mers Chapters Eight OL2100¢ Ketumn to Bikang Bikinians that thei setclement with the United States was made the clone foomake the atcall Nabs table, ae wos cloeseanes that phras e two of the project Was neither Prog ressing well nos be ivin the bull quate. They renewed their appeals for an increase in thea trust fund, and some suggested that they should demand resciuton tor support of the higher levels of the Verr tory adinninistea tion For several months in 1970 and 1971 , the only available vessel, for transportation between the base camp ac Eon and Bikini4. and and pickup trucks for Moving men, equipment, and sced nuts Bikini land which had been damaged or destroyed. Action soon followed, and during the winter of 1969-70 the Bikinians petitioned the High Commissioner for an immediate reurn co Bikini and further compensation in the amount of $100, 100,000 for damages done to the atoll and the discomforts they were frequently out of repair. Because oferratic shipping and the termination of the air service with Kwajalein, supplies and wa ees " for the work iad endured as a consequence of their relocation (Letter co High commissioner from Kili Magiscrate, December 14, 1969). ers arrived behind schedule. Several appeals to the Offiee of the High Commissioner for lopisate MIPport and fea she services In Ap il, 1970 administration officials travelled to Kil to explain why of a mechanic went unheeded. The propran proceed 1 ttastal’s pace, bue che replanti ng of Biking and Eins asdaaal: wv 5 eventual he resettlement could not take place for a number of years. As n interim measure, the people were assured that every effort will ly completed. Plans for replanti ng other wlands | he " atoll are vague Or honexistent. ° “me The Bikinians’ firse attempe to obtain lepal counsel was a ¢ madg ‘“... to make living conditions on Kili more pleasant un il Bikini is fit for habitation” (Micronitor, Vol. 1, No. 25, 1970). ‘he sum of $10,000 was provided to reestablish the Cooperative, successful, Vo press their claims for additional Com pensation ' i to expedite the projece at Bikini, they began to explore the Ms . bilit nd Bikini men were employed by the administration to renovate he Kikivillage. Not satisfied wich the administration's responses to their re- juests, che Bikinians contacted the offices of a law firm on Guam n the summer of 1970 to explore the advantages of obtaining egal caunsel. During the same period the workers at Bikini went on strike because they were dissatisfied with working conditions ind believed that the task of clearing the atoll from debris was nadequately done. The strike was settled, but derails are not wailable (Micronitor Vol. 1, Nos. 16 and 24, 1970).3 dn che fall of 1970 it was reported that almose every able-bodied adult male vas employed by the administration to further the rehabilitation fforts at both Kili and Bikini. Shortly thereafter, the entire com: nunity, was placed on a long-term relief food program. Concern and disappointment over progress at Bikini, however, offset the satisfactions gained from these welfare efforts. While certain members of the Marshalls district administration, particu- arly those of the Agriculture Department, worked diligently in # ' On more than one occasion, Marshallese stevedores have gone onstrike at fajuro, and they may have served as an ex-mple which inspired the Bikinins to employ this tactic. 1 have no concrete data pertaining to the Hikini decision to seek legal counsel. y of obtaining assistance from the Micrones ian Lepal Services | Corporation (MLSC), an action-oriented agency estublished im the Ferritory in 19718 and funded by the Office of Economic Onn, I In tunity. May, 1973 the Dire cting Attorney for the MISC i" ! the Marshalls petitioned the President of the United States , view the history and current status 0” the Bikinians 1 7 | In the fall of 1973 the administ ration announced that these: Ing on Bikini was nearly complete d, and, “HHall is acceptable ie the people, the Trust Territory gov ernment is prep ared to allow them co return to Bikini Acoll permanently by Christmas ‘ year” (Highlights October 15, 1973). Thus, it appears th Ol original plan for phase two of the rehabilitation prevject ha | 7 significantly altered, and chat the administration inte nds to * : the people to Bikini long before coconuts or other cro . have matured, Such a course of acti onwill inevitably requite that the community cont inue to be subsidized for years to Come. 4 The D.C. . Directing Attorn b ei . : = orney received no response trom officials in Washington, van In spite ? oftthe 'tT rust Tesi Territory',s optim innist istic i announce cement, the Biki ntns returned to their hometand in late 1973, The constrnction of hos . o * . , oF 1AT