RMI Nuclear Justice Documents

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Ambassador Rosenblatt
December 20, 1978

Page 2

Utirik Atolls, in connection with losses they suffered .3 0 (2) 0.3%
and continue: to suffer as a result of radioactive

a

fallout: from the March A, 1954 thermonuclear. explosion }
at. Bikini.
a
no
*

oa
The People. ateEnewetak suffered the loss of several
“Sotire. igslands-‘which were eradicated by thermonuclear *
test explosions. and, depending upon the degree of
success of. the:“cleanup. program currently underway,

_

parts or.all:-offother islands'will remain of"little or
no use>to-them:because: of radioactive contamination.
They were!‘gummarily:removed from their atoll-Decem-

~ber221;3:1947. and: have. lived a very difficult thirty

years in exile. The cleanup and rehabilitation
program scheduled for completion in April 1980 will
contribute in a. significant way to reestablishing the
people in their homeland, but there is still much that
will be needed to achieve the ultimate objective. of the
program:
to reestablish them on their atoll in a state
of social and economic well-being.
In addition, because
of the long term effects of fonizing radiation, there
is need for a program which will continually reassess
radiological conditions in the environment, monitor the

radiological health of the people and provide treatment
of any radiation related illnesses which might occur.
The People of Rongelap and the People Utirik have

similar claims and needs. Each is a separate group and
each is a separate client of ours, but I will speak
generally about both in this context. At Rongelap
.
elghty-six people were exposed to an estimated radia-

tion dose.of 175. rads.
Other members of the People of
Rongelap who were at Ailingnae were exposed to 78 rads
and at Utirik the estimated exposure was 14 rads.
All
of the exposure-came from radioactive fallout of

thermonuclear explosion,

the

fallout which was carried "up-,

wind" from the Bikini test site.

The fallout was so

heavy it resembled snow and because the people were

unfamiliar with such things, they did not Imow to take
any precautions:
children played in it as though it
were harmless.
It was two to three days before the
people were evacuated by United States authorities.
The People of Rongelap were not permitted to return to

their atoll for a period of three years, and some of
theix islands are still subject to restricted use.

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