Naw-Ruz 1977 -- The Universal House of Justice writes to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Marshall Islands assigning a goal to "Open
the remaining major islands of the Marshalls to the Faith and greatly
increase the number of believers."
18 February 1979 -- The National Assembly of the Marshall islands
reports "The major islands that are uninhabited: Toka, Ailinginae,
Rongdrik, Jemo, Bikini, Erkub, Bokak, Bikar." In the same report,
Rongelap Atoll is listed as having a Bahá'í group, Ujelang Atoll is
shown as an isolated Bahá'í center and Enewetak Atoll as well is
shown to have a group.
12 March 1979 -- Department of Secretariat writes to the National
Assembly of the Marshall Islands saying, "It is noted that there are
only two major inhabited islands not yet open to the Faith -- Mejit
and Ailuk, and it is hoped these will soon be opened."
24 August 1983 -- The National Assembly of the Marshall Islands
report states "Atolls which have no population and therefore are not
to be considered under any teaching plan are as follows: Ailingae,
Bikar, Bikini, Bokaak (Taongi), Erikub, Jemo, Knox, Rongerik, and
Taja." A note is appended by the National Assembly to this same
report which reads: "Note: Though one of the larger islands of the
M.I. atolls, Rongelap is largely radioactive, with no population."
A second note, in reference to Ujelang Atoll, reads: "Note: For
a time uninhabited, there is a report some people may have returned."
1 July 1985 -- Annual Statistical Report has a note next to Rongelap
"People have been evacuated to other places in Kwajalein." This same
document shows Ujelang as having a group with less than nine adult
believers.
24 August 1987 -- The National Assembly of the Marshall Islands
locality report notes that the people of Rongelap Atoll have been
evacuated to Mejatto Island, Kwajalein Atoll. Bikini Atoll, which
at some point seemed to have had two localities, had its population
removed to Kili and Ejit Islands in Majuro Atoll. Enewetak and
Ujelang Atolls are listed as having Bahá'í localities.
25 April 1989 -- Department of the Secretariat thanks the National
Assembly of the Marshall Islands for providing copies of pages from
a published Marshall Islands 1988 census, commenting, "We appreciate
having this information for our files, and found the map showing
the populations of various atolls to be especially interesting."
Population figures are presented for the 26 principal atolls and
islands which comprise the Marshalls. All but Rongelap Atoll and
Ujelang Atoll are shown to be inhabited, and a note indicates that
"282 Rongelap people were enumerated on Mejetto in Kwajalein Atoll",
thus providing further evidence of the evacuation of Rongelap at some
point prior to 1988. Bikini Atoll is shown to have a population
of 30. Of the major islands listed by the National Assembly in its
1979 report, neither Toka, Ailinginae, Rongdrik, Jemo, Erkub, Bokak,
or Bikar is listed by the government among the 26 principal islands
and atolls; however, Jemo and Ailinginae are shown on an accompanying
map, but without any population figures provided. (Other localities
shown on the government's map do indicate population next to the
place names.)
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