TESTIMONY AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN
NCRV Netwerk, The Netherlands
Director/reporter: Piet de Blaauw
Cameraman: Alexander Koning
Introduction
Seventeen years ago he survived a poison gas attack on his village that rendered him nearly blind. He fled to Europe, where he lived for many years. Now, 17 years later,
the Kurd Karwan Taufik is one of the prime witnesses in the ongoing process against the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Karwan takes a journey back to the village where he saw dozens of people get killed by the poisoned gas. And he visits the prison where his comrades were tortured to death.
Exit
Karwan Taufik is glad that Saddam Hussein has received the death penalty, but hopes that the sentence is not carried out until the process about the gas attack against the Kurds is rounded off.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:02:01:06 00:02:04:12 03:06
These are my eyes
00:02:04:12 00:02:08:12 04:00
I would like the camera to come closer
00:02:13:24 00:02:17:06 03:07
I ran over there
00:02:17:06 00:02:24:11 07:05
But I saw many old people, children and women lie here
00:02:24:11 00:02:27:24 03:13
Were they all dead?
00:02:27:24 00:02:33:05 05:06
Yes, they were dead. Over 50, 60 people.
Saddam Hussein
00:02:38:18 00:02:42:18 04:00
I want to ask that Dutchman:
00:02:42:18 00:02:45:00 02:07
Has he seen people
00:02:45:00 00:02:50:00 05:00
...who were hit by American chemical weapons in Vietnam?
Barzan Ahmad
(former resistance fighter)
00:02:50:00 00:02:56:12 06:12
Often the people were in so much pain, that they tried to turn around
00:02:56:12 00:03:00:19 04:07
...but then the torturers would start hanging on them...
00:03:00:19 00:03:05:04 04:10
...until their shoulders were dislocated.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:03:05:04 00:