[86I-Vv6l -ADOIONOYHO V cp0udAABN SN) 9961 AINT ‘HOlY fUpHG 18 180} 3;WO}e8 J0xeG, (essesSSSseeeSenaEESSeaSeeeeeeeeeSEeeae el ELF S0011491 ~~. ~. “Ae ee = - —_ . * , heh’ _ . a Lae 4 - 2 . te pane mm) . ot I 7 ed7 | sO a -.-# ote SSSR SO m. “AM. ' sO F SO ' ‘ SE fi." A - >, 8 aa 5 8 Ce, C8 RBS SSS on SpUPIS|Res ©)yeysuey\ OS LOC ~--- mmem ™~ Net cme te -''G55 - Maren 9 United Nations... ' ang ‘''May Enewetak ...'' This snouid read: 17245 - March 9 United Nations... and Mav Znewetak Miarsnali —Islands “A CHRONOLOGY: 1944-1981 RECEIVED y. 5. eanTMent OF EWERST RUS 5 1382 LIBRARY WASHINGTON, 3.C. 20546 MICRONESIA SUPPORT COMMITTEE Honolulu, Hawait 5001192 3OW 7O READ THIS CHRONOLOGY: a Weapons Testing--even numbered left hand pages 4-34; destruction of island home- dands and radioactive contamination of people, iand and food sources. Resettlement of People--odd numbered right hand pages 5-39; the struggle to Survive in exile. There is some necessary overlap for clarity; a list of sources used concludes the Chronology on pages 36 and 38. BIKINI ATOLL IN 1946, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS. 9001193 lst edition published July 1978 2nd edition published August 1981 “FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND...” Marshall Islands people have borne the brunt of U.S. military activity in Micronesia, from nuclear weapons experiments and missile testing to relocations of people and radio- active contamination of people and their environment. All, as an American military com sander said of the Bikini tests, "for the good of mankind and to end all world wars." Of eleven United Nations Trusteeships created after World War II, only Micronesia was designated a "strategic" trust, reflecting its military importance to the United States. The U.N. agreement has allowed the U.S. to use the islands for military purposes, while dDinding the U.S. to advance the well being of the people of Micronesia. Western nuclear powers have looked on the Pacific, because of its small isolated popu- lations, as an “ideal location to conduct nuclear activities unwanted in their own countries. In addition to Bikini and Enewetak, the U.S. has tested nuclear weapons at Johnston and Christmas Islands; the British at Christmas Island and in Australia; and the French con- tinue to test at Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls in "French" Polynesia. More than 180 atomic and hydrogen bombs have been detonated in the Pacific region since 1946; over 100 by the United States. The health and safety of people, be they Marshallese or American citizens and military personnel, has been a very low priority in the U.S. government's nuclear testing program. AS Commissioner Libby of the Atomic Energy Commission said in 1953: “People have got to learn to live with che facts of life, and part of the facts of life are fallouc." The Marshall Islands Chronology tells the story of U.S. military activities in the Marshall Islands and thei: effect on Marshallese peoples’ lives and environment. It is a story that has remained wumtold for too long. zekeaex kkk TABLE OF CONTENTS WEAPONS TESTING RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE Yperation CROSSROADS begins at Bikini 4 Bikinians' First Relocation, 1946 S 3ravo H-bomb test at Bikini, 1954 6 Enewetak People Moved to Ujelang, 1947 9 Radioactive Fallout Contaminates People 8 Kwajalein Landowners Evacuated for Tests 1% tongelapese Return Home 1957 12 Crisis on Ujelang 17 <wajalein Missile Tests Begin 16. Bikini Declared Safe for Habitation 19 inadequate Medical Treatment Protested 22 Enewetak Cleanup Planned 23 Enewetakese Force Cancellation of Tests 24 Ebeye: A Biological "Time Bomb” 27 | Study Shows Unexpected Cancer Increase 26 Bikini Resettlement Attempt Fails 31 Marshallese Health Problems Worsen 32 Kwajalein People Occupy Islands “33 sources 5 0 0 q ly 36 Bikini, A Nuclear Waste Dump? 37 peseseneseeneee WEAPONSTESTING mmeeeee Marsnail tslancs ‘eo | 1945 AUGUST 6 Japan: The U.S. drops ns o Fe a 13 kiloton atomic bomb on Hiroshima enyuctah aamto, reagerk anam city, killing approximately 100,000 wjeteng wathe ea people. Three days later a second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki city, 1 unt i -_—~ “Soyens as Nam n'a. killing approximately 70,000 people. cunjpeleia van? i> \ ae cote —_ amomses NOVEMBER Washington: American military and political leaders begin planning , dae &. | a nuclear experiments for further devel- wade nacecis ~ opment of nuclear weapons. Two tests, am. oo code named Operation CROSSROADS, are | planned to demonstrate the effects of 1947 DECEMBER Enewetak: The Navy atomic explosions on naval vessels. A decides that Enewetak Atoll will be search is begun for an appropriate used for a second series of nuclear ex- testing site. periments. 