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US action on Agent Orange can help boost bilateral ties
Viet Nam News - July 23, 2010
Ha Noi – The Viet Nam Agent Orange Victims Association (VAVA) yesterday called upon the US Government to show responsibility for the consequences of their chemical warfare against Viet Nam as a way to strengthen the bilateral relations.
VAVA, the voice of 3 million Vietnamese AO victims, appealed on behalf of all dioxin victims, including US war veterans and victims, from all corners of the world to unite for justice.
International governmental and non-governmental organisations were asked to make greater efforts to provide material and spiritual support to the Vietnamese victims.
Chairman of the VAVA, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, said the fight for justice for dioxin victims had gained the support of the international community, yet injustice had remained and the victims still faced difficulties.
Seventy per cent of the families with AO victims were poor households, 40 per cent of which regularly faced hunger; 22 per cent of families had more than three victims and 90 per cent had no professional skills, Rinh said.
Between 1961-71, the US Army sprayed some 80 million litres of Agent Orange which contained highly toxic chemicals over southern Viet Nam, resulting in millions of Vietnamese people becoming the victims of AO/Dioxin poisoning.
These victims have been given support to overcome their mental and physical pains, with international and domestic organisations and individuals providing more than VND150 billion (US$7.8 million) in aid since January 2004.
VAVA and individual victims began court proceedings against 37 US chemical companies in early 2004 that were responsible for supplying the toxic chemicals to the US army in their war in Viet Nam.
Several activities will be held in HCM City next month to observe Orange Day (August 10).
The HCM City Association of Victims of AO/Dioxin said that the Da cam - Thong Diep Tu Trai Tim (Agent Orange – Message from the Heart) campaign, part of the nationwide Orange Day being organised for a second time, would feature a photograph exhibition of 40 images of AO victims on Dong Khoi Street from August 5-10.
A seminar will be held a day before Orange Day where diplomats, lawyers, social workers, officials and enterprises will exchange views on ways to support AO victims.
A conversation on the impact of AO and their mitigation will be held between American diplomats, VAVA leaders, lawyers and youth representatives. Vice President of VAVA Dr Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong will share experiences of her recent trip to the US to attend a congressional hearing where AO victims testified for the first time.
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