Dr. John T. Harrison on Enewetak

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

FYI, from the Tuesday, May 16, 2000, issue of The Honolulu Advertiser....

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2000/May/16/letters.html
U.S. already has helped Enewetakese
Regarding the Advertiser's May 10 editorial urging full payment of the $341
million claim for residents of Enewetak: Your comments imply that the United
States has not previously extended compensation to the people of Enewetak
for use of their atoll and subsequent medical claims.
You fail to mention that for three years starting in 1977, the United States
conducted a massive cleanup and rehabilitation of Enewetak Atoll, completed
in March of 1980, at a cost of $218 million.
Further, under Section 177 of the Compact of Free Association signed (for
the second time) on June 25, 1983, and ratified by the people of the
Marshall Islands on Sept. 7, 1983, an additional $150 million was provided
as a principal settlement, with the provision that it be invested and
generate an annual rate of return of not less than $18 million. Over the 15
years following this settlement, the minimum $270 million income was to be
allocated among various recipients, including $75 million for the Bikini
people, $48.75 million additionally for the Enewetak people, $37.5 million
for the people of Rongelap and $22.5 million for the people of Utirik.
Among other things, the compact specified that the principal should be
maintained intact, and that these income disbursements were to be used for
food, technical assistance, provision of ongoing radiological monitoring,
and ongoing medical surveillance and treatment.
You describe Ujelang Atoll as "inhospitable." You fail to note that,
following repatriation in 1980, about 100 Enewetakese chose to return to
Ujelang, and the United States continued to provide food, medical supplies
and transportation to support them.
The Marshall Islands Claims Tribunal, in fact, was established by Section
177 of the compact.
I was a researcher at the Mid Pacific Research Laboratory, living on
Enewetak during those years, and I can personally attest to the effort and
expense of atoll rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the United States. I
also can attest to the warmth and hospitality of our Enewetak friends and
neighbors after their repatriation, and to their gratitude, both for our
presence and for the continuing assistance the United States provided.
Your implication that our government abandoned the people of Enewetak and
left them with nary a "gesture" of compensation for their contribution to
national and international security demeans the sincerity, commitment and
good will of a great many dedicated public servants.
John T. Harrison, Ph.D.
University of Hawaii

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