Kiribati - British bomb tests claims vs. facts

["Franta, Jaroslav" <frantaj@aecl.ca>]

FYI, the following web-posted stories/announcements (from PACIFIC ISLANDS
REPORT site) are similar to ones that appeared in print in the magazine
Pacific Islands Monthly ("PIM") -- see comments at bottom...

http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1999/June/06-22-19.html
PACIFIC CONCERNS RESOURCE CENTRE (PCRC)
Suva, Fiji Islands
MEDIA RELEASE
June 21, 1999
GOVERNMENT MINISTER TO LAUNCH NEW BOOK
ON FIJI'S NUCLEAR VETERANS
SUVA, Fiji Islands (June 21, 1999)---Fiji's Minister for Home Affairs, the
Honorable Joji Uluinakauvadra, will launch a new book Wednesday (June 23,
1999) telling the story of Fiji's nuclear veterans.
"Kirisimasi," published by the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC),
includes the testimony of Fijian soldiers and sailors who witnessed
Britain's hydrogen bomb tests at Malden Island and Christmas Island
(NOTE: Britain conducted nine atmospheric nuclear tests, code named Grapple,
in the Line Islands of Kiribati in 1957 and 1958).
"Kirisimasi" also has accounts from family members of those who have since
died.
The book, published in Fijian and English, includes photos from the 1950s
and the history of Britain's nuclear testing program in the Pacific.
Together with British and New Zealand military personnel, nearly 300 Fijian
soldiers and sailors traveled to the central Pacific for Britain's nuclear
testing program.
Other Fijians witnessed one of the tests in May 1957, including the late
Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau (former Governor General and President of Fiji, who
died of leukemia in 1993). These Fijian service personnel were witnesses to
the development of Britain's hydrogen bomb, yet their story has never been
fully told before.
PCRC Director Lopeti Senituli states: "The British Government argues that
none of the Fijian military personnel were in danger of exposure to
radiation during the tests. But our book, "Kirisimasi," documents cases of
Fijian Christmas Island veterans suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia,
aplastic anaemia and other diseases.
"Forty years on, the veterans also express concern about health problems
affecting their families, including cases of sterility and multiple
miscarriages, which they attribute to radiation exposure."
Senituli also stated that PCRC is assisting Fiji veterans to seek
compensation from the British government through the European Court of Human
Rights, as they were serving under British military command at the time of
the tests.
Their court case is to be heard later this year.
The book launch will be held from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday June
23, 1999 at the Raffles Tradewinds Convention Centre in Lami.
The book launch will include presentations by some veterans, as well as an
address by the Honorable Joji Uluinakauvadra.
Kirisimasi: na Sotia kei na Lewe ni Mataivalu e Wai ni Viti e na
vakatovotovo i yaragi nei Peritania mai Kirisimasi / Kirisimasi: Fijian
troops at Britain's Christmas Island nuclear tests (Pacific Concerns
Resource Centre, Suva, 1999), edited by Losena Tubanavau-Salabula, Josua M.
Namoce and Nic Maclellan. 202 pages with photos and maps, in Fijian and
English
For more information:
Nic Maclellan or Losena Tubanavau-Salabula
PACIFIC CONCERNS RESOURCE CENTRE (PCRC)
83 Amy Street, Toorak
Private Mail Bag, Suva
FIJI
Telephone: (679) 304649
Facsimile: (679) 304755
E-mail: pcrc@is.com.fj


http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1999/January/01-04-07.html
CHRISTMAS ISLAND NUCLEAR TEST VETERAN SUES UK
By Catherine Adams
SUVA, Fiji Islands (December 31, 1998 -BBC)---A Fijian veteran present
during UK nuclear testing on Christmas Island in the late 1950s has filed
for compensation with the European court of Human Rights. 
Campaigners say more than 350 Fijians have suffered health problems due to
radiation. 
They also say the group was not told why they were going to the island.
The UK tested around 24 nuclear bombs on Christmas Island, now part of the
Pacific nation of Kiribati, between 1958 and 1960. 
The patriotic feeling in the former colony was running high and many Fijians
volunteered to go to Christmas Island. 
They were expecting only to clear the area and build houses. 
The Pacific Concern Resource Centre, which has collected stories from around
100 veterans, reported that they were not issued with protective clothing
and were just told to turn their backs on the explosions. 
The group, campaigning for compensation, says most of the veterans suffered
from unexplained illnesses for most of their lives. 
These include skin disorders, asthma, cancers and deformities. 

