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RONAJD G. BAKAL TELEPHONE JUDY ALTAGEN EAKAL (213)390-7860 Re: Our Client: People of Utirik Atoll, Marshall Islands This office has been retainedby the People of Utirik Atoll, Marshall Islands, United Nations Trusteeship, to seek compensation on their behalf for damages they have suffered as a result of the negligence of the United States Government in the detonation of a nuclear device on March 1, 1954. For the last 22 years our clients have suffered from the effects of their exposure to radiationwith only token compensationand periodic nwdical treatmentwhich can only be described as ex~erirnentation. Along with the high degree of thyroid tumors, includingmalignancy, among the exposed population, evidence has been detected that second generation children are being genetically afflicted. Besides the direct physical damage, the entire population of the atoll suffers from the emotional and -psychologicaleffects of the expectationof continuing health problems, Your agency should be well aware of the enviornmentalimpact the radiation has had upon the flora and fauna of Utirik Atoll. Now that the former residents of Bikini Atoll have been compensated for their property losses by Congressionalaction, it is time that the people of Utirik Atoll shall be compensated for the loss of life, continuing diseases, threat of disease, altered environment and the humiliation of being treated as human guinea pigs. grwp be compensated in thtisum of one FlillionMllars ($1,000,000.00) for physical and psychologicalinjury. Further demand is made 011 behalf of all other j.nhabitantsof the /\tollin the sum of Sixty
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JUDY ALTAGEN BAKAL This office has in its possession a large amount of documentation supporting the negligence involved in the hiarch1, 1954 detonation which has caused the damages, as well as documentationsupporting the extent of these damages. l~refeel confident that your agencY has access to most, if not all, of this material, since most are the results of studies sponsored by the United States Enerbgy Research and IkvelopmentAdministration,formerly known as the Atomic Energy Commission. Our clients are continuing to suffer disease and 10SS of life and Research and DevelopmentAdministrationhas cancelled a Ikcember, 1976 medical survey expedition to the Atoll as a direct result of our clients demand for compensation. This office urges that such a survey be conducted i~ediately and that our clients not suffer further as a result of their efforts to seek redress for the wrongs they have suffered, This office will pursue our clients’ claims to every level of National and Internationaladministration. We feel that the precedent of the people of the Bikink Atoll should now be applied to the bodily and psychologicalinjuries of our clients. This office will be happy to furnish any informationregarding our clients’ claim and expect an imnediate response to our demands. United Nations General Assembly George Allan, Attorney at Law
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Re: Our Client: People of Utirik Atoll, llarshallIslands This office has been retainedby the People of Utirik Atoll, Marshall Islands, United Nations Trusteeship, to seek compensation on their be]lalffor damages they have suffered as a result of the negligence of the United States Government in the detonation of a nuclear device on March 1, 1954. For the last 22 years our clients have suffered from the effects of their exposure to radiation with only token compensation anti periodic msdical t~eatmcnt which can only be descrlbccias exps~imentation. Along with the high degree of thyroid tumors, inducting malignunc;;, among the ex~osed population, evidence has been detected that second generation &ildren are being genetically afflicted. Besides the direct physical d,amage,the entire population of the atoll suffers. . from the emotional and psychologiu& effects of ~~~eexpectation ti~ continuing health problem. Your agency should be weli aware of the enviommental i~act the radiation has had upon the flora and fauna of Utirik Atoll. Now that the former residents of Bikini Atoll have been compensated for their property 10SSCS by Congressional action, it is time that the people of Utirik Atoll shall be compensated for the loss of life, contenting diseases, threat of disease, altered environment and the humiliation of being treated as human guinea pigs. There are still 40 persons alive in the exposed group living cn the Atoll. This office now clemanclsthat each and every member of that grou-pbe compensated in the sum of one filillionhllars [$1,00Q,OOO.00) for physical ~andpsychological injury. Further ciemandis made on behalf of all other inhabitants of the Atoll in the sumof Sixty Million lhllars ($60,000,000,00)for psychological, enmtional and
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ATIORNEYS Al LAW JUDY ALTAGEN EAKAL This office has in its possession a large amount of documentation supporting the negligence involved in the Jlarch1, 19S4 detonation which has caused the damages) as well as docwntation supporting the extent of these damages. We feel confident that your agency has access to most, if not all, of this material, siricemost are the results of studies sponsored by the united States Ener@~ Research and IlsvelopmentAdministration, formerly known as the Atomic Energy Commission. Our clienis are continuing to suffer disease aiidloss of life and land use as a result of this incident. In fact, the U. S. Enero~ Research ,andEevelopmmt Administration has cancelled a &cember, 1976 medical survey ex~edition to the Atoll as a direct result of our clients demand for compensation. This office urges that such a survey be conducted in-mediatelyand that our clients not suffer further as a result of their efforts to seek redress for the wrongs they have suffered. This office will pursue our clients’ claims to every level of hTational and Internationaladministration. We feel that the precedent of the people of the Bikink Atoll should now be applied to the bodily and . psychological injuries of our clients. clientsf claim and expect an immediate response to our demands. cc: Aplos Kios, Iroij (Chief) of Utirik Atoll Fred Zeder, U.S. Department of Interior. Secretary of ihe Trusteeship Council, United Nations “ United Nations General Assembly George Allan, Attorney at Law