International Conference of Victims of Agent Orange
Hanoi, Vietnam
March 28-29, 2006

The Call from Victims of Agent Orange from Korea, Vietnam, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand met, and observed by delegations from France, England and Sweden

Speech by David Cline, President of Veterans For Peace & Co-founder of VAORRC

Report by Joan A. Newberry, VAORRC Board

Report for the Record by Daniel J Shea

Art Connolly, Vice President of the Agent Orange Association of Canada

Santa Fe Vietnam veteran seeks accountability for Agent Orange use, the story of Joan Duffy by Kay Lockridge, The Santa Fe New Mexican, April 16, 2006.

DRAFT PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF VICTIMS OF AGENT ORANGE/DIOXIN

SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2006
Morning 08:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Picture by Dan Shea.

• 10 min. Organizing Committee introduces delegations, guests and observers
• 10 min. Opening Remark: Dang Vu Hiep, VAVA President
• 05 min. Organizing Committee invites Conference Plenum (a representative of each delegation), chair Dang Vu Hiep.
• 15 min. Nguyen Trong Nhan: Summary introduction on the chemical warfare and its consequences in Vietnam
• 20 min. Break
• 1:15 to 1:40 min. Speeches of the Vietnamese, U.S., South Korean, Australian, New Zealand and Canada, each 15-20 min. reading and translation:
  – summary of their exposure to AO, personal injuries and family situation,
  – experience in the struggle for their rights and compensation in their own country,
  – position and support for the common struggle and the Vietnamese struggle.
  Vietnamese victim.

Afternoon 13.30 – 16.30
Chair: Dr. Nguyen Trong Nhan and the Plenum.

Picture by Dan Shea.

• 15 min. Tran Xuan Phu: Report on opinions of scientists
• 15 min. Luu Van Dat: Report on the lawsuit and opinions of lawyers
• 10 min. Len Aldis, activist supporting victims of Agent Orange
• 10 min. Al Burke, organizer of Stockholm conference
• 10 min. Gendreau, organizer of the Paris Conference
• 15 min. South Korea: Report on legal actions in South Korea
• 20 min. Break
• 15 min. David Cline: President of Veterans For Peace, VAORRC Core member
• 15 min. Introducing draft of the Call (or Joint Statement) of AO victims
• 50 min. Discussion on Agent Orange used in wars affecting health of both sides and the product responsibility of US chemical companies; discussion on improving the draft the Call.

Evening

Photo by Dan Shea.

– Internal discussion of each delegation to the Draft Call, to be reported on the next morning to the Document Committee.
– The Organizers meet to summarize the meeting.

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2006
Morning Visit Friendship Village

08.30 – 11.30 The Document Committee meets to incorporate the changes to the draft Call and prepares for follow-up meeting.

Photo by Dan Shea in Ho Chi Minh City — Children, artists and veterans.

Afternoon 13.30 – 16.30 Discussion
Chair: Mr Tran Xuan Thu and the Plenum:

– Affect of Agent Orange/Dioxin and health/fatality of exposed victims
– Experience in struggling for justice against the US chemical companies to demand just compensation
– Long-term struggle in common support and joint actions
20 min. Break
– Reading the draft Call
– open for discussion.

Finalize the Call/Statement, and pass the final version.

President of VAVA: Conclusion of the Conference

Evening Banquet in honor of the Delegations and Observers
Mme Nguyen Thi Binh: Congratulation of the Conference.