_ for the first time. in 1946. Andrew Jakeo was 34 vears old. When. after using the fragile Paci- fic atoll for 23 nuclear test Blasts. the Americans in the person of President Lyndon B. Jannson assured him. his fellow islanders and the rest of the world that Bixini once again wassafe for human hfe, Andrew Jakeo was 56. Now Andrew Jakeo 1s 66 and, above all cise, he wants to live out the days that remain to him cn this tiny curve of coral, sand and coconut palms with his familyand friends. ( Then. when his time comes, he wants to be buried here among his ancestors. - But the old man will not be permit- ted to end his days where he wishes. For one day next month—federal officials say about Aug. 22, although official plans dealing with this place and these people seem to go awry more often than not—the Americans will remove Andrew Jakeo and the 140 others living on 449-acre Bikim Istand, largest of the 26 islets that make up Bikim Atoll. They will be transported to “temporary” quarters in Kult, a singie tsland with a land area one-sixth that of therr 22-squure-miie home atoll. Rain, without 2 lazaon, ies nuariy 300 Mies southeast. it is an island some Bikimans habiualy refer to as “the prison.” ing 12 years of testung. Some younger Bikinians may live to.see their homeland again, but Andrew Jukeo wul not. It may be 50 years before Bikim: is fit for human habitation. rs ie ‘ Andrew Jakeo is bitter and angrv, although lixe most ‘Marshallese he veils his emotions from outsiders. “The Amercans told us in 1946 that they had come to test a tomb,” he said not long ago. “They told us they did not know how much the bomb would hurt Bikini. They told us that after they tested the bomb. and Bikini 1s good again. they will bring us back. They did not say howlong it would be.” But Andrew—Marshallese address one anotherby first names and expect outsiders to do the same—beiieved, along with the 165 others the US. Navy removed in 1946, that they | BIKINI. Marshall Islands—When the Amencans made him leave Bikini ayaow g & Times Statf Writer ‘ATG 62C'VE0'L ASA3HE DN NOLLWINDUD 18394V1 BY JERRY BELCHER v4 | —Nathan Note, scribe of the Bikini people, 1978 The Bikinians must Jeave their ancestral home and its beautiful. fishteeming lagoon because the Amertcans, as they themselves now admut, made a regrettable error 10 years ago: Despite what the scientists and the President said—despxe an investment of $3.25 million for cleanup and rebuilding—Bikim is not safe after all. Andrew Jakeo and the others living on Bikini Island are being sub‘ectea to unacceptably high doses of radiation feft behind by atomic and hydrogen bomb blasts that seared the atoll dur- eal When the atomic bomb cropped, I thought Bikini would disappear completely. It would have been better, maybe, if ithad... . Then we wouldn't have all these troubles. AVONNS gZ8'7ee'l nani (sian ars Lose A cain z to Raclation JNO LYVd—SikdVd N3aaiN3A ut ERRED 10 YEARS AGO SIOVd 99F SUNDAY 50c Copyright © 1978 tos Angeles Times pk B/6l ‘EZ AINE ‘ONINSOW AVONNS 410778 would be back within a year or so. Meantime, he was convinced. the Americans would provide for him and the other people of Bixim. Andrew finally cume back about eight years ago. He was among the first to return. It was 24 sears after the Navv had taxen him away, two years after Presment Jonnson’s announcement that Bikins was safe. Please Turn to Page 3, Col. 1 LE BEST COPY AVAILAB ¢