Strengthening solidarity between Japanese victims of Atomic bomb and Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange

In the framework of activities to commemorate victims of atomic bombings in Japan exactly 75 years ago, on August 3, 2020, the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (GENSUIKYO) held a special online meeting with the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) to express solidarity with the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Under the host of Mr. Takashi Kasaki, Director of GENSUIKYO, 70 organisations and individuals in many different regions of Japan attended the meeting. On the Vietnamese side, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, President of VAVA and Professor-Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, Vice Presidents of VAVA, Mr. Nguyen Cong Tanh, President of Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, together with representatives of some organisations of VAVA and Vietnam’s victims of Agent Orange attended the event.

Mr. Takashi Kasaki, Director of Gensuikyo chaired a special meeting with the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh delivered the opening speech of the meeting in which he mentioned the atomic bomb and toxic chemical disasters caused to the people of Japan and Vietnam, thanked the people of Japan and friends around the world who have supported, enthusiastically and effectively helped the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, at the same time called for strengthening the solidarity between VAVA and GENSUIKYO and people around the world to step up the fight against the war, especially war using weapons of mass destruction, for a peaceful world, without nuclear, chemical and biological weapons for people’s happiness. Professor-Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong presented an in-depth report on the harmful effects of Agent Orange on generations of Vietnamese people, especially children.

Ms. Tamiko Nishimoto, Mr. Oonaka Shinichi - representatives of the Japanese victims of atomic bomb (Hibakusha) recounted the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 and 9, 1945) and expressed their wish to unite with Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange, further strengthening relations between Japanese victims of atomic bomb and Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. Many people attending the meeting called on the people of Japan and the world to support the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Ms. Masako Sakata encouraged people to continue to contribute to maintaining and expanding the project of “Seed of Hope” to support pupils and students who are victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Professor Suzuki Hajime affirmed that he would promote the implementation of the project on livelihood support for Cam Village in Ho Chi Minh City./.