Victims of Agent Orange – the struggle for justice (II)

III. Initial victories of the lawsuit

Over the past 5 years, we have gained positive and encouraging results, notably:

Domestically, the lawsuit has promoted a movement for justice and earned a deep sympathy and support from the public for the victims. The movement is spreading all across the country.

Globally, the lawsuit has gained support of people from several countries. The devastating effect to the people and environment caused by AO which was also the evident we provided in the lawsuit has unveiled the truth hidden over the past 30 years by U.S. chemical companies. The lawsuit of Vietnamese AO victims has positive impact on the struggle for compensation of veterans of Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Canada and the U.S. The governments of these countries have provided some kinds of assistance for their AO affected veterans.

The struggle for justice of Vietnamese AO victims is in line with the current trend of human kind, i.e. struggling for the protection of human rights, environment, ecosystem, and for depleting Agent Orange as a weapon of mass destruction. The struggle of Vietnamese AO victims has become an international movement of profound human meaning.

The direct struggle in legal field at the U.S courts in combination with the struggle outside the courts coupled with the support of U.S. friends have made a substantial change in awareness and awaken the conscience of U.S. people. Some victims, regardless of their disabilities and severe diseases, travelled to the other side of the planet to attend the courts and come to talk with U.S people in the U.S. streets and schools about the consequences of AO, which was very convincing. Many U.S. citizens expressed their sympathy and support for the struggle and the victims.

On 28^th February 2005, Professor, Doctor Phan Thi Phi, as a victim, attended the hearing at the Brooklyn Instance Court – New York. From 12^th November to 13^th December 2005, a delegation led by Professor, Doctor Nguyen Trong Nhan, Vice President of VAVA together with two victims namely Dang Thi Hong Nhut (coming from Ho Chi Minh city) and Ho Si Hai (coming from Thai Binh province) travelled to 10 big cities of the U.S. and talked to nearly 500,000 U.S. people.

From 9^th to 30^th June 2007, the delegation led by Associate Professor Doctor Tran Xuan Thu, Vice President and General Secretary of VAVA and two other victims, namely Nguyen Van Quy (coming from Hai Phong), Nguyen Muoi (coming from Thu Thien Hue) attended the Appeal Court in the U.S. on 18^th June 2007 and travelled cross San Francisco, New York, Washington, Michigan, Chicago… from the West to the East of America with the banner “Justice for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. They had about 20 meetings with U.S. congressmen, scientists, priests, veterans and overseas Vietnamese…

Many press agencies had interviews with them and made news and documentary film about the event.

From 29^th September to 2^nd November 2008, a delegation led by Ms. Dang Thi Hong Nhut and Tran Thi Hoan came to 10 cities of 8 states of the U.S. and answered as many as 80 press interviews, and met with U.S. congressmen, public health experts, intellects, students, lawyers, veterans, and various communities…

The lawsuit and public pressure have an impact on the attitude and actions of the U.S legislative and executive bodies which was manifested in the recent moves of the U.S Government and Congress in the settlement of AO consequences in Vietnam. Although the real effect of the above-mentioned actions is still limited, it can be said that the legal struggle has contributed to those positive moves.

The above outcomes are common achievements and attributed to the effort of different organizations, individuals both at home and abroad, of the levels of the Association, member of the Association and the victims. We have gained victory in political and human fronts. Although the struggle will be prolonged, we believe that justice will win finally.

Please come to the victims of AO who are the poorest among the poor, the most miserable among the miserable. Many of them have died, and many other are dying in pain because of severe consequences of AO. Some of them can’t stand on their feet while the female victims can’t enjoy the happiness of being a mother.

Coming to AO victims is coming to the most extreme pain of human being. Right here, the fine nature of “caring for others as caring for oneself” of Vietnamese people is manifested most clearly and the conscience and responsibility of human kind are respected.

The pain of AO victims is also the common pain of Vietnamese people and of human kind in a broad sense. They are getting an increasing support.

The meetings, discussions, conferences, symposiums, hearings on the lawsuit have awakened the conscience of human kind, and finally those who caused these disasters.

(to be continued)