Mr Len Aldis at the seminar on
Agent Orange consequences held in Montreuil, France on March 9

Mr Len, secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society, who joined a seminar held by the France-Vietnam Friendship Association in Montreuil, France on March 9, sent an article to Nhan Dan newspaper, expressing his disappointment at the US Supreme Court's unjust decision on March 2 and making several suggestions to win justice for the Vietnamese victims. Following is the full text of his article:

“The US Supreme Courts decision of 2^nd March was one that clearly shows the legal road has come to an end.  Justice for the victims of Agent Orange will not be granted in any US Court.

Before we consider what next in the campaign to seek justice the Vietnamese victims and their supporters are entitled to know why the US Chief Justice and Justice Stevens decided not to take part in the consideration or decision in the ruling of their appeal?  This was a case that concerned over three million Vietnamese people, men, women and children seriously affected by Agent Orange.

There is no doubt that the decision to take the companies that manufactured Agent Orange to court was correct.  Despite the lawsuit being heard in a US court it achieved much in arousing international support for the victims and congratulations are due to the lawyers who fought long and hard in the courts for justice.

Congratulations are also due to the Vietnam Association for the Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) for their initiative in beginning the lawsuit and the many thousands within Vietnam and in other countries that added their support through their campaigns.  Particular thanks are due to the many in the US who welcomed the Vietnamese Victims to their shores and arranged the many meetings that gained the support of many Americans for their just cause

Each and everyone one of us who have seen the Vietnamese victims through visits to the country, through films, in photographs will understand the anger felt by many of the victims, and in particular their families who in many instances care for their sons and daughters 24 hours a day, they will be very angry and disappointed as the ruling.

Mention must also be made of the children and teenage victims born many years after the spraying of Agent Orange ended.  All of us now have an increased duty and responsibility not to rest until justice has been won for these innocents who have been betrayed by the disgraceful decision of the US Supreme Court.

In my opinion, there now has to be an international campaign of such a size and with such strong determination that it will force those responsible for these criminal acts, and the powers that be, to see the errors of their ways and to make compensation to the victims and to their families.  Nothing less would be acceptable to any person who seeks justice for the victims.

We have many roads to travel and the recent announcement of the setting up of an International Tribunal to be held in Paris in May this year is but one of them.  Campaigns already exist in some countries, be they against Dow Chemical and Monsanto, or just Monsanto, two of the 37 companies that produced Agent Orange

In the UK some organisations and individuals are campaigning against the danger of Genetic Modified (GM) food, and the main company pushing for GM food is Monsanto.  All of these campaigns will need to be increased if we are to win justice for the victims.

Let me put forward some suggestions for action that could be considered to develop the campaign.

Since the lawsuit began millions of people in many countries showed their support by signing petitions, be they on paper or online.

• We need to make an international call for letters or emails be sent to President Barack Obama protesting strongly at the outrageous decision by the US Supreme Court. The president should be reminded that he has the authority to pay compensation to the victims as president Clinton made to the many US Vietnam veterans also affected by Agent Orange. Lets remember what he said in the White House on 28^th May 1996:

 “This is an important day for the United States to take further steps to ease the suffering our nation unintentionally caused its own sons and daughters by exposing them to Agent Orange. For over two decades Vietnam veterans made the case that exposure to Agent Orange was injuring and killing them long before they left the field of battle, even damaging their children.  Clinton went on to state that payments would be made based on their exposure to Agent Orange.

• Letters of protest should be sent to each American Embassy, in every country, asking for a meeting with the Ambassador.

• Letters should be sent to the Secretary General of the United Nations pointing out that the crime of using chemical weapons on Vietnam by US Forces has yet to be answered by those responsible.

• Monsanto has offices in many countries, letters to them should tell them to pay compensation from the billions of dollars they have made from Agent Orange and GM.

• Documentary films have been made about Agent Orange and they show how it has affected the people and land of Vietnam.  These should be shown to a still wider audience as possible.

• Monsanto in addition to being a major company responsible for producing Agent Orange is also the world’s leading company involved with GM crops.  Serious consideration should be given for an International Embargo on all products made by Monsanto.  Let us hit Monsanto hard where it hurts the most “In their Pocket”

Let us tell Monsanto loud and clear, we will not purchase any of your products until you pay compensation to the victims and their families of Agent Orange.

Len Aldis
March 2009