2023 World Conference of A&H Bombs
International Meeting – Session 1
Abacca Anjain-Maddison
Former Senator, Rongelap AtollMarshall Islands

Mina-san Konnichiwa!
It is with great honor to be here with you to commemorate the 78 yrs
anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Spreading the voices of the Hibakusha is what this session is about in which I
find fitting. It’s very important, why? Because we care about our planet andhuman lives. Our future generations should enjoy to the fullest and to thrive, tolive without fear for nuclear threats. World leaders should learn from theHibakusha’s experience. No human being should ever go through the pain andsufferings they went through.
I speak on behalf of the people of Rongelap and especially the women. OnMarch 1st 1954 the strongest hydrogen bomb was detonated by US anddestroyed the lives of the community. Every children, pregnant women, elderly,men and especially women were severely affected by the nuclear fallout. At thetime there were 87 people on the island and had they not evacuated fromRongelap after 4 days of the bomb explosion, no one would have survived.
Today, the people of Rongelap remain to be nuclear refugees. They’re living ona very small islet at Kwajalein Atoll called Mejatto. The living conditions on
the island is very challenging. There are no jobs available especially for the
young people, the sea surrounding the island is limited with seafood, there’s lackof transportation between Mejatto and the urban city called Ebeye in case there’s
health emergency. Women struggles the most because they have to take of thefamily night and day. The Resettlement fund and compensation monies are1

depleting, the value is almost nothing due to increasing high cost of living. The
last time there were remediation activity or cleaning up of the contaminated soilon Rongelap atoll was around year 2008 or so. Whether the population will be
returning home and how soon is unknown. Similar situation is happening to thepeople of Bikini and Enewetak Atoll who are also displaced. Even if there weresome parts of the islands that was cleaned up but ‘trust’ is always an issue. The
people of these affected atolls do not trust the US Government (DOE) Scientists.
Late last year, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution L.24/Rev.1on
RMI’s nuclear legacy. This is a big step going forward to bring in technicalteam to assist the Government of the Marshall Islands. Hence, it’s an act ofrecognizing the fact that the people of the Marshall Islands 64 years after,
they’re still struggling with radiation effects.
To help us better understand the cancer problems in the RMI and how toprevent, a two-day cancer summit was held this week in Majuro. Many people
from all aspects of the community including students especially womenparticipated. It was reported that most of the patients and deceased are womenand every year the cancer rate is increasing. Some of the expertise wererepresentative from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World HealthOrganization (WHO) and expertise on cancer in Micronesia.
The 3rd Compact of Free Association negotiations between the United States
Government is ongoing. However, to ensure funding is secured for FY24, lastweek, the RMI Government approved an MOU which include compensations
not only for the 4 nuclear affect atolls but new additional atolls that US
admitted in recent years to be affected from the 67 nuclear bomb tests in the 50s.
They are: Likiep atoll, Wotje Atoll, Ailuk Atoll, Mejit Island and Wotho Atolland fund a new hospital that will be well equipped with specialized doctors totreat cancer patients in country rather than overseas referral which is morecostly.
The Chairman of the RMI National Nuclear Commission (NNC) was happy tohear about the Gensuikyo’s interest to join and be part of the Nuclear Victims
2and Remembrance Day (NVRD) in Majuro next year. This is a time toshowcase the solidarity between the Japanese Hibakushas and Marshallese
people. The team is most welcomed he said.
Mr. Alson Kelen further supported the idea of holding a conference or sortwhere we could together lead the discussions on the Treaty of the Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and bring in members of parliament and government
officials, NGOs, Religious groups, 4 atolls and other relevant members of thecommunity. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and other key members of
the parliament supports this proposed initiative as well.
The last point I’d like to mention is regarding the visit to Wotje Atoll. Minister
Ota Kisno this weak reminded me of the request he made to Gensuikyo. He’s isvery concerned about his people’s health and very keen to know if theenvironment they’re living in is safe. He also asked me to convey his greetings
and that he’s looking forward to seeing you in the Marshall Islands.
To conclude my speech, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to Gensuikyo
for your continued support extended over the years to the people of the MarshallIslands especially the people of Rongelap. And thank you for the invitation forme to be part of this very important event. We shall overcome someday!

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