Where can Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange get justice?
Probably nowhere, after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear, this month, a final appeal by Vietnamese plaintiffs against chemical giants Dow and Monsanto. Soon after the Mar. 2 decision on the case, that began in 2004, was announced local newspapers declared that rights had been “trampled” upon, and foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung said the nation was disgusted. Two weeks later, the issue remains in the news and in the minds of frustrated Vietnamese citizens. The legal battle is likely over. Vietnamese plaintiffs cannot appeal again, despite promises of help from the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dealing with rights issues. U.S. courts have ruled that no link has been established between Agent Oranges active ingredient, the highly toxic dioxin, and the birth defects claimed. Both victims and the Vietnamese government claim otherwise. Moreover, under U.S. law these companies cannot be sued as they were acting
