LOS ANGELES TIMES ~~ July 23, 1978 U.S. ERRED Bikini Island: Lost Again fo Radiation When the atomic bomb dropped. [ thought Bukin: would disappear completely. ¢ would have been better, mayoe, if uhad .. . Then we woulda't have all these troubles. —Nathue Nets,serike of the Bikini people, 1978 + BY JERRY BELCHER Temes Klett writer BIKINI, Marshall Isiands—When the Americans made him leave Bulanu for the first tume. in 1946, Andrew Jakeo was M years oll When, after using the framle Paci. fic atoll for 23 nuctear test biasis, the Americans in the person of Prendent Lyndon B. Johnson assured him, his fellow islanders and the rest of the world that Bikini once again was safe for human isfe, Andrew Jakeo was 56. Now Andrew Jakeo is 66 and, above ail else, he wants to live out the days that remain to him on this uny curve of coral, sand and coconut paims with his family and fnends. Then, when his Ume comes, he wants to be bumed here among his ancestors. Butthe old man will not be permitted lo end his days where he wishes. For one day next month—I[cderal Officiais say about Aug. 22. although official plans dealing with ths place and these peopie seem to go awry more often ihan nol—the Amencans will remove Andrew Jakeoo and the 140 others living on 449-aere Bihiny Island, largest of the 26 islets that make up Bikins Aloll. They will bc transported to “temporary” quarters in Kili, a singie 1stand with a land arca one-sixth thal of their 2.2-square-mile home atoll. Kili, without a lagoon,lies nearly 500 miles southeast It is an island some Biunians habitually refer to as “the prison.” 4 py § Neecm Enen. The Rikinians must leave their aneestral home and its beautiful. fisr\cemung lagoon because the Amencans, as hey themselves now admit. made 2 regrettabie error [0 ycars ago: Despite what the sctentisis and ine President sad—despite an invest. ment of $3.25 million for cteanup ad rebunlding -- Bikini is not sale after ali. Andrew Jakeo and the athers living on Bikini Island arc being subjected to unacceptably high doses of radiation left behind by atomic and hydrosen bomb blasts that seared the atoll auring 12 years of testing. Some younger Bikimans may live to see their homciand again, but Andrew Jakco will not. [t may be 50 yeats before Bikini is fit for human habitation. . Andrew Jakeo is biller and angry. although like most Marshallese he veils his cmolions from outsiders. “The Ameneans loid us in 1916 thal they had come to test a bomb.” he sad not long ago. “They told us they did not know how much the bomb would hurt Btkini. They toid us that after they tested the bomb, and Bikin is good again, they will bring us back. They did nol say how long would be.” But Andrew— Marshallese address one anotherby first names and expect outsiders to do the same—belicved. along with ihe 165 others the US. Navy removed in 1916, that they would be back within a year or so. Meantime. he was conyjneril, the American. wid t prove! > for bun ott the other poop wrod Car Please Tura te Page 3, Col. 1