On the morning of August 23rd, the Committee supporting Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit held an online press conference attended by Ms. Tran To Nga, currently residing in Vietnam, lawyers William Bourdon and Bertrand Repolt, and representatives from various organizations and individuals.

On the morning of August 23rd, the Committee supporting Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit held an online press conference attended by Ms. Tran To Nga (currently in Vietnam), lawyers William Bourdon and Bertrand Repolt, and representatives from various organizations and individuals. All participants expressed regret over the court's ruling. Despite the sadness and disappointment, everyone demonstrated their determination not to give up and to continue supporting Ms. Tran To Nga in this struggle.

Attorney William Bourdon, who has been by Tran To Nga's side since the beginning of the lawsuit.

In an interview with a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reporter in France, lawyer William Bourdon expressed his opposition and emphasized that the Paris Court of Appeal's agreement with the Evry High Court's ruling – where Ms. Tran To Nga first filed her case in 2019 – accepting the "jurisdictional immunity" of the American chemical companies shows that "the judges have adopted a conservative attitude, contrary to the modernity of law and contrary to international law, as well as European law." Lawyer William Bourdon also stated that he will continue to stand by his client, Ms. Tran To Nga, in her appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (the highest court in France).

Lawyers of Ms. Tran To Nga in a press interview.

Mr. Nguyen Van Bon, a veteran leader of the Union of Vietnamese in France (UGVF), said that the association's tradition since the 1960s has been to participate in all struggles for victims of Agent Orange, and that is also why the UGVF, along with 13 other associations, established a committee to support Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit from the moment she began suing 14 related American chemical companies.

Mr. Nguyen Van Bon affirmed: "We are saddened but not disheartened. Because the tradition of Vietnam is protracted resistance, we cannot defeat imperialism and imperialist groups in one day, one year, or ten years; we must fight a long and arduous struggle to achieve victory. Therefore, we are determined to continue the struggle."

Ms. Bui Kim Tuyet, a Vietnamese expatriate in France and a member of UGVF, expressed her admiration for Ms. Tran To Nga's fighting spirit, not only for herself but also for all Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. Sharing Ms. Nga's sorrow over the court's ruling, Ms. Bui Kim Tuyet affirmed that she will continue to stand "long-term" with Mr. Nguyen Van Bon and other Vietnamese expatriates, supporting Ms. Tran To Nga in the future.

A group of young people from the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine organization expressed their determination to support Ms. Tran To Nga in pursuing her struggle for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. Photo: Nguyen Tuyen/VNA correspondent in France.

Mr. Nguyen Dac Ha, representing the Committee supporting Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit and also representing UGVF, shared that he is a second-generation Vietnamese expatriate, born and raised in France, but his heart has always been with Vietnam. Therefore, he is very concerned and understands that Vietnamese Agent Orange victims have suffered greatly from this chemical toxin, and that millions of people are still bearing that pain today.

Expressing disappointment and sadness at the court's ruling, but undeterred, Mr. Dac Ha affirmed: "Like Ms. Tran To Nga, we will continue to fight and support her in her appeal to the Supreme Court. To stand alongside her, we have planned to organize many activities, mobilizing generations of UGVF members to participate in demonstrations in support of her at République and Trocadéro squares, during our major events such as Tet, and as long as she continues to fight, we will be by her side."

French newspapers reported on the lawsuit and recalled the arduous and difficult struggle of Ms. Tran To Nga.

On behalf of the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine organization, Mr. Kim Vo Dinh expressed disappointment with the Paris court's ruling. He argued that in the Agent Orange case, not only the US government is responsible, but also the chemical companies are implicated because, when producing the chemicals, they were fully aware of the consequences and dangers, yet they still produced them, and when brought to court, they denied all responsibility.

Disappointed but undeterred, he pledged: "We will stand by Ms. Tran To Nga, mobilize resources to support her and other Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, continue to raise awareness about the victims' plight, and fight for justice for them."

Representatives of the committee supporting the lawsuit of Ms. Tran To Nga and the Association of Vietnamese People in France gave an interview to VNA.

As a representative of the younger generation of Vietnamese in France, Micheline Pham said that the lifelong fighting spirit of 82-year-old Tran To Nga has inspired many young Vietnamese expatriates of the third and fourth generations like herself, motivating them to participate in the struggle to support Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

Micheline Pham affirmed: "No matter what, we will support Ms. Tran To Nga, continue to stand with her at the Supreme Court of Appeal, and encourage others to join. In this fight, at least we have won in spirit because throughout the past year, Agent Orange and its victims have been mentioned extensively in associations, forums, and the media. And now we will do everything to continue fighting alongside Ms. Tran To Nga."

As one of the younger members of Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, Amel Chaibi shared that, like other members of the group, she was deeply saddened by the court's outcome. She expressed: "We consider this court ruling unjust, creating conditions for these companies to harm people and the environment. Ms. Tran To Nga is a woman I have always admired, someone who has fought tirelessly throughout her life. That is why I am here to support her, now and in the future."

She affirmed that, along with members of Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, she would campaign to raise awareness about the responsibilities of chemical companies and fight for justice for Ms. Tran To Nga.

French newspapers reported on the lawsuit and recalled the arduous and difficult struggle of Ms. Tran To Nga.

In a letter shared with VNA reporters, Senator Emeritus Hélène Luc also expressed disappointment that the Paris Court of Appeal ruled against accepting Ms. Tran To Nga's appeal demanding that Dow Chemical, Monsanto, and 11 other companies acknowledge responsibility.

She affirmed that this conservative decision by the court would not deter Ms. Tran To Nga and all her friends from continuing their struggle, but rather would motivate them to strive even harder for the truth to prevail. She stated: "As the honorary president of the Franco-Vietnamese Friendship Association, having denounced these crimes at the international conference on November 19, 1966, and as a member of the committee supporting the case, I highly appreciate Ms. Tran To Nga's decision to file a petition with the Supreme Court. I assure you that the committee supporting the case will do everything in its power to ensure that more and more French people learn about the crimes that occurred in Vietnam."

She emphasized that this fight for justice is crucial because it is "necessary for all those who have died, for those who are suffering from disabilities that prevent them from enjoying life, for children born with disabilities, and ultimately to prevent this from happening again to humanity."

French newspapers reported on the lawsuit and recalled the arduous and difficult struggle of Ms. Tran To Nga.

The Paris Court of Appeal's ruling has closed one chapter, but it is not the end. It opens a new chapter in the struggle for justice for Agent Orange victims. It will undoubtedly be no less difficult and arduous, but Ms. Tran To Nga will not be alone, for she has the support of lawyers, organizations, overseas Vietnamese, French and international friends, the Vietnamese people, and all those who cherish peace and oppose war.

According to baotintuc.vn