Day for gratitude and justice

US aircraft sprayed Agent Orange/dioxin over South Vietnam

On August 10, 1961, the US military began a campaign of chemical spraying over South Vietnam. Over the course of a decade, more than 80 million liters of toxic chemicals, most of which were Agent Orange containing dioxin - one of the most toxic compounds ever known - were used. The result was millions of hectares of forest destroyed, thousands of acres of farmland contaminated and most importantly: millions of human lives affected.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, about 4.8 million people were exposed to Agent Orange, of which more than 3 million were direct victims. They not only suffered physical pain, but also faced poverty and lost opportunities in life. The pain did not stop at the first generation, but was also passed down to the next generation - making Agent Orange a "silent war" that continues to this day.

Agent Orange victims - mostly poor people, people with disabilities, and the elderly - are currently living in extremely difficult circumstances. Many have severe disabilities, are unable to work, and are completely dependent on their families or on social assistance. There are families with 2-3 generations of victims of Agent Orange. They live in the shadow of illness, poverty, and inferiority - a painful reality that cannot be ignored.

These scars of war are not just a matter of the past, but a lingering burden of the present and the future. And that pain does not belong to Vietnam alone, but is also part of the moral, legal and humanitarian responsibility of the entire world .

It has been more than 60 years since Agent Orange was sprayed in Vietnam. However, while many American veterans exposed to Agent Orange have received compensation from the government and the chemical companies that produced the poison, the Vietnamese victims - those who suffered the most - have yet to receive a just verdict.

Many lawsuits initiated by Vietnam and international human rights organizations have been dismissed, citing the reason of “legitimate military action in time of war” - a cold and inhumane argument, denying the right to life, the right to be protected from pain and deformity of millions of innocent people.

The truth is: There is no legal justification for the systematic use of toxic chemicals that destroy the environment and human health. The lack of a satisfactory compensation decision for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims is not only a failure of the international judicial system, but also an unhealed wound in the hearts of humanity.

Over the years, our Party and State have implemented many policies to support Agent Orange victims: from social assistance, healthcare, rehabilitation to education, vocational training and livelihood support. The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and hundreds of domestic and foreign charitable organizations have continuously joined hands to help the victims.

However, support from domestic resources is still limited compared to the actual needs. What is needed more than ever is a stronger engagement from the international community: not only through charitable actions, but also by speaking out, putting pressure and promoting the legal process so that Vietnamese victims can be fairly compensated.

Human rights organizations, international legal institutions, and companies that have been involved in the production of toxic chemicals need to recognize their moral and legal responsibilities. Refusing to recognize the Vietnamese victims as genuine victims is an insult to human dignity and human rights.

August 10 is not just a day of remembrance. It is an occasion to remind each of us – from ordinary citizens to policymakers, from social organizations to businesses – that the lives of millions of people are still affected by the legacy of war.

No one chooses to be born into pain. But each of us can choose to live a life that gives hope to those less fortunate. Every small act - a gift, a job, a scholarship, a voice condemning injustice - is a step on the path of justice and humanity.

Also from this day, we need to foster a spirit of responsible living: Not forgetting history, not forgetting sacrifices, and especially, not leaving anyone - especially those who suffer the consequences of war - behind.

Chemical warfare is one of the most inhumane forms of warfare ever perpetrated by man. The consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam are the clearest evidence of this. It reminds all of humanity that any military decision that harms civilians and the environment is a crime.

The world is witnessing many new conflicts, where modern weapons can destroy life in an instant. If we do not learn from the past, if we do not listen to the voices of Agent Orange victims, humanity will risk repeating the same mistakes - this time not only in Vietnam, but anywhere on earth.

“Day for Vietnamese Agent Orange Victims” is not only a day of gratitude and sharing, but also a day to remind people of their conscience. It is a day when justice needs to be called. It is a day when the world needs to seriously acknowledge the consequences of war. And every Vietnamese person needs to ask themselves: What have I done so that those who carry the pain of Agent Orange can live a more meaningful life?

Because justice cannot wait forever. And humanity should not be just a slogan./.

Duc Anh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/ngay-cho-tri-an-va-cong-ly-a200259.html