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We,
victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and other toxic chemicals, together
with supporters and scientists from the United States, Australia,
Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Russia, the
Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Vietnam participating in the
International Conference of Victims
of Agent Orange/dioxin held in Hanoi, Vietnam
on March 28th and 29th 2006, make the following appeal to the
international community:
We
have discussed the effects of Agent Orange contaminated with dioxin
and other toxic chemicals on human life and health, and the sufferings
of those affected. Based on this
exchange of views, we unanimously confirm the following:
1. During
the war waged in Vietnam, the US chemical companies manufactured
and supplied millions of litres of toxic chemicals disguised as
defoliants or herbicides. Those chemicals contained high levels
of dioxin. They were an utterly lethal substance.
2. Those
toxic chemicals destroyed the environment, millions of acres of
forests, leading to an imbalanced ecology, great loss of timber
resources and the disappearance of several animal species as well
as precious forest vegetation. As a consequence, natural disasters
such as flood, erosion and drought have become more common and
impacted severely on agriculture, the main source of subsistence
for South Vietnamese residents.
3. However,
the worst effect of those toxic chemicals is the harm to human
life and health of those exposed to them. Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin
and other toxic chemicals consist of:
a.
Millions of Vietnamese living in their homes and members of
the liberation armed forces, and those working for the former
Saigon regime and armed forces, an ally of the US at that time.
Various investigations and scientific studies (frequently with
participation of foreign and American scientists) have demonstrated
that Vietnamese victims have suffered a variety of serious diseases
– even far more and worse than the dioxin-related diseases listed
by the US National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine
between 1994 and 1995. In addition, many female victims have
experienced reproductive problems. Many of them have been deprived
of the ability to bear children and to experience the joy of
being a mother. The most painful effect, however, is that Agent
Orange/dioxin has already harmed the next generation of children
and will do the same to the following ones. Many children have
been born without the experience of war but have deformed bodies
and can never enjoy the simplest experience of happiness – that
is to live as an ordinary human being.
For the above-said reasons, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin
and their families are among the poorest and most unhappy of
the society. Many thousands of victims have died without justice
for themselves and their families.
The fact that there are large numbers of Vietnamese victims
suffering from various kinds of serious diseases, is understandable
for they have been living in areas sprayed by Agent Orange/dioxin.
b.
Many thousands of soldiers and officers from the United States,
the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand were also
contaminated by Agent Orange/dioxin while involved in the Vietnam
War. They have consequently suffered many serious diseases,
which caused enormous sufferings to their loved ones. Several
countries have recognized the health effects of Agent Orange/dioxin
and other toxic chemicals and paid for medical and other treatments
for affected veterans. Nevertheless, many others do not have
those entitlements and still have to fight for recognition,
compensation and justice.
c.
Apart from those affected by Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam,
many in Gagetown, Canada and other countries also connect their
illnesses with the use of Agent Orange/dioxin. Their conditions
are similar to those of the Vietnamese and other victims and
they have therefore participated in this international conference
of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin so as to express their solidarity
with the affected people and their struggle for justice.
The contamination by Agent Orange/dioxin and other toxic chemicals
has led to the poor physical health and death of many, loss
of family happiness, a life of poverty and deprivation for deformed
children, and absence of support in times of sickness and old
age. The manufacture and use of those toxic chemicals are in
violation of international laws.
4. We
utterly dispute the conclusion reached by Judge Jack Weinstein
who dismissed the Vietnamese victims’ lawsuit without paying respect
to justice and the obvious realities in Vietnam.
5. We,
victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, and our supporters affirm our
commitment to working in solidarity, regardless of race or political
belief, and demand that the US chemical companies pay compensation
equal to their liability, as stipulated by law.
6. We
strongly support the lawsuit filed by the Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin
victims till their final victory in their fight for justice.
We congratulate the initial success of the Republic of Korean
victims and will continue to support them until their final victory.
We support the fight for justice of the Vietnam veterans of the
United States, Australia and New Zealand.
We nevertheless support the victims of Agent Orange/ dioxin in
Canada and other countries in their struggle for justified in
trust.
7. We
demand that the United States Government be held responsible for
making contributions to overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals.
8. We
call upon governments of the Republic of Korea, Australia, New
Zealand and the United States to adopt appropriate policies towards
victims of their respective countries and also support the victims
in Vietnam.
9. We
call upon governments, international and national organisations,
and non-governmental organisations to provide material and spiritual
support for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam and help
the country overcome the heavy aftermath of the toxic chemicals.
The pain and sufferings
are not a single individual’s.
This struggle for justice
is for the entire world, for future generations, and for our peaceful
and healthy Planet Earth.
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International
Conference of Victims of Agent Orange