US hope to resolve Bikini Island issue by 2017

Transcript

The US says they are working hard on an answer to an appeal from a Marshallese community for assistance for relocation.

Bikini Islanders have requested financial help after repeated flooding and storm surges on Kili Island, where they have lived since soon after the start of US nuclear testing at Bikini in 1946.

Assistant Secretary Esther Kia'aina told Koro Vaka'uta there are two resolutions to be dealt with.  

ESTHER KIA'AINA: And that is to lift the restriction on the use of resettlement funds in the Marshall Islands to be inclusive elsewhere. That is something that I would have to work with my other colleagues in the other branch of government. The other resolution that was passed had to do with both resettlement funds as well as the clean up at Bikini that is a larger issue that I can't discuss on my own because my per view is on the retirement fund issue. Its all going to be inter-related but I think the first priority should be on the satutory lifting. And so I am hopeful that we would be able to move forward on that front. Of course the Marshalese national government their foreign minister is very active on the issue of climate change internationally and regionally. And climate change is a big issue for President Obama as well as for the secretary of the interior as well as myself. And so there is the bigger picture climate change and then there are the tangible issues like Bikini where it is not predicting it is actually impacting them now. I think that the United States has a moral obligation to help the people of Bikini.

KORO VAKAUTA: Going back the people of Bikini were talked about as the children of America.  And there does seem to be, even from your comments, empathy and a will and intent to do this the right way?

EK: That is correct. And I can only do what I can at this point in time and under my jurisdiction, but I think as the world, the region and the United States better understands the overall implications of how everyone is interconnected. What I see a change in from 1996 when I originally went there is of course everyone knows the the tragedies what occurred in the histories. In the context of climate change I think that it made the plight of the Bikinians more poignant. You can talk all you want about carbon emissions and you can talk about what kind of initiatives but here is a people that have been impacted by nuclear testing. And what are we as a nation going to do.

KV: What are the type of options that you are looking at?

EK: I leave it to them, they have passed a resolution that is the first option, they themselves will have to determine. Currently they are able to migrate to the United States but they are restricted under their funds. They have made it clear that they want that statutory prohibition lifted. But they themselves also now have a strategy plan on where they want to resettle. Once that happens and there is a plan, nothing will stop them if the restriction were to be lifted by just getting on a plane flying to the United States they would then be able to use their resettlement funds for quality of life issues. I think the other issues that they had raised in the separate resolution for clean up and or resettlement. For the transport and the whole removal of the settlement that is a policy issue for the congress to determine with regard to increased allocation of funding.

KV: What sort of timeline are we looking at, at this being able to be worked through?

EK: I can't jump ahead but clearly we are in the first year of a congress it normally takes two years for a congress to close all I can say is that I am continuing to work with my colleagues and I am hopeful that within this congress which would be by the ending of next year that there will be a resolution.