The International Association of Democratic Lawyers last week voiced its strong support for Vietnam’s Agent Orange victims ahead of lawsuits against U.S. chemical companies which will take place in Paris next month.

The U.S. Supreme Court last month refused the lawsuit lodged by Vietnamese Agent Orange victims against the U.S. producers of the toxic chemical that was used during the Vietnam War.

Attorney William Bourdon, who is in charge of the case, said at a press conference in HCMC on Saturday that to prepare for the lawsuit, he had met with Vietnamese dioxin victims nationwide and collected information.

“Through what I witnessed, I understand the miseries Vietnamese dioxin victims suffer,” he said.

Bourdon stressed that bringing the sufferings of the victims to the court of international public opinion was an action of those who love peace and social equity, and wish to clarify the responsibility of the U.S.

“American veterans were given compensation due to their being exposed to dioxin in the war in Vietnam,” he noted.
Bourdon confirmed that although the fight for justice was hampered by obstacles, the determination of the IADL would make the voice of justice move the world.

The IADL and the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange will attend a hearing in Paris next month where a number of international lawyers have agreed to join the panel of judges and supervisors. At least three Vietnamese dioxin victims will be selected to participate, according to Bourdon.

The IADL is a non-Government organization with consultative status to UNESCO and the Economic and Social Council under the United Nations.

Vietnam’s three million dioxin victims have filed several lawsuits since 2004 but their cases have all been rejected by the American courts.

Dioxin not only cripples people but the environment as well.

Last week, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen said that Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Phu Cat Airport were all seriously contaminated by dioxin.

According to Nguyen, the Government spent around US$5 million to clean up Bien Hoa Airport. The Ministry of Defense quarantined parts of Danang and Phu Cat airports to eliminate the dioxin and clean the water source.

Nguyen said that dioxin cleanup was very expensive. The average cost of treating one square meter of land was estimated at up to US$500.

SGT