(09 Sept. 86) The RM (Resident Manager) for the EC Corporation called a meeting of all police officers and Marshallese constables at the high school today. Before answering questions he filled us in on the latest developments concerning Kwajalein Atoll.
First, a medical team checking for syphilis on Ebeye came up with some startling results. Out of 900 Marshallese examined, 331 tested positive for the disease. The RM called this a “critical problem.” There are 10,000 people crammed together on 68 acres of coral rock and people sleep in shifts with some public restrooms in a central location along the central island, oceanside.
Next, construction will begin on Meck Island in November. This is in preparation for the start of two Strategic Defense Initiative programs (SDI or Star Wars) by September of next year.
The Kwajalein Police might keep a detachment of officers there or transport them daily from Kwajalein. In support of these programs, two air-conditioned catamarans will arrive at Kwajalein soon, each with a capacity of two hundred and a top speed of 45 miles per hour.
The RM came down hard on the constables. Last month (August) they had over 200 hours of AWOL. He said he has permission to replace constables with Americans if they don’t shape up.
“While I realize there is a difference in cultures,” he told them,”there is a job that needs to be done. You’ve got to grow up and be mature. If you want to be treated like Americans, you have to act responsible like Americans.”
Concerning the political situation, the State Department and the Army are on Kwajalein to rely intelligence data.
The Interior Use Agreement, a temporary lease agreement between the U.S. and the Marshallese landowners of Kwajalein Atoll, ends on October 1. Another demonstration, including occupation of important islands, is an 80 percent possibility. President Kabua has said he will not extend the agreement.
The last demonstration lasted from November of 1985 until May of this year. It was mostly peaceful but did include some rock throwing.
The RM asked if any constables had any information about upcoming demonstrations. There was no response.
He also asked if any constables would have any problems carrying out their duties against relatives and friends. Again no response.
When the floor was open to questions, a constable asked about billeting for them on island.
“No way.” The RM answered emphatically.
He said that the last time the constables had places to stay on Kwaj, “they got drunk and tore up the rooms.”
An American officer asked about procedures for handling the demonstrators.
“We’ve got a whole bunch of Marshallese (constables) here. I’m not going to tell them our game plans.”
And that was our very strange briefing for the day.
Note:
Ambulances met the ferry boat from Ebeye at Echo Pier late this afternoon. Two young Marshallese males, unrelated suicides, were brought to the morgue on Kwajalein for embalming. The bodies will be returned for burial on Ebeye or some other island after a period of mourning, when relatives and friends come to Kwajalein to pay their respects.
Filed under: Almost Paradise Volume 1
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