Call for compensation for veterans (Agent Orange)

[acmavm]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=9003352

<snip>

15.12.04 4.00pm


The Government should compensate Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange rather than just offering them a belated apology, New Zealand First MP Ron Mark said today.

Veterans' Affairs Minister George Hawkins offered a formal apology to Vietnam veterans for the failure of successive governments to recognise that they were exposed to a toxic environment during their service.

The Government's decision to apologise followed a report from Parliament's health select committee in October, which concluded "beyond doubt" that New Zealand defence personnel were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides.

But Mr Mark said an apology fell well short of what Vietnam veterans deserved.

<snip>

"Given the acceptance that Vietnam veterans were exposed to toxic chemicals and that such exposure can result in longer-term health issues, particularly some cancers, then early detection is critical."

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This is New Zealand. You won't be hearing this shit in this country.

[Djinn]

1. actually American vets have already been ackowledged

compensated is something different of course - you can't be really compensated for being made infertile or your children having cancer, but there is a provision for disability compensation for those vets injured by agent orange.

The Vietnamese on the other hand have received bugger all from the US government or the manufacturers of Agent Orange, there has recently been a lawsuit filed against manufacturers on behalf of Vietnamese victims.

[acmavm]

2. I understand that they've been acknowledged, but not it's time that

the US gave them the compensation and healthcare that many of them so desperately need.

[Red State Rebel]

3. Have a friend on oxygen and very ill from this

He doesn't anticipate being around too many more years.

[Djinn]

4. they have received compo

via the vets disability pension I'm the first to agree it's not enough but it's a shitload more than the 3 million effected Vietnamese have ever received.