The Enduring Trauma of Agent Orange highlighted by Maori Party

The Māori Party has today stated it is using the opportunity of the state visit of the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to highlight the toxic legacy left by exposure to Agent Orange, both at home and in Viet Nam.

“While in Aotearoa the confirmation of genetic damage to New Zealand Viet Nam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange has long been established, we cannot ignore the equally shocking effects experienced in Viet Nam” said Dr Pita Sharples, Co-Leader of the Māori Party.

“We remain concerned about the enduring damage to the DNA of Viet Nam veterans, and their descendants” said Dr Sharples.

“Veterans have spoken, repeatedly, of their concern that the current system of compensation does not give justice to veterans“ said Dr Sharples.

“As responsible global citizens, we must never forget the impact of Agent Orange on the innocent civilian population of Viet Nam” said Dr Sharples.

”As we head towards 2008, a year which our Government has declared will officially mark the dedicated sacrifice of New Zealand soldiers in Vietnam, we must have the honesty and the courage to recognise the trauma still experienced by the survivors of dioxin poisoning, both in Aotearoa and Viet Nam” said Dr Sharples.

"The visit by his Excellency, President Nguyen Minh Triet is history in the making" said Dr Sharples. "We believe that the first ever visit to New Zealand by a Vietnamese President is a significant opportunity to highlight the injustice of the legacy that has been passed on to both civilians and veterans of the war in Viet Nam in the 1960s and 1970s".

Background

Archbishop Whakahuihui Vercoe of Rotorua has made a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal backing Maori Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. The claim was presented by the Vietnam Veterans Action Group, representing about 2000 Maori Vietnam veterans and their families. The claim estimates that 65% of those New Zealanders serving in Viet Nam were Maori.
Dr Sharples will be attending the State luncheon to mark the visit of President Nguyen Minh Triet today.