US peace activists visit Vietnam

They are on a visit to Vietnam from Jan. 23 to Feb. 4 to attend celebrations of the 40^th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

Hong expressed sincere thanks for strong support for the Vietnamese people’s past struggle for national freedom and independence, as well as their significant contributions to the current renovation process in Vietnam.

He highlighted the important role of US peace and left-wing activists in promoting the mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Vietnamese and other peoples in the world.

Hong called for more assistance from the US to help Vietnam deal with post-war issues, such as the impact of Agent Orange/Dioxin, clearance of bombs and mines and other explosives, and search for those missing in action.

The head of the US delegation, Frank Howard Joyce, said they want to make a fact-finding tour of Vietnam to inquire into the country’s development and the Vietnam-US relations, and meet Vietnamese peace activists who took part in negotiations of the 1973 Paris Peace Accords.

Meetings and exchanges will help shed light on the significance and influence of peace movements on the end of the US-waged war in Vietnam in 1975, as well as the need for future coordination plans between the two countries’ peace and friendship organizations, he said.  

Among the 16 visiting US activists, nine travelled to North Vietnam during the fierce war and, upon their return to the US, called on American people to take to the streets, demanding an end to the war in Vietnam.  

Some flew to Paris to join anti-war demonstrations, showing support for Vietnam. Others organized fund-raising campaigns and transported medicine and other medical equipment to hospitals in difficulty in North Vietnam.