons,” said Joan A.Duffy
Newberry, a US war veteran.
The
conference issued a statement, clearly pointing out: We, victims of
Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals, together with supporters and
scientists from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, New
Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, Switzerland, the United States and
Viet Nam participating in the International Conference of Victims of Agent
Orange/dioxin, held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, on March 28/29 2006-- call upon
the international community to pay attention to the issue of the Agent
Orange/dioxin and solutions to its aftermaths.
The statement also affirmed the defoliant used by the US in the Vietnam War
contained a high dioxin, very poisonous, that has destroyed the
environment and damaged the lives of millions of Vietnamese and thousands
of soldiers from other countries. It also said that the production and use
of the defoliant and other toxins violate the international
laws.
In
addition, the statement utterly disputed the conclusion made by Judge Jack
Weinstein who dismissed the Vietnamese victims’ lawsuit without paying
respect to justice and the obvious realities in Vietnam and called for the
international community’ support to Vietnam Victims of Agent Orange Dioxin
Association’ lawsuit against the US for justice.
Also,
it called upon governments, international and national
organisations, and non-governmental organisations to provide material and
spiritual support for the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, and
help Vietnam overcome the heavy aftermath of toxic chemicals used during
the Vietnam War.
At the
conference, the Vietnam Fatherland Front sent an open letter to the judges
of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to seek compensation for the
Vietnamese victims and called for the Court of Appeal to overturn Judge
Weinstein’s decision and accept the action taken by the Vietnamese
victims.
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The conference’s panorama.
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International delegates
at the
conference.
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Joan A.Duffy Newberry
addressing
the conference.
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Agent Orange/dioxin victim
Bui Tho Tan
interviewed
by reporters.
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Delegates from South
Korea.
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Domestic and foreign delegates
at the
showroom of documents
on aftermaths of the Agent
Orange/dioxin used by
the American army during the war
in
Vietnam.
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David Cline, President of the
US War
Veteran Association for
Peace and Ralph Steele (a US war
veteran) who were affected by the
Agent/Orange Victim when
they
joined the war in Vietnam, meeting
with victims Le Van
O in Kien
Giang and Nguyen Tien Loc
of Ho Chi Minh City.
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Mai Giang Vu, an Agent
Orange/dioxin victim
from Ho Chi
Minh City, who directly sprayed the
defoliant on
South Vietnam battle
field against revolutionary troops
that
has rendered deformity to his
three children and serious
ailments
to himself, talking to Van Long, an
Agent Orange victim
from Ha Tay.
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Delegates visiting the Friendship
Village
in Ha Tay where Agent
Orange/dioxin victims are cared
looked
after.
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Sotory: Bich Van - Photos: Thanh Dat,
Duong
Ngoc
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