Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

The plight of the Marshallese

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • The plight of the Marshallese

    Since I brought this situation up in a discussion about Guam, I thought maybe it deserved its own thread, simply because many people are not aware of the plight of the people who inhabit the Marshall Islands.

    In 1979 the Government of the Marshall Islands was officially established and the country became self-governing. In 1986 the Compact of Free Association with the United States entered into force, granting the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) its sovereignty. The Compact provided for aid and U.S. defense of the islands in exchange for continued U.S. military use of the missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll. The independence was formally completed under international law in 1990, when the UN officially ended the Trusteeship status.
    Even though the Marshall Islands are an independent entity now, they are almost entirely dependent on handouts from the US government. Of all the Marshallese populations, the people of Bikini Atoll have by far the most tragic tale: one in which they were given false promises by the US government of being able to return home after the nuclear tests conducted on their island, where millions of dollars worth of reparations for their displacement and for restoring Bikini Atoll to a habitable state have been stalled. The most tragic part of it is even though many of the Bikinians have moved to other parts of the Marshall Islands, due to the lack of economic opportunities, a colony of Bikinians are now living in Arkansas, the largest group living outside the Marshall Islands. For them, the cultural shock must be horrendous...their hearts torn from their homelands.

    Miulang
    Last edited by Miulang; February 20, 2007, 10:53 AM.
    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

  • #2
    Re: The plight of the Marshallese

    Here is the story about the odyssey of the Bikinians to Springdale, Arkansas--home of a Tyson chicken processing plant--a place of opportunity and new hope but also a place to mourn the lives they left behind.

    Miulang
    "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

    Comment


    • #3
      Hokule'a crew presents ho'okupu to Marshallese

      To show their unity with the people of the Marshall Islands who, like the kanaka maoli, have lost land to the US government and who have not seen their land restored to its original state, the crew of Hokule'a presented the Sen. of the Marshall Islands and Bikini Atoll with ho'okupu, including a piece of coral from Kaho'olawe and a book describing the efforts of the Protect Kaho'olawe Ohana to restore their island.

      Juda, who was forced to leave Bikini when he was 4 because the United States wanted to use the atoll for nuclear tests, said he understands how it feels when an island is lost because of military use, such as Kahoolawe.

      "We have the same problems they have," Juda said. "We really feel sorry for them. I think the United States government is wrong. Every time the military use lands, they should do the clearing."

      Atwood Makanani, an Ohana member and also a member of the Hokule'a crew, said he hoped the ceremony would deepen the world's understanding of the plight of Pacific peoples who have suffered the brunt of military tests.

      He said he also hoped it would help to bring about some healing for Bikinians to know they are not alone in their quest to one day return to their atoll.

      At least 167 Bikinians in the Marshall Islands were forced to leave their atoll in 1946, as the United States prepared to use their homeland for 23 atomic and hydrogen bomb tests.

      After a limited cleanup, some of the Bikinians returned to the atoll in the early 1970s but were removed after medical officials found the land was contaminated with radioactive cesium-137, strontium-90 and plutonium. Bikini has a lagoon area of about 240 square miles with 25 islands and a dry-land area of 2.94 square miles.
      Miulang
      "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: The plight of the Marshallese

        That's so sad. Especially since I have lotsa Marshallese friends. America and Japan were the two main countries who screwed up most of the islands in the South Pacific, waging wars on islands that had nothing to do with the conflict.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Hokule'a crew presents ho'okupu to Marshallese

          Miulang, you are a dim bulb. Did you read the article?

          The reason the Marshallese are fleeing the Marshall Islands to places like Arkansas has little if nothing to do with the US Government.

          The reason the Marshallese are moving to places like Arkansas is because the ruling class of chiefs on the Marshall Islands, called the iroij, own all the land. All the people under them are expected to give them gifts, money, and food (ie bribes) in order to win favors and pay the rent for the land they live on. All land is owned and rented out by these chiefs to their people.

          The chiefs have done such a poor job of ruling the islands that in the last 10 years there have been only 85 new jobs created, but over 3000 more Marshallese looking for work.

          The population is exploding and the Marshall Islands cannot sustain them.

          The US Government did not cause overpopulation, and the US Government did not have a hand in the misgoverning of the islands by the ruling chief class.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: The plight of the Marshallese

            Nice to read your post Mapen. Sometimes the spin in here is fierce.
            FutureNewsNetwork.com
            Energy answers are already here.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: The plight of the Marshallese

              Originally posted by mapen View Post
              Miulang, you are a dim bulb.
              Originally posted by timkona View Post
              Nice to read your post Mapen.
              Coulda been said without the insult, though. The opening tone infects the remainder of the message.
              Last edited by Leo Lakio; February 27, 2007, 08:03 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: The plight of the Marshallese

                Why include me? What's up Leo? You gotta admit that Miulang's post was quite spinny. Not untruthful, just spun up a little. As if to say that royal ownership of all the lands is a good thing for the common people. That would be the spin applied so as to preserve the sanctity of ancient Hawaii. Or as if to say that the US invaded islands without Japanese provocation. That would be the spin applied to paint the US as the bad guy in WWII. The "Hate America" crowd has been conditioned for years to think the way they do.

                The raw truth is that catching fish and growing some veggies is the most common occupation. Now give some of your veggies to the lazy fat man with the feather cape.

                Seeing the forest AND the trees simultaneously.
                FutureNewsNetwork.com
                Energy answers are already here.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: The plight of the Marshallese

                  Sorry, Tim - it was your first sentence that was appropriately quoted. It is nice to read opposing points of view on HT, spin or otherwise. Didn't mean to imply that you had insulted her. Edited the post.
                  Last edited by Leo Lakio; February 27, 2007, 08:05 AM. Reason: clarity

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: The plight of the Marshallese

                    I have read so many of Miulang's posts without replying before that my bulb comment was something of a release after reading so much of her incessant propaganda on these forums.

