oon as OO WEAPONSTESTING ISSCC, 1980 continued ed number of Marshallese citizens and a quick reading, without independent ana- lysis, of reports prepared by the Brook- haven National Laboratory." “According to (a DOE) survey... the radiation on Rongelap, espeClally in the northern part of the atoll, is higher than the level or vANUARY The Marshall Islands and the U.S. initial a Compace of Free Associaclon, indicating general approval of this status, which gives the Marshall -Slands control over their internal and foreign affairs, to the degree that this control doesn't conflict with U.S. authority for security and defense. 1981 J.S.: American ex-military nen exposed to radiation during nuclear tests at Fikin: and Enewetak, renor: wicreasing rate of sickness in -tnenselves and their children, including cizzy spells, continuous fatizue, an leg and back aches, skin problems, tumors, cataracts, cancers, sterility, and <erermed and mentally retarded children. Many of these problems began within weeKS or months of their radiation exposure, but the U.S. Veterans Administration refuses to acknowledge c=hese aisabilicies as ‘'service-related." APRIL Northern Marshalls: The Marshall ~Slands Atomic Testing Litigation Profect, a conserti of U.S. law firms, announces the filing of muit:i-million sollar personal injury claims against the U.S. government on behalf of more than 600 Marshallese; approximately >,200 more individual lawsuits will be filed, state the attorneys. In addi- tion, cases seeking, compensation for loss and damage of land for 13 atolls and one island in the northern Marshalls will be filed. MAY Rongelap: Senator Jeton Anjain, a member of the Marshall Islands Nitijela (legislature) arctends the Radiation Vic- tims Hearings in Salt Lake City, Utah. 7ne Hearings primarily focus on civilzans and servicemen who were exposed to yadiation frem the Nevada nuclear test Site. 9001223 radiation on Eneu in Bikini...We are told by DOE doctors not to eat the food on the land and fish in the ocean near these islands.... More alarming is the fact that we have been eating the food and living on these islands since the AEC told us it was safe in 1957.” John Anjain, former magistrate of Rongelap, 1980. "There was a general complaint of diming vision some five or six gears ago on Utirik, probably due to an increased incidence of cata-~racts. None of the people from Jtir:k that I spoke to told me that any physician examined their eyes in such a way as to be able to recognize cataracts. Instead, I was told that two boxes of eyeglasses were shipped to the islanc being of various models and frames, and the people were to come in and choose whichever eyeglass seemed to help them. And this was the sum of investigation and treatment of the eye problems--of what I chink is a unique epidemic of ca~ taracts. American citizens would not likely tolerate such handling. At least my patients would not.” Rueben Merliss, M.D., followin¢e a July, 1980 visit to the Marshall Islands. (continued on page 3+) igpm 32 473