http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1999/January/01-18-05.html
FORMER FIJI SOLDIERS DYING OF CANCER DUE TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND ATOM BOMB TESTS
SUVA, Fiji Islands (January 15, 1999 - Radio Australia)---Fiji soldiers who
served on Christmas Island when the British tested the atomic bomb in the
1950's say they are dying from the effects of radiation.
Former soldier Ratu Inoke Bainimarama said of the 39 Fiji soldiers who
served there, more than half have died from cancer.
None of the men were given protective clothing during the tests, he said,
and no Fiji soldier received a pension.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said his requests for pensions for the
soldiers who served on the island -- now a part of Kiribati -- have received
no response from the British government.
Separate British and Australian studies show the incidence of bone marrow
cancer is 10 times higher among test veterans than in the general
population. 
For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT
News/Information Links: Radio/TV News/Radio Australia.

http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1999/June/06-04-03.html
BRITAIN CONSIDERING REPORT ON OLD NUCLEAR TEST SITES ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND 
TARAWA, Kiribati (June 2, 1999 - PACNEWS)---A British Defense Department
Committee is considering a report on Kiritimati (Christmas) Island in the
compiled by a British survey team last year.
The report by British specialists focuses on the extent of the damage and
debris left on Christmas Island from the nuclear tests conducted by Britain
in the 1950s.
Teeoka Ietaake, an official from the Kiribati Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
said the British Government had delayed considering the matter because of
Britain's involvement in the Kosovo crisis in the Balkans.
The survey by the British Defense Department was conducted after the
Kiribati Government officially asked the British Government to help clean up
Christmas Island. Britain has not officially said it would comply with the
request. 
Teeoka said the British High Commission in Fiji would keep the Kiribati
Government informed about any developments on the issue.

http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1999/February/02-03-13.html
BRITISH GOVERNMENT REJECTS CHRISTMAS ISLAND NUCLEAR TESTING COMPENSATION
CLAIMS BY FIJI VETERANS
SUVA, Fiji Islands (February 2, 1999 - PACNEWS/INCL)---The British
government has rejected compensation claims by Fiji veterans who served
during the British nuclear weapons tests at Christmas Island -- now part of
Kiribati -- in the late 1950s.
The veterans say many of them are suffering medical problems, which they
believe were caused by radiation from the tests, but the British government
says a report has conclusively proved the tests had no effect on health.
Meantime, the Fiji-based Pacific Concerns Resource Center has called the
British report a "fraud."
Center spokesman Nick McLennan said there is something wrong when the
British government reports protective clothing was issued to everyone on the
island, because many of the Fijian troops, just like their British and New
Zealand counterparts, were not given any protective gear.
He also said many of the Fiji soldiers who were present for the Christmas
Island tests also were involved in clean up operations afterwards. McLennan
said the ex-soldiers have testified that they were not given anything more
than work boots, shorts and shirts for the job.
Fiji has filed a compensation case at the European Court of Human Rights in
Strasbourg.
Fiji's Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, voiced his support for the claim
late last year.

http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/1999/April/04-29-16.htm
FIJI MILITARY WHO SERVED IN CHRISTMAS ISLAND CAMPAIGN TO RECEIVE PENSIONS 
SUVA, Fiji Islands (April 28, 1999 - PACNEWS)---Fiji soldiers and naval
officers who served in the 1957-1959 Christmas Island Emergency Operation
have finally been given financial assistance by the Fiji Government. 
Yesterday, the Fiji Cabinet, under the caretaker leadership of Prime
Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, made the announcement at its last sitting before
next month's national election. 
Currently, these military personnel do not receive any form of assistance.
Only soldiers who served in the Solomon Islands World War II campaign and
the Malaysian War receive monthly pensions from the Fiji After Care
Servicemen Fund. 
A total of 262 navy and army personnel enlisted in the Christmas Island
Campaign - called Operation Grapple - between 1957 and 1959. Most of these
men have passed away. 
The Cabinet decision now authorizes the Ministry of Finance to include those
who served in Operation Grapple to receive financial assistance under the
Pensions Act. 
The draft amendment bill will be submitted to the new Parliament. Once
enacted, assistance to the servicemen will be authorized to begin. 
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

COMMENTS :

