In an interview granted to VOVNews prior to Orange Day (August 10), Mr Thu affirmed that VAVA has several options and is thinking of the best one for the lawsuit.

“In addition, we will continue with our out-of-the-courtroom campaigns to garner more support from justice-loving people across the world, including those in Latin America, Asia and even Laos and Cambodia,” he said. 

According to Mr Thu, since Vietnamese AO victims filed their suit, they have received great support from not only their compatriots but also people of conscience around the world, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, New Zealand, France, European Union member states and Venezuela in Latin America.

An international tribunal of conscience in support of the Vietnamese victims’ lawsuit against US chemical companies took place in Paris last May. The court demanded that the US be responsible for the victims. It even proposed an amount of money that the US government should offer as compensation to those exposed to and affected by the toxic chemicals.

VAVA will proceed with the suit, says VAVA General Secretary Tran Xuan Thu

Mr Thu quoted recent research and statistics, saying between 1961-71, the US army sprayed approximately 80 million litres of herbicides, including 366kg of dioxin, over southern Vietnam. About 4.8 million Vietnamese were affected by the toxic chemicals, of whom 3 million were directly exposed. The chemicals also caused far-reaching consequences on the environment.

“The US has intentionally neglected the case, because they understand that accepting it means they have broken international law and that this will create conditions for Vietnam to sue them,” said Mr Thu. “They argue that Agent Orange is a non-toxic chemical. In fact it is 160 fold more toxic than the authorised levels. They insist that they only sprayed the chemicals over villages without targeting humans. In fact, about 20,000 inhabited villages were affected by the chemicals.”

He recalled a class-action suit lodged by US war veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam, in which US chemical companies and the administration agreed to compensate them. Meanwhile, US courts, including the supreme court, dismissed a similar suit filed by Vietnamese AO victims.   

“These are unacceptable verdicts morally and legally,” Mr Thu confirmed. “We ask them to follow no regulations, but show their responsibility for what they caused to millions of Vietnamese people. They are clever enough to deal with the case in line with the growing ties between the two countries. This is a demand from not only Vietnamese victims but also scientists, doctors and people in the US.”

Mr Thu said that by filing the lawsuit, Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims want to demand justice and fundamental human rights. The lawsuit meets the legitimate interests of the Vietnamese victims and those from the US and other countries who joined the Vietnam War.

Mr Thu also revealed that the US administration has agreed to spend a total of US$6 million dealing with the consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam. However, the sum remains mostly undistributed by the US.

Alongside material assistance, Mr Thu said AO victims need employment to help them stand on their own feet. To this end, VAVA is working with organisations and individuals to generate 1,100 jobs and is also working with the Republic of Korea to build vocational training schools for the victims.

By October 2008, domestic benefactors raised more than VND86.1 billion in cash and kind for the victims. The money was used to repair 1,886 houses, present 133,000 gifts, assist 2,624 households in developing production, and provide allowances and medical check-ups to more than 61,000 people.