                    The Marshallese I know blame their chiefs for their problems, not the US government. They like the US Government because of the welfare benefits. The Marshallese I know have lots of children, the better for them to get more benefits from the US government.

                    I've done taxes for some Marshallese and it's amazing how many questionable dependent (child) SSNs they come up with to claim on their taxes so they can get a bigger refund and and claim more free money credits.

                    The US Government gives them more benefits and opportunities and treats them better than their chiefs do.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Hokule'a crew presents ho'okupu to Marshallese

                      Originally posted by mapen View Post
                      The reason the Marshallese are moving to places like Arkansas is because the ruling class of chiefs on the Marshall Islands, called the iroij, own all the land.
                      The US government is doing exactly the same thing to the Marshallese that they have done to the Puerto Ricans. Rather than just giving the people handouts for renting Kwajalein (the Marshallese government gets about 50-70% of its income in the form of US government subsidies), why aren't we doing more to help them create new jobs? Help their leaders develop more economic opportunities for their people rather than perpetuating a welfare state? (Tourism appears to be a nascent, but growing industry).

                      The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a fairly new democracy that has only been in place since 1990, when the UN gave up its trusteeship. The Republic's current constitution is a combination of traditional and more modern principles: the legal government is comprised of a legislative body called the Nitijela (Parliament) who are elected to their positions every 4 years, and an "unofficial" body of 12 called the Council of Iroij who are selected from among the tribal leaders. They have no official role in the day to day operation of the RMI government, but they are called on in cases where there are land disputes or other tribal problems. Over time, their influence will continue to diminish. Prior to the institution of the Constitution and the establishment of the Republic, it is true that there was lots of corruption and graft by the irioj, but their influence has been overshadowed by the existence of this Parliamentary government and its efforts at transparency. It is also true that most land is customarily owned by tribal families (much like Hawai'i used to be) and if you are not a current landowner, about the only way you can use the land is via leases, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

                      From the Marshallese Constitution:

                      Land in the Republic of the Marshall Islands is limited in its extent and is almost entirely customarily owned. Non-citizen investors wishing to access land for development must negotiate lease agreements directly with customary groups, or in the case of alienated land, with Marshallese citizens that own the land. The Government does not impose any restrictions on the term of a lease. Annual lease rates are negotiated between the parties based on prevailing market conditions.
                      In recognition of the complexities of customary land ownership in the country
                      and the difficulties for investors to acquire land for investment purposes, the
                      Government established a Land Registration Authority in March 2003. The
                      Authority will:
                      § create a voluntary register of customary land;
                      § establish an effective legal framework for recording all documents related to land, and registering ownership rights, leases, easements and mortgages;
                      § create a standard land lease agreement that can be used by interested parties.
                      In addition, the Government has expanded the land interests that may be
                      mortgaged to include the ownership interest in land, as well leaseholds.
                      Opportunities to expand the amount of available land in the country also exist.
                      This can be achieved through land reclamation. The Government is interested in pursuing this course of action and is exploring ways this can be done.
                      I never said the US government caused the exploding populations in the Marshall Islands. I just cited what has happened to the Bikinians and how we took over the island without "doing right" by the people who were displaced. We owe them hundreds of millions of dollars.

                      Here's a forum devoted to the Marshallese: they have some concerns about the continued use of Kwajalein Atoll by the US government.

                      Miulang
                      "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: The plight of the Marshallese

                        To hear Miulang embrace feudalism is not surprising at all.
                        FutureNewsNetwork.com
                        Energy answers are already here.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: The plight of the Marshallese

                          Originally posted by timkona View Post
                          To hear Miulang embrace feudalism is not surprising at all.
                          Not feudalism, TK, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS.

                          Miulang
                          "Americans believe in three freedoms. Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; and the freedom to deny the other two to folks they don`t like.” --Mark Twain

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Hokule'a crew presents ho'okupu to Marshallese

                            Originally posted by mapen View Post
                            Miulang, you are a dim bulb. Did you read the article?

                            The reason the Marshallese are fleeing the Marshall Islands to places like Arkansas has little if nothing to do with the US Government.

                            The reason the Marshallese are moving to places like Arkansas is because the ruling class of chiefs on the Marshall Islands, called the iroij, own all the land. All the people under them are expected to give them gifts, money, and food (ie bribes) in order to win favors and pay the rent for the land they live on. All land is owned and rented out by these chiefs to their people.

                            The chiefs have done such a poor job of ruling the islands that in the last 10 years there have been only 85 new jobs created, but over 3000 more Marshallese looking for work.

                            The population is exploding and the Marshall Islands cannot sustain them.

                            The US Government did not cause overpopulation, and the US Government did not have a hand in the misgoverning of the islands by the ruling chief class.
                            Did you read the article? Do you study history?

                            Why do Marshallese need jobs when they can live off the land and sea? How have the Marshallese survived for thousands of years? Why all of a sudden a population boom?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: The plight of the Marshallese

                              Miulang, there is no consistency in your ideas. Your thinking reminds me of bipolar women on prozac.

                              On the one hand you want the US Government to get the hell out of Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.

                              And now you say "why doesn't the US do more to fix the Marshallese economy and help the ruling chiefs create more jobs?" Do you realise the conflict in your thinking? You will take whatever position puts the blame on the US Government, no matter how much conflict and inconsistency there is in your ideas.
                              Last edited by mapen; February 27, 2007, 03:16 PM.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X