> PIM's articles on British nuclear tests in the Pacific by W. Narsey and by
> B. Hussain (pages 34 to 38 in the July issue last year) reported that
> according to eyewitness accounts,
>      "huge amounts of sea and earth material was sucked up into the
> explosion and dropped as fallout; there was induced radio-active rain-fall
> (black rain) which fell on ships, military personnel and Gilbertese
> civilians. Scientists ran around in a panic, an indication that the
> [Grapple Y] test had not gone as planned" 
> and also that,
>      "the actual experiences of servicemen and Gilbertese indicate that
> substantial exposure to radiation did take place...  black rain fell on
> populated islands... and people became ill."
> According to a quotation of a Fijian participant of the 28 April 1958
> Grapple Y test, which Hussain has taken out of book "Kirisimasi" released
> last year by the Pacific Concerns Resources Centre (PCRC), the radiation
> illness resulted "In 1960" when "some tuff of my hair began to fall off
> and fingernails...My gums started bleeding and teeth got loose.. I
> suffered from migraine headaches until I was about 35..  One of my knee
> joints would just swell up whenever I bump something. Only the right wrist
> is troubling me up to this day.. I have to wear dark glasses most of the
> time... A doctor in the USA removed 59 round growths from under my skin
> all my body.. It was tested and I was given okay."
> The PCRC, besides publishing the Kirisimasi book, also hired New
> York-based lawyer, Ian Anderson, and are seeking compensation "ranging
> between US$ 39,000 and US$ 117,000" per person (PIM, June 1999, p.40).
> These claims of radioactive fallout certainly sound convincing, especially
> because of the well-known and documented radioactive contamination that
> resulted from the notorious US Bravo explosion in the Marshall Islands in
> 1954.
> But its strange that the quoted Fijian or Gilbertese witnesses talk of
> "black rain." The fallout in the Marshalls (Rongelap) was a very
> distinctive "white snow" -- the pulverized remains of coral that was
> lofted high in the air by the blast. The fallout at Christmas atoll would
> certainly also have been "white snow," since it too would have originated
> from the surface coral of an atoll.
> More importantly however, any fallout from the bomb tests would have left
> easily detectable and measurable radioactive traces all over the atoll to
> this day, just as it has at Rongelap in the Marshalls (and which is the
> object of continuing decontamination efforts, with radiation measurements
> for recording progress...). Similarly for the areas surrounding the
> Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
> The only way there would NOT have been "black rain" and contamination is
> if the explosion took place at high enough altitude - as planned - such
> that no soil was lifted.
> Fortunately, an extensive environmental radiation survey of Christmas
> Island (Kiribati) was conducted by an independent laboratory hired by the
> Kiribati Government in March 1981, three years after they gained
> independence from the United Kingdom. Forty-eight gamma monitoring sites
> were set up all over Christmas Island, and various foodstuffs and drinking
> water sources were sampled and tested by scientists from the National
> Radiation Laboratory of New Zealand.
> As it turned out, NO RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT in excess of the very low levels
> found everywhere else in the world were found. Average radiation exposure
> levels to residents were found to be LOWER THAN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES,
> including New Zealand, due to lower natural terrestrial radioactivity of
> the soil on the atoll (this too is a typical feature of coral atolls). 
> The 22-page report was published as "NRL Report No. 1981/9" and is
> available free of charge on request from NRL. The professional journalism
> code of ethics indicates that this report should be required reading for
> any reporter writing about this topic. I regret that this obviously has
> not been the case.
> Based on the scientific data, the only possible conclusion is that in fact
> THERE WAS NO RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT on Christmas Island, the PCRC book and
> its "eyewitness accounts" notwithstanding. They are simply self-serving
> fabrications. Not only that, they are pretty clumsy fabrications: one does
> not get radiation sickness (hair falling out, etc.) TWO YEARS AFTER the
> supposed fallout exposure. Symptoms of acute radiation syndrome (ARS)
> typically occur within a month after a high radiation exposure and, if one
> survives (depending on the level of dose received and medical treatment
> provided), are generally healed in less than six months.
> Oh well, I guess that PCRC's fancy lawyer needs to instruct his clients to
> change their story accordingly -- and get PCRC to quickly take all copies
> of their book out of public circulation before it sinks their case, and of
> course all copies of PIM's July 1999 issue as well !!
> 
Jaro
frantaj@aecl.ca

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