HOUSE JOURNAL-- ‘16th DAY
them f2®m Micronesia.
There are a lot of competent Americans who could
replace them.
Who do they think they are turning down the wishes of the
‘Hicronesian people?
I don't think they have the right to do that.
These
are our islands. They have been here only a short time.
Mr. Speaker, I
really don't think that this kind of thing should be allowed.
—
Who in the
—, , helt do they think they are to turn down the wishes of our people?
itt Speaker, & am going to deliver my speech.
Now,
r one, Speaker and honorable colleagues, on behalf of two groups of
‘our donstituents, I rise today to express thcir sincere appreciation and
gratitude for the ready understanding and moral support that this Congress
haa. in the past unhesitatingly extended to them.
On their behalf I also
" begeech this Congress to not forget them in the future but to continue
stich. generous understanding and support for them.
-
h "The people I am speaking for are our constituents from the islands
Cot Rongelap and Utirik in the Marshalls.
As you know, these Micronesians
_ are the brothers and sisters who were exposed to and have since been
* ‘guffering the effects of atomic radiation emanating from the 1954 hydrogen ~:
"bomb test in Bikini by our Administering Authority.
Y,
€}
o”
te ie
“Mr. Speaker, while I am not in possession of conclusive evidence
'*to prove it to this House, I am now convinced that the United States
Cnowingly and consciously allowed the people of Rongelap and Utirik te
be. €xposed to the 1954 fallout.
This was done to the Rongelapese and
eirikese so that the United States could use them as human guinea pigs
yah the development of its medical capabilities to treat its citizens who
¥ might. be exposed to radiation in the event of war with an enemy country.
This is a crime unmatched in peacetime.
et”
.
*
_ oS "Zt is now 18 years since the beastly crime against all humanity
| andthe people of Micronesia was committed but the sinner who professes
“to be the most decent nation on earth has conveniently and successfully
* swept 4t under the rug of deception and secrecy.
Simple justice begs for
"the truth.
i
,
7! yx
_ accident caused by a shift of winds.
Who does the United States intend
* ‘to fool with this sort of statement? The reason, it is written, why Bikini
+"was chosen as the site of the atomic tests was that few people would be
“affectad.
This is an acknowledgment that the United States knew that
“ these people would be exposed to the fallout.
Moreover, Rongelap and Utiri
“bre within 300 miles from Bikini and surely the United States knew that
_
‘these islands were within the range of the fallout.
I cannot help but
~*~
conclude that this was a planned accident.
And I also see the whole
” affair tainted with racism.
The United States chose to make guinea pigs
Na
tout ‘of our people because they are not white but some brown natives in
€ome remote Pacific islands.
,
“Sue
'
Y
:
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“Although these people could never be adequately compensated for
-their contribution to American medical science, they have been given
“pit{fully small monetary compensation.
About 80 Rongelapese have receivec
$800,000 and all the 159 Utirikese have been promised a meager $16,000.
Tweaty~-Lirece Japanese fishermen of the ‘Lucky Dragon’ who were also
i
i
exposed to the Fallout were given two million doilars.
‘
I ask--are
Micronesian lives worth less than those of other peoples?
.
.
*
“the medical team that the Rongelapese and Utirikese have been
-eceiving is also-highly questionable.
Since the fallout, doctors with
the U.S. ‘Atoaic Energy Commissicn, which ie xosponsible for the developShe
a\ #10Q_—
. gO!
ay
“We are told that the radioactive fallout on these people was an
<a
ae.