Bikini Atoll: an Example

The story of the Bikinians relocations is probably the most notable of the Marchallese relocations as the people of the Bikini atoll have endured several moves since 1946 and still have not completely returned to their homeland. (Niedenthal, 2002)

The attitudes of the Bikinians toward these relocations are evident within the description of their Flag's design.

• The close resemblance of the Bikinians flag to the flag of the United States is to remind the people and the government of America that a great debt is still owed by them to the people of Bikini. (Niedenthal, 2001)
• This debt is described in great detail in several documents located at www.bikiniatoll.com especially the petition to the US for payments to the Bikini people. Located at http://www.bikiniatoll.com/petition.html
• Several quotes from Bikinians are represented throughout these documents detailing some of the attitudes that they have had toward these relocations.
• The 23 white stars in the field of blue in the upper left hand corner of the flag represent the islets that make up the Bikini Atoll. Although, some sources credit the Bikini atoll as having a total of 36 different islets (Spennemann, 2000).
• The three black stars in the upper right of the flag represent the three islands that were vaporized by the March 1, 1954, hydrogen bomb blast, code named Bravo - 15 megaton yield. (Niedenthal, 2001)
• These three islands were Bokonijien, Aerokokil, and Nam.
• The tale of relocations of the Bikinians can be found at http://www.hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/IHS/marshall/marsh/
• I've also compiled several sources and created a timeline of several relocations of the Marshallese peoples (specifically focusing on the Bikinians)
• The two black stars of the flag in the lower right hand corner represent where the Bikinians live now, Kili Island, 425 miles to the south of Bikini Atoll, and Ejit Island of the Majuro Atoll.
• These two stars are symbolically far away from Bikini's stars on the flag as the islands are in real life (both in distance and quality of life). (Niedenthal, 2002)
• The distance (about 425 miles to the south) and quality of life are mentioned due to the fact that the Bikini Atoll had a total land area of about 3 square miles vs. Kili Island with a total land area of 0.36 square miles. (Niedenthal, 2001) this decrease in land area forced a decrease in quality of life. The Bikinians moved into crowded housing with a diminishing food shortage.
• The Marshallese words across the bottom of the flag, "MEN OTEMJEJ REJ ILO BEIN ANIJ" [Translation: "Everything is in the hands of God."], represent the words spoken in 1946 by the Bikinian leader, Juda, in response to U.S. Commodore Ben Wyatt "when the American went to Bikini to ask the islanders--on a Sunday after church--to give up their islands 'For the good of mankind and to end all world wars'" (Niedenthal, 2002)
  
• March 07, 1946: The U.S. Navy evacuates Bikini Atoll inhabitants to Rongerik Atoll.
• March 14 1948: The Bikini evacuees are moved to a temporary camp on the Kwajalein Navy base.
• November 2, 1948: The Navy moves the Bikini community of 184 people to Kili.
• 1967: An anthropological study of the Bikinians and their leaders reveals that most are dissatisfied with Kili and wish to return to Bikini.
• 1972: Three Bikini families move back to Bikini with approximately 50 Marshallese construction and maintenance workers.
• 1974: A group of Bikini people refuse to return to the atoll on May 25,1974 until they receive appropriate compensation for the past 25 years.
• 1978: Relocation of Bikini residents to Kili Island begins.
• 1990s: Tourism push throughout the Islands and infrastructure development, continued cleanup.
• 1996: “The people of Bikini decided to open the atoll to divers to provide an economic base for the possible future resettlement of their homeland.” (Niedenthal, 2001)
• 1990s: The United States Congress provided $90 million to decontaminate Bikini and establish plans for its repopulation.