VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese public is extremely unhappy with the unjust decision by the US Supreme Court when it dismissed an appeal by Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said on March 3.

“With this decision, the US Supreme Court has denied the serious effects caused by AO/dioxin after being sprayed by the US army during the Vietnam war to the environment and the health of the Vietnamese people, even though these effects have been confirmed by numerous research projects, carried out by scientists from around the world, including US scientists.”

“It is unfortunate that the US Supreme Court has reached this groundless decision at a time when the Vietnam-US relationship is developing well and the US government has actually helped Vietnam to deal with the aftereffects of the AO/dioxin used during the war.”

The spokesman added that Vietnam has always maintained that the use of AO/dioxin and its legacy constitute an urgent humanitarian and moral matter.

“Even though many decades have gone by since the end of the war, millions of Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims are still suffering psychologically and physically. The US chemical companies are well aware of this and it is their legal, spiritual and moral responsibility to join others in addressing the issue,” Mr Dung said.

“We believe that the struggle for justice by the Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims will continue to receive widespread support from the international community, including US organizations and individuals,” the spokesman concluded.

VietNamNet/VNA