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Nuke payments not enough, says Marshalls
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Posted on Nov 16 2000
Majuro (Marshall Islands Journal/PINA Nius Online) – Marshall Islands nuclear victims have received final U.S.-funded compensation payment millions of dollars short of full compensation for health problems sustained from 67 American n-tests in the islands.
Nuclear Claims Tribunal Chairman Oscar deBrum and judges Greg Danz and Jim Plazman had said in a statement: “With this years annual payment, and anticipated initial payments over the coming year, the Tribunal will have exhausted the entire $45.75 million available to it” (under the Compact since 1987).
Through the end of September, 6,460 claims had been filed with the Tribunal, which has made 1,694 awards totaling $72.9 million. Saying that more than 40 percent of these nuclear claimants have died without receiving full compensation, the Marshall Islands government has petitioned the U.S. Congress to provide the $27 million needed to meet the shortfall so the Tribunal can fully compensate the awardees.
“I’m optimistic that the U.S. Congress will provide the funds,” deBrum told the Marshall Islands Journal.
For people who began receiving compensation before 1996, this payment will bring their total compensation to almost two thirds of their awards. More recent awardees will have received 50 percent of their totals.
The judges said that they have devoted the entire $45.75 million to personal injury claims, despite making a $386 million award for land damages and cleanup to Enewetak earlier this year.
“In light of the magnitude of this award, any amount the Tribunal could allocate to (Enewetak’s) award would be so slight as to be insignificant,” they said, adding that Enewetak also has other sources of compensation through the Compact.
While saying that Enewetak’s level of Compact compensation is “manifestly inadequate,” the Tribunal said in “balancing their interest with those of claimants who have no other avenue for redress,” the continuation of the annual payment plan for personal injury claims was “reasonable and appropriate.”
