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The meeting between the Vietnamese Embassy in France and young
Vietnamese expatriates on September 19 (Photo: VNA)
The online programme, held by the Collectif Vietam-Dioxine – an organisation
that works for the sake of AO/dioxin victims in Vietnam, lasted for 36 hours,
from 2pm of August 9 to 3am of August 11 (Vietnam time). It featured talks,
discussions, documentary screening and interviews, focusing on AO/dioxin
consequences and calling for support from people worldwide to the struggle for
justice for the Vietnamese victims.
Nearly 50 volunteers, mostly young Vietnamese expatriates in France, spent
nearly two months preparing for the programme, which attracted hundreds of
thousands of views and interactions on social networks.
Organisers also received 7,300 signatures advocating the lawsuit filed by Tran
To Nga, a Vietnamese living in France, against the US chemical companies that
provided chemical toxics for the US army during the war, leading to a health
disaster for her and her compatriots in Vietnam.
Besides, 5,400 EUR (nearly 6,400 USD) was raised for the fund for AO/dioxin
victims in Vietnam during that programme.
At the meeting with young Vietnamese expatriates, Vietnamese Ambassador to
France Nguyen Thiep said their organisation of the programme reflected their
patriotism and wish to share the pain and loss suffered by nearly 5 million
AO/dioxin victims in the homeland.
He stressed the Vietnamese Government has been making utmost efforts to address
war consequences, including those related to AO/dioxin, noting that more than 3
million ha of forest land had been destroyed by the toxic and it has impacted
not only the nature but also health of many generations of Vietnamese people.
To protect people’s health, Vietnam has completely banned the use of chemical
products derived from dioxin or glyphosate since 2019. It has also boosted
coordination with the US to clean up AO/dioxin-contaminated areas like Bien Hoa
and Da Nang airports, he added.
Thiep said the Vietnamese Embassy in France has consistently been assisting the
fierce legal fight for justice for AO/dioxin victims, including Nga – the last
direct victim to launch a lawsuit to seek justice for herself and other victims.
At the 19th trial on Nga’s lawsuit in late June, the judge decided to open a
hearing at the crown court of Evry on October 12, according to the ambassador.
Source: VNA
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