(VOVWORLD) - The Paris Court of Appeal will issue on August 22 a ruling on a lawsuit filed by Vietnamese-French Tran To Nga against 14 US chemical corporations including Monsanto that supplied Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin to the US army during the war in Vietnam. The case has received strong international support and marked the Vietnamese government’s continued effort to care for millions of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
 Outside the Paris court (Photo: Anh Tuan/VOV) |
In human history, the chemical war that the US military conducted in Vietnam from 1961 to 1971 is incomparable in terms of scale and duration. The warfare left behind severe consequences for millions of Vietnamese people and caused devastation to the environment that will take much time, effort, and money to repair.
 Ms. Tran To Nga (Photo: Anh Tuan/VOV Paris) |
Struggle to protect human rights
The Paris Court of Appeal on Monday opened a hearing on Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit. More than 200 people, including overseas Vietnamese and French people, participated in a campaign to support Ms. Nga before the hearing. The presence of French parliamentarians and journalists showed that the French public is very interested in this lawsuit.
 Sandrine Rousseau, a member of the Green Party of France (Photo: Anh Tuan/VOV) |
Ms. Sandrine Rousseau, a member of the Green Party of France, said: "As an environmentalist, I fully support Tran To Nga and hope she wins her lawsuit. I will use all my influence to help her win, which will be a victory not only in terms of justice but also in politics, acknowledgement, compensation, and redress."
A young Frenchman Tom Tallieu said support for Ms. Tran To Nga is necessary because the consequences of Agent Orange still affect millions of people.
 A young Frenchman Tom Tallieu said support for Ms. Tran To Nga is necessary (Photo: Anh Tuan/VOV) |
"I mobilized my friends to support Ms. Nga because they didn’t know what was happening in Vietnam. They heard about napalm bombs but knew almost nothing about Agent Orange. Today, there are still many people suffering from cancer and deformities due to that toxic chemical. With a lawsuit like this, we can change the way chemical companies operate. All that matters,' said Tom Tallieu.
Tran To Nga's fight for justice and previous struggles by Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin against American chemical companies are part of the fight to defend human rights – the right to live and the right to pursue happiness.
Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin have been deprived of those basic rights. Many Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin are disabled due to nerve damage, paralysis, and blindness. Many of their children and grandchildren were born disabled due to the genetic effects of Agent Orange/dioxin. Yet those responsible for the Agent Orange/dioxin disaster claim to be leaders in respecting and protecting human rights.
Consistent policy of helping victims of Agent Orange/dioxin
For decades, the Party and State of Vietnam have implemented special policies to ease the pain of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, spending more than 420 million USD annually on monthly subsidies, health care, and rehabilitation for victims, and support for areas severely affected by Agent Orange/dioxin.
More than 320,000 people infected with Agent Orange and their children are covered by preferential policies for individuals with meritorious service to the revolution. Households with people disabled by Agent Orange/dioxin are entitled to free health insurance and medical examinations and treatment. Peace Villages, Friendship Villages, and other centers are caring for thousands of victims, most of them children deformed because of Agent Orange/dioxin.
The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin was established on January 10, 2004, with the mission of protecting the rights of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and being the legal representative for those victims here and abroad.