The Life and Funeral of
HON. BIKINIAN MAYOR KATAEJAR JIBAS
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Mayor Kataejar Jibas |
Bikinian Mayor, the Honorable Kataejar Jibas, died at 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, October 2, 2008, in the Philippines following an automobile accident that occurred on September 17 in Majuro, Marshall Islands. He was 55 years old. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, nine children and many grandchildren. Mayor Jibas was a long time employee of the Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Council. He was a policeman in the 1970s, and then a Councilman and Assistant Treasurer beginning in the early 1980s, and held these positions until he was elected Mayor in November of 2007. Mayor Jibas was known through the islands as a very kind, humble and sincere person. Those of us who worked with him for many years considered it a privilage. He rarely if ever lost his temper and was always willing to sit down and discuss issues and solve problems. When the body of the mayor arrived from the Philippines on the evening of October 10, the airport was crowded with mourners that included Ministers from the government, religious leaders, family and friends. The line of over 150 cars that accompanied his body to the Rita Protestant Church went on for miles. Once at the church for this initial gathering of mourners, the Acting President, Christopher Loeak, spoke, along with Iroijlaplap Michael Kabua, Bikinian Senator Tomaki Juda, former President and Senator Kessai Note, and Acting Bikinian Mayor Alson Kelen. Mayor Jibas was buried on the evening of October 15, 2008, near his house in Rita Village, Majuro Atoll. Several thousand people attended the service. |
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Invitation to Memorial Service held for Mayor Jibas on October 10, 2008, upon his arrival in the RMI from the Philippines. |
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Kataejar Jibas and his wife Dorothy many years ago. |
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Kataejar Jibas with delegation at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site in 1987 |
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Kataejar Jibas with delegation (pictured with Dan Rather) in New York for the 1988 Emmy Awards for the film, Bikini: Forbidden Paradise |
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Kataejar Jibas in the outback of Maralinga, Australia, in 1988 to visit the aborigines also involved in nuclear testing. |
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Kataejar Jibas with delegation in London, England, 1995, on our way to visit the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. |
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Kataejar Jibas in Bali, Indonesia for a conference on Tourism, 1996. |
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People of Bikini "ilomij" (pay respects) with Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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People of Bikini ilomij with Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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People of Bikini ilomij with Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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Sign made by the Mayor's grandchildren outside the house of Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard moving the coffin from Mayor Kataejar Jibas's house to the graveyard, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard moving the coffin from Mayor Kataejar Jibas's house to the graveyard, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard moving the coffin from Mayor Kataejar Jibas's house to the graveyard, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard at the graveyard, October 15, 2008 |
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(From Left to Right) Iroijlaplap and Senator Michael Kabua, Minister Jack Ading, Iroijlaplap and Minister Christopher Loeak at the graveyard, October 15, 2008 |
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Bikinian Senator Tomaki Juda speaks on behalf of the people of Bikini at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008.
Senator Juda also spoke at the araak of Mayor Kataejar Jibas on October 17, 2008. |
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Deacon Johnny Johnson speaks on behalf of the Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Council at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Iroijlaplap and Minister to the President Christopher Loeak speaks on behalf of the National Government at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Iroijlaplap and Senator Michael Kabua speaks on behalf of the traditional leaders of the Marshall Islands at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Alap Aitem speaks on behalf of the landowners of the graveyard at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Luren Loeak Ading speaks on behalf of Kataejar's mother's side of the family, at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008
Luren also spoke at the araak of Mayor Kataejar Jibas on October 17, 2008. |
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Bikini Councilman Ichiro Mark speaks on behalf of Kataejar's adopted father's side of the family at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008
Ichiro also spoke at the araak of Mayor Kataejar Jibas on October 17, 2008. |
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Senator Kessai Note speaks on behalf of Kataejar's biological father's side of the family at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008
Senator Note also spoke at the araak of Mayor Kataejar Jibas on October 17, 2008. |
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Antonio Elio was the Master of Ceremony at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Ataji Balos speaks on behalf of Kataejar's wife's side of the family at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Ri-Kaki Lanij Johnson closes the funeral with a prayer at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008
Ri-Kaki Lanij Johnson also said the prayers at the araak of Mayor Kataejar Jibas on October 17, 2008. |
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Kataejar's sons at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's funeral, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard preparing to bury Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard burying Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Honor Guard beside the grave of Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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The Mayor's family beside the grave of Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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The Mayor's sons look upon the grave of Mayor Kataejar Jibas, October 15, 2008 |
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The Araak of Hon. Mayor Kataejar Jibas
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The evening of October 17, 2008
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The grave site of Mayor Kataejar Jibas in Rita Village, Majuro Atoll, October 17, 2008. |
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The family of Mayor Kataejar Jibas at the grave site in Rita Village, Majuro Atoll, October 17, 2008. |
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Tatios Anjolok was the Master of Ceremony at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Bikinian Acting Mayor Alson Kelen speaking at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Enos Balos speaking at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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harold Matujela speaking at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Kunar Abner speaking at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Bikini Councilman Uraki Jibas speaking at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Ijoijlaplap Anjua Loeak spreads stones at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Senator Kessai Note and Bikinian Senator Tomaki Juda spread stones at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Hundreds of people lineup for the final feast at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 |
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Hundreds of people lineup for the final feast at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 (2) |
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Hundreds of people lineup for the final feast at Mayor Kataejar Jibas's araak, October 17, 2008 (3) |
All Photos © Jack Niedenthal bikinijack@gmail.com
This Bikini Atoll website is sponsored by: To purchase or rent Microwave Films and DVDs MICROWAVE FILMS
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The historical information within this site, while constantly updated, is drawn largely from the book, FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND: A History of the People of Bikini and their Islands, Second Edition, published in September of 2001 by Jack Niedenthal. This book tells the story of the people of Bikini from their point of view via interviews, and the author's more than two decades of firsthand experiences with elder Bikinians. Copies can be purchased from this direct ordering link at Amazon.com, or you can also buy and download the Kindle edition. |
