WILMER JOEL
President Hilda Heine called upon the United States government to stand with the RMI “in true partnership and work collaboratively to address the lingering and ongoing impacts of our nuclear legacy” during Nuclear Victim’s Remembrance Day on Monday at Majuro Atoll Local Government’s Gymnasium in Jenrok.
“How much longer must we continue to plead for justice?” she added. “The time for action is long overdue — we must come together to devise meaningful, lasting solutions that fully acknowledge and address the harm inflicted upon our people, land, and future generations.”
President Heine mentioned that the Runit Dome is “like a silent tomb on a scarred island, a cracked and heavy lid over a buried past, holding the poison of history that we never chose yet are forced to live with every day.
“The world needs to know the truth — that not only do these weapons destroy human health,” she said. “The drive for nuclear strength and power has pushed decorated and celebrated scientists to do the most cruel and inhumane scientific experiments and studies on our people.”
US Ambassador Laura Stone said nothing can be done to reverse what has happened in the past with nuclear testing. “We know full well that we cannot change the past,” she said. “We can only hope that this day reminds us every year that we remember the past while working towards continued growth of our friendship.”
She added that the “hardships of those affected by nuclear testing are ones we must all remember, honor, and strive to ensure never happen again.”
Stone said we will not forget, nor will we ask our Marshallese friends to forget the hurt this (nuclear) legacy has caused and hoped that “our Compact demonstrated the depth of connection between our people and our continued commitment to our two nations shared prosperity and security.”
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa said the event commemorates “the past and honor the spirit of survival that has defined the Marshallese people.
“We must not forget that the shadows of our nuclear past continue to linger,” he said. “In the spirit of unity and healing, the Pacific Islands Forum has stood in solidarity with you, advocating for justice and accountability. We owe it to those who suffered and continue to suffer to ensure that history does not repeat itself.”
David Paul, Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed a landmark agreement: The Treaty of Rarotonga, also known as the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, as three survivors looked on.