Mr. i.chard M.
Page 5
May 4, 1973
Nixon
project largely involved importation of agriculture experts to
tell the Bikini people how to cultivate important food crops such
as taro, pandanus, limes, and other seedlings imported from other
islands.
Much of this agriculture program met with some success.
Efforts were also made to placate the Bikinians by giving them
several acres of land on Jaluit atoll, about 30 miles from Kili.
‘However, that Jaluit land program was largely a failure, for
many different reasons.
The lands on Jaluit were seldom used
because they were barren and without food trees, because travel
between Jaluit and Kili was uncertain and infrequent, an&d because
the Bikini people were most unwelcome at Jaluit and the Jalull
people disputed the
title to Jaluit lands given to the Bikinians.
After complaints had been made to the Unitcd Nations Visiting
Mission, another boat was obtained for the use of the Bikinians.
The Libra was old 54 foot mission vessel that the Trust Territory
outfitted with a new engine and sails.
The vessel, for the First
time, alleviated the isolation of Kili and the failure of field
trip ships to call more than once every six or eight months.
In November, 1957, typhoon Lola struck Kili, and devasted
the new agricultural project and sank the Libra.
All the taro was
killed by salt intrusion, and 503 of
the breadfruit trees were
killed.
In January 1958, another typhoon struck nearby Jaluit,
wiping out
most food trees there and creating widespread destruc-
tion.
Jaluit.
Aiter the typhoon, most rehabilitation efforts went to
The Bikinians were back where they were in 1948,
except
that by now there were more than 250 people living on Kili.
Food
shortajes again ensued
in 1958 and 1960, alleviated for short
periods by the arrival of C-raticns and other emergency foodstuffs.
Relocation was again discussed by the United States government, but
rejected.
The Bikinians continued to complain about Kili and their
prison.
Kili enana.
\.
bs
|
Up throvgh recent times,
food shortages have occured on Kili.
t recently, the U.S.D.A. food program hes been extended to Kili.
Le id trip service is slightly more reliable.
The fishing is still
non existent,
and the island is still an island and not the home
‘atoll of Bikini.
All that is said above is sinply a prologue, an
cl
antroduction
to the statenent of the grievances and inegquitics
thas besek the Bikini people today.
IS
in 1946, whe:
jiome, the United
ang Bikini.
The
had Legal title
& Congest Farialy
L056,
to
arbor
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Le
with the people
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ak
form the peenia thre trey
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,
and the B rindads, even Fr they hee sucn
were Loo infdatd.ted Lo siate ik.
Ta
world publicity,
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Atcer
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