◆ SpookStack

1631 -HQ-1462938 one states: It is totally prohibited for any foodstuffs or persons or machinery to reach the villages that have been prohibited for security reasons that are included in the second stage of collecting the villages. Anyone who so desires is permitted to return to the national ranks. It is not allowed for relatives to contact them except with the knowledge of the security agencies. [attached as document #XX]. This directive was repeated word for word in communications between receiving entities and lower level units as, for example, in letter Number 4754, dated June 8, 1987, from Amn Erbil to all its departments and local offices. Letter Number 4754 is referenced on page 15 of the HRW report dated July, 1993, "Prelude to Anfal" section. AL-MAJID examined a copy of the letter written in Arabic. AL-MAJID admitted such an order was issued and sent to the referenced agencies and the military. AL-MAJID acknowledged the authenticity of the copy of this document and confirmed the authenticity of his signature on the last page. [AL-MAJID interview, March 21, 2004]. The second and most significant directive AL-MAJID issued was SF/4008 on June 20, 1987. The directive was issued by the Northern Bureau Command, signed by AL-MAJID, and stamped with the seal of the RCC’s Northern Affairs Committee. The directive was conveyed to the First, Second, and Fifth Corps Command and provided procedures on how to deal with prohibited villages. The directive stated: In view of the fact that the officially announced deadline for the amalgamation of these villages expires June 21, 1987, we have decided that the following action should taken with effect from June 22, 1987: 1. All the villages in which subversives, agents of Iran and similar traitors to Iraq are still to be found shall be regarded as out of bounds for security reasons; 2. They shall be regarded as operational zones that are strictly out of bounds to all persons and animals and in which the troops