14.
Termination of the trusteeship
There
is
a deep and widespread belief that after termination, which is
expected in 1981, all
internal
affairs will
elected government of the Marshall Islands.
that termination will occur in 1981.
government.
have to administered by the duly
"We have had an agreement since 1976
We have done our part.
We've ratified our constitution.
We have formed our
We've had our election.
So,
that's the way it's going to be. . .The United States domestic arm cannot have
anything to do in Marshallese internal affairs after termination."
15.
A statement from the Minister of Health
“We are happy the U.S. Government is continuing to pay attention to those of
our people who were displaced and to those who were directly affected by the
atomic
experimentation
on
our’
islands.
The
truth
is,
however,
all
the
Marshallese have been very deeply affected by years of atomic experimentation.
There are several points I want to make clear: (1) there are Marshallese that
have been directly physiologically affected by the experiments.
(2) There has
been a lot of intermingling because of displacement and mobility between those
directly affected
and other Marshallese throughout the
islands.
(3)
Their
offspring are a mixture that cannot be ruled out as not affected. (4) More and
more
people
are
Marshall Islands.
suffering
with
thyroid
problems
and
cancer
Is this trend related to the testing or not?
throughout
the
And is there a
way to differentiate between those whose problems were caused by exposure to
radioactivity and those not? (5) The U.S. government has a dual responsibility:
one
to
those
directly
affected
by
radiation
(and
they
are
now
scattered
throughout the Marshall Islands), and to those indirectly affected by the tests
(and it is my conviction that every Marshallese has been affected directly or
indirectly by the tests).
“There are those whose problems are primary; and those whose problems are
secondary.
There are those whose problems are physiological; and those whose
problems are social-psychological.
Those who live or come from the four main
islands affected (Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, and Utirik); and those who through
intermarriage, migration, and intermingling are found as far south as Ebon, as
far east as Knox, and as far west as Ujelan.
Let us face it, every Marshallese
that has been affected needs care and is entitled to it.
separate the victims after all the mingling and migration.
problem that needs a comprehensive solution."
19
I say there is no way to
It is a comprehensive