Dr. Physician Pham Ngoc Thai (C) pays visit to AO

victims in Dinh Hoa, Thu Dau Mot Town.

On occasion of Agent Orange (AO) Day for Vietnamese victims, Binh Duong Newspaper reporter interviewed Dr. Physician Pham Ngoc Thai who is an executive commissioner of VAVA (Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin) and chairman of Binh Duong Association of AO victims on the effects of the destructive agent and a fight for justice.

 

- Could you say something more about effects of this hazardous agent after being a witness of the pains caused by war to Vietnamese people?

 

- I am very moving on contacting with AO victims for what they have to suffer physically and mentally not only to their own account but also to families. It was a largest scale and most prolonged chemical exposure that the US Army made in Vietnam. In 1961-1971 about 80 liters of hazardous chemical, 60% of which was AO equivalent to 366kg were poured down to 24.67% of natural territory in the South of Vietnam. In the war, the puppet authority divided Vietnam into 4 strategic regions that are all affected by AO with different ratio from Quang Tri to Ca Mau. As a result, 3,060 million hectares of forest were immediately destroyed. Of 4.8 million of Vietnamese were exposed to AO, 3 million of which are children. Thousand have died due to cancer and untreatable diseases while the offspring children suffering physical defects are living in pains and poverty.

 

- In what way will the fight for justice get on for Vietnamese AO victims?

 

- In 5 years, the appealing case for AO victims at the USA courts has yielded some encouraging effects to reach for the proposed requirements. However, by explanation of Pro. Lawyer Le Van Dat – a standing commissioner of VAVA, judgment of the court of New York City and neighboring states is valid only to this state not to the rest 11 courts in the USA. Pro. Lawyer Le Van Dat also proposed to file lawsuit to third-party country or to international courts like ICJ in The Hague and ICC (International Criminal Court).

 

- In the past 5 years what policies have been offered in Binh Duong for relief of AO victims?

- VAVA, established on December 17th, 2003, has become a special society entrusted by the Party and State. The founding of VAVA promotes social potentials to offer care for and help to AO victims so that civil benefits and obligation are maintained. VAVA also engaged to fight for justice calling upon the USA to remedy for what has been done by AO. In the past years, Binh Duong Association for AO victims has mobilized to build 5 houses for AO victims costing VND 64,736,000 and donated VND 518,909,000 to supporting fund for AO days, school students and official visits to localities.

In 2010, Binh Duong Association for AO victims has paid some VND 209,900,000 for gift visits to AO victims.

 

As for operation, the association has made one seminar hosted by Interior Department and participated by Department of Natural Resources and Environment, DOLISA, Finance Ministry, and the Red Cross. Guiding documents for establishment of the association were also dispatched to 5 districts via chairing officials so as to build coordinating program with other association of veterans, and volunteer youths.

 

- Thank you!

 

Interviewed by Van Son – Translated by Vi Bao