We urgently implore U.S. Congresspeople to support our plea to the Vietnamese government concerning the dire situation faced by victims of the 2016 Formosa environmental disaster. This catastrophe transpired when the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS) in central Vietnam discharged toxic waste, containing cyanide, chlorine, and heavy iron, into the ocean. The aftermath saw the demise of marine life, 179,000 individuals losing their livelihoods, predominantly fishermen, and a profound impact on the local economy, alongside health issues for the populace. As per the Vietnam Government, this ranks as the most significant environmental disaster in Vietnamese history. Despite a settlement agreement between FHS and the Vietnamese government, the promised $500 million compensation distribution has been grossly inadequate, leaving numerous affected communities bereft of assistance.

Efforts by victims to seek legal recourse against FHS in Vietnam have been obstructed by government agents and undercover police, preventing them from reaching Vietnamese courthouses. Journalists, bloggers, and activists who have reported on the issue have faced lengthy prison sentences. The Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group corporations, including a stake by Formosa Plastics Corp., U.S.A., in New Jersey, primarily own FHS. Consequently, nearly 8,000 plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in Taiwan in 2019, alongside a case in a federal court in New Jersey. However, the New Jersey case has been voluntarily dismissed with an equitable tolling agreement while the Taiwanese case proceeds. In May 2021, the Taiwanese Supreme Court allowed the case to proceed against Taiwanese defendants. Still, it required Vietnamese plaintiffs to present themselves at Taiwan's mission in Vietnam to verify their legal representation, posing logistical challenges and significant risks.

The Taiwanese Supreme Court has set a deadline of May 2024 for plaintiffs to travel to Hanoi to certify their power of attorney documents. However, the Vietnamese government has employed intimidation tactics, hindering certification. In Quang Loc Ward, Quang Binh Province, where many plaintiffs reside, the Vietnamese police have spread misinformation through loudspeakers and used aggressive interrogation tactics against activists. We urgently seek the support of U.S. Congresspeople to appeal to the Vietnamese government, urging them to cease intimidation tactics, facilitate the completion of necessary documentation, and release those unjustly imprisoned for advocating for justice in this case.