1946 JANUARY Washington: “Navy offi- 1948 APRIL Enewetak: Operation SAND- cials in Washington, D.C. announce that STONE begins and includes three atomic Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands blasts ranging in strength from 18 fulfills all climatic, zeograpnical and 49 kilotons, detonated from towers: X- other requirements for Operation CROSS- Rav (April 15), Yoke (May 1) and Zebra ROADS (4,500 miles away from the U.S (May 15). a small posuiation of 167; 3a orotected - ~~ fae anchorage; and under the control of the L.S.) 1951 APRIL Enewetak: Operation ‘ JULY Bikini: 2peratrion CROSSROADS bde- GREENHOUSE begins. This series in- zins and ircludes two atomic domo ciudes four atomic tests exploded on plasts, Abl2 iJulv 1), an air drop, and towers: Dog (April 8), Easy (April 21), Zaker (Juiv 25), an underwater test. George (May 9) and Item (May 25). Zasy These tombs ire about the size of the test is 4? kilotons: information en the atomic torr sroppec on Nagasakl, Japan. others remains classified. Approxi- Abouc 42,0°0 military men and scien- mately 3,200 military men participate cists participate in this test series. in this series. 1947 JULY The Marshall Islands, along with the Caroline and Mariana Islands, formerly wider a League of Nations Mandate to the Japanese, become the United Nations Trust Territory cf the Pacific, administered by the United States. “Ships remained in the lagoon 1952 NOVEMBER Enewetak: Operaztion during cetonation and fallout pe- IVY begins. [It includes the first riods ard were subjected to con- thermonuclear (hydrogen) device test, Cbl100¢ Siderabie fallout (during Opera- Mike (November 1), estimated at 10.4 tion Greenhouse),” megatons (750 times greater than tne Studies of Participants in Nu~ Hiroshima bomb). King (November :6) is clear Tests, National Academy described as a "high yield" 500 kiloton of Sciences, September 1980. (continued on page 6) 4 QUEER RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE Excerpt from the United Nations and housed by the U.S.Navy on Aomon and Trusteeship Agreement for the Bijire Islands in Enewetak Atoll. United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: 1946 JANUARY Bikini: Washington, D.C. Article 6--"In discharging its ob- officials select Bikini Atoll for the tigations under Article 76(b) of firse series of nuclear bomb tests and the Charter, the administering au- its population of 167 must be moved thority (U.S.) shall: immediately. 2. promote the economic advance- ment and self-sufficiency of the FEBRUARY Bikini: One month after the inhabitants, and to this end shall decision was made in Washington, D.C. regulate the use of the natural to use Bikini Atoll for nuclear experi- resources; encourage the develop- ments, the military governor of the ment of fisheries, agriculture, Marshalls obtains the consent of Biki- and industries; protect the inha- ni's paramount chief for the relocation bitants against the loss of their of his people. The American military lands and resources; and improve governor informs the Bikinians chat the the means of transportation and scientists are experimenting with communi cation; nuclear bombs "...for the good of man- 3. promote the social advance- kind and to end all world wars.” The ment of the inhabitants, and to Bikinians, with no alternative, agree this end shall protect the rights to leave their home. and fundamental freedoms of all elements of the population without ? discrimination; protect the health aoe san of the inhabitants...” g pow .. , WONOLELS na | ot ° ) Aytee . 1944 FEBRUARY Enewetak: United States Co Wa weA forces attack and overcome major Japan- .: a” : = :, aurchaiie aeoe * . ese fortifications on Enewetak Atoll we . eae after heavy pre-invasion bombardment in — x which some Marshallese are killed. i ww fan OA SYDMEY Teeay TCRqrUay FEBRUARY Kwajalein: U.S. forces capture v Kwajalein Atoll from the Japanese after heavy fighting. Americans recruit Mar- THE TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC Shallese to remove battle debris and ISLANDS (MICRONESIA) COVERS A LAND build warehouses, air strips, air craft AND OCEAN AREA OF THREE MILLION hangers and other military facilities SQUARE MILES. on Kwajalein Isiand. Families join Marshallese workers at Kwajalein ‘abor =~ camp. MARCH Bikini: As the Bikinians prepare to leave, approximately 250 naval ships, Kwajalein: The world's largest atoll is 180 aircraft for observation and trans- made up of approximately 93 tiny coral port and thousands of military and sci- islands that encircle an 839 square entific personnel begin arriving for mile ocean lagoon. Total land area of Operation CROSSROADS. 100s 93 islands is only 6.64 square miles. MARCH Bikini: Because the Americans said Gbl 1945 Enewetak: The Americans build a that Bikini would be returned to its runway, barracks, warehouses and other people at the conclusion of the tests, base facilities to carry on the Pacific the Bikinians believe their move is war. The Enewetak people are fed,clothed (continued on page 7) § test. The Mike blast Vaporizes luge iab isiand leaving a crater one stile in diameter and 175 feer ceep in <8mm COVral-_ - 7 reer.- NOVEMBER 16 Enewetak: Ujelang Atoll, ~20 miles southwest of "ground zero” is contaminated with radioactive fallout zram the 500 kiloton King test.