The US Supreme Court’s refusal, without comment, to hear the appeal means that the earlier dismissal of three appeals filed by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) stands.

VAVA had filed a lawsuit asking for compensation from 37 US companies which produced the chemicals used during the Vietnam War.

The US Supreme Court “has made a serious mistake completely denying facts about AO’s impacts in Vietnam, which have been proved by Vietnamese and international scientists,” VAVA said.

Association Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh told a press briefing in Hanoi Wednesday that “VAVA is sad the US Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit while the US Congress and Administration have been taking the first steps to fix the consequences of AO in Vietnam.

“The US Supreme Court has missed the chance to prove the justice of US laws as well as the love for justice and respect for human rights of the US people.”

As the court made no comment, Len Aldis, Secretary of the British-Vietnamese Friendship Association, said the groundless dismissal is not only an insult to the AO victims, but it also means that the court makes decisions based on political reasons, not laws.

Luu Van Dat of VAVA said the association will continue the struggle until they achieve justice for all AO victims.

“The lawsuit is also meaningful in the way that it makes people worldwide aware of how dangerous the AO and dioxin can be, so that similar cases will never happen,” Dat said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said Tuesday that it was unfortunate that the US Supreme Court has taken a groundless decision at a time the Vietnam-US relationship is developing well.

Vietnam has repeatedly held that solving the consequences of AO and dioxin use is an urgent humanitarian and moral imperative.

“Even though many decades have gone by since the end of the war, millions of Vietnamese AO victims are still suffering from psychological and physical pain. The US chemical companies should be well aware of this matter and should uphold their legal, spiritual and moral responsibility, joining efforts to resolve the consequences of the chemicals,” Dung said.

He said, “The Foreign Ministry believes that the struggle for justice by the Vietnamese AO victims will continue to receive strong support from the international community, including US organizations and individuals.”

Source: TN, VNA