These are strond, perhaps even parancid statements. But though they may be aifficube to accept they must be seen fer their sianificance ae eee CyNas.sm ant Ceocetcation wotoca they verlect. "CS 4 CTU} ct The problem of the primary contaminated atolls, Bikini and Enewetok, is deeply troubling. A serious cleanup attempt is being made at Fnewetok, at a reportel expenditure of $218 million. Inthe light of ne drastic measures and unusual lifestyle required for resettlement, Gi te ¢t is not yet clear if many of the people will chcose to return. ~ 1 nini poses a more difficult case than Enewetok, and thus far the Government has taken the position that cleanup would be too ncensive. It would seem that a profound morai and legal question is --zsed here for the aglcbal community. Who is to decide upon such weighty matters of land abuse and restoration? While even a very imperfect cleanup at Bikini could cost several hundred million :’ilars, some Marshallese pointed out that the US Government is s vending much more than that amount on just a few weapons such as rs neo MX missiles, now being arciculate young man asked, 4 TIT. ro tested at Kwajalein. At one meeting an "Why can the US do whatever it chooses?” US SECURITY NIEDS AND KWAJALCIN ATOLL a most basic level, this situation must be scen as one of the many tragic effects of the arms race. It was the US perception of 223 Cwm security needs which was the driving foree behintl the testing . ry -Gram and now the way in wiiich the new political arrandemeants are +evliving. while the US would clearly like to resolve and be free tloom the ubiquitous problems and unfortunate colonial image associate! with the Pacific Ttsland Trust Territory, its current military reqiirements are having major impact#@ upon the political, economic and social status of the new nation. ie is at the Kwajalein Atoll where we see the embodiment cf this guestion. The Kwajalein people, most of them now living in crowded @ismal conditions on 27 Ha. (67 acres) Ebeye Island, are seeking, tnus far unsuccessfully, to attain a measure of restoration to their land, which is being used as part of the missile testing ranae. Tne determination of the Kwajalein people, working through an organization known as The Kwajalein Atoll Corporation, is a remarkaple story in itself, The Kwajalein people will without doubt play a key role in this continuing debate. rv. "TERE LAWYERS" Lawyers and the litigation to pursue health damage and land claims have become a significant, often troubling political factor. This, too, 1s a cOnsequence of the weapons testing program. Are the people being exploited in new ways through the lawyers, even as they deal with older injustices? Is there an unfortunate "pull" towards money solutions, Or compensation, rather than long-term restoration of the basic relationships between the people and their land and culture? Perhaps, but the lawyers apparently have brought these greatly disadvantaged pecple a new means of much-needed power, and it would be most unwise to jeopardize this by attacking their sensitive lawyer-client relationship. ~ af -