Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang has stated that
the US companies and Monsanto in particular need to hold responsibility
for assisting efforts to recover from Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin
consequences in Vietnam.
She made the statement during a regular press conference in Hanoi on
April 20 in reply to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s response to the
International Monsanto Tribunal’s conclusion that Monsanto destroyed the
ecosystem and caused losses to the Vietnamese people during the war.
Vietnam
welcomes the International Monsanto Tribunal’s ruling on April 18, she
said, adding that Monsanto’s environment destruction constitutes
objectively the severe war consequences in Vietnam, especially due to
the impact of the AO sprayed by the US troops.
The spokeswoman
asked Monsanto to respect the tribunal’s consultation recommendations
and soon take practical actions to deal with the consequences left over
by AO/dioxin.
Hang also spoke highly of the US government,
parliament and people for their recent active moves to aid the
settlement of war aftermaths in Vietnam, including the AO.
The
Monsanto Tribunal has found Monsanto – an US multinational chemical firm
– is guilty of ecocide, which has left long-term consequences on the
ecosystem of various nations, including Vietnam.
The conclusion
was delivered by five international judges in The Hague, the
Netherlands, on April 18 after six months of investigation and two days
of testimony.
Once being among producers of Agent Orange/dioxin
for the US army during wartime in Vietnam, the biotech giant now
produces pesticides and genetically modified plants.
The judges
said Monsanto has engaged in practices which have negatively impacted
the human rights to a healthy environment, food and health.
Convened by civil society groups, the tribunal's findings are not legally binding.
However,
Judge Françoise Tulkens, chair of the Monsanto Tribunal, said the
conclusion was drawn based on acknowledged reports and evidence.
Victims
of toxic chemicals and corporate power can use the conclusions in their
liability cases against Monsanto and similar companies, according to
the judge.
The findings will be submitted to the United Nations, UN Human Rights Committee, International Criminal Court, and Monsanto.
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