é * ~ os ‘ Meeting with Rongelap People - April, 1974 PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL RO MOVED The following is an account of the meeting on Rongelap Island on April &, 1974 on the day of our departure following the examinations. Our survey at Rongelap turned out successfully. However, on our arrival there was considerable discontent among the people. There had been a shortage of food for some time and the territorial ships that had come to the istand had insufficient food to give to:the people. The following meeting shows some of this discontent and reflects misunderstandings that still exist among some of the people concerning the medical examinaticns that we carry out. The Rongelap Survivors Fallout Association presented to me a list of questions and requests to be discussed at this meeting. These questions have been translated into English by Mr. Robert Harrison a peace corp man on the island. The context of the questions prompted the Marshallese medical practitioner who was with us to suggest that there had been some outside influence involved, The following Rongelap. is a summary of my remarks to the people. "Friends of This morning I will try to answer some of the questions and requests that have been presented to our medical team by the Rongelap Fallout Survivors Association. I will attempt to answer some of the questions, but others are outside our province and will be submitted to other authorities for action. I assure you we will do everything possible to get these requests presented before these authorities at the earliest opportunity. JI feel understanding. I that many of your questions have stemmed from lack of was particularly disappointed to see the Statement that the people did not trust the results of our reports, I have known you for some 20 years and feel that you have always been my close friends and that you have trusted us. We have greatly regretted tne injuries cial tave Leen .done to you by 1 was with che fallout, and have wanted to help you in every way possible. when he was sick and was very sad when he died. though I had lost a brother or a son. Doctors on our medical I feit as team are honorable men and highly esteemed. They have helped to write these reports. This includes the Trust Territory medical personnel, such as Dr. John Laman, Dr. Ezra Riklon, Trigar, Ishoda, and others. I am willing to forgive vou for doubting our reports since I know that many of you have not read these reports and even if you have, the medical language would be difficult for you to understand. our In September of 1972 there were four medical observers who accompanied teanfor the survey. These included Drs. Kumatori and Izaki of Japan, Dr. Pochin from England, who is with the World Health Organization, br. Cole from the National Health Service. The doctors read all of our medical reports carefully and took part in the examinations. They each mide separate rcports to the Congress of Micronesia, Senator Borja and Congressman Balos who were with us here on the island last year toid you about the results of these observers reports and that the Surveys were good for the people. They requested that you continue he to cooperate PEND OY OT RA PER Ty sey “ O5820