The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin (VAVA)sent an open letter on April 9 calling for support to an AO victim’slawsuit against 26 US chemical companies that produced the chemicaltoxins sprayed by the US army in the war in Vietnam.
Vietnamese-French Tran Thi To Nga, born in 1942, became a warcorrespondent of the Liberation News Agency after graduating from aHanoi university in 1966. She worked in some of the most heavilyAO/Dioxin affected areas in southern Vietnam such as Cu Chi, Ben Cat andalong the Ho Chi Minh Trail, ultimately experiencing effects ofcontamination.
Among her three children, the first child died of heart defects while the second suffered from a blood disease.
In 2009, Nga, who contracted a number of acute diseases, appeared as awitness at the Court of Public Opinion in Paris, France against USchemical companies.
In May last year, she and theParis-based William Bourdon & Forestier law firm filed a lawsuitagainst 26 US chemical firms for producing chemical toxins sprayed bythe US army in the war in Vietnam, causing serious consequences for thecommunity, her and her children.
The complaint andrelated documents were handed over to the Crown Court of Evry city inthe suburb of Paris and the 26 US companies, 10 of which have hireddefence lawyers.
The Court of Evry city will conductlegal proceedings for the lawsuit on April 16, said VAVA ChairmanNguyen Van Rinh at a press conference on April 9.
Inthe open letter, the VAVA calls on the court to expeditiously completedocuments and procedures relating to the lawsuit. It also appeals tolawyers to speak from the bottom of their hearts and seek justice for AOvictims who are “the most miserable among the miserable and the poorestamong the poor”.
Meanwhile, the associationrequests the US chemical producers, especially Monsato and Dow Chemical,to take responsibility and give practical and effective assistance toAO victims and their families in Vietnam.
The pressshould raise a stronger voice in advocating the struggle for justice forAO victims as well as Tran Thi To Nga, the letter reads.
The VAVA asks the International Association of Democratic Lawyers tolaunch a campaign popularising the danger of AO/Dioxin toxins to humanand the environment. It also calls upon governments and non-governmentalorganisations to actively disseminate the perils of the productscontaining chlorine, which release Dioxin into the environment.
The open letter asks associations around the world to call on lawyers,scientists, politicians, and social activists in their countries tosupport the struggle and demand the US chemical companies work withVietnam to settle the chemical aftermath and compensate and helpAO/Dioxin victims.-VNA
Vietnamese-French Tran Thi To Nga, born in 1942, became a warcorrespondent of the Liberation News Agency after graduating from aHanoi university in 1966. She worked in some of the most heavilyAO/Dioxin affected areas in southern Vietnam such as Cu Chi, Ben Cat andalong the Ho Chi Minh Trail, ultimately experiencing effects ofcontamination.
Among her three children, the first child died of heart defects while the second suffered from a blood disease.
In 2009, Nga, who contracted a number of acute diseases, appeared as awitness at the Court of Public Opinion in Paris, France against USchemical companies.
In May last year, she and theParis-based William Bourdon & Forestier law firm filed a lawsuitagainst 26 US chemical firms for producing chemical toxins sprayed bythe US army in the war in Vietnam, causing serious consequences for thecommunity, her and her children.
The complaint andrelated documents were handed over to the Crown Court of Evry city inthe suburb of Paris and the 26 US companies, 10 of which have hireddefence lawyers.
The Court of Evry city will conductlegal proceedings for the lawsuit on April 16, said VAVA ChairmanNguyen Van Rinh at a press conference on April 9.
Inthe open letter, the VAVA calls on the court to expeditiously completedocuments and procedures relating to the lawsuit. It also appeals tolawyers to speak from the bottom of their hearts and seek justice for AOvictims who are “the most miserable among the miserable and the poorestamong the poor”.
Meanwhile, the associationrequests the US chemical producers, especially Monsato and Dow Chemical,to take responsibility and give practical and effective assistance toAO victims and their families in Vietnam.
The pressshould raise a stronger voice in advocating the struggle for justice forAO victims as well as Tran Thi To Nga, the letter reads.
The VAVA asks the International Association of Democratic Lawyers tolaunch a campaign popularising the danger of AO/Dioxin toxins to humanand the environment. It also calls upon governments and non-governmentalorganisations to actively disseminate the perils of the productscontaining chlorine, which release Dioxin into the environment.
The open letter asks associations around the world to call on lawyers,scientists, politicians, and social activists in their countries tosupport the struggle and demand the US chemical companies work withVietnam to settle the chemical aftermath and compensate and helpAO/Dioxin victims.-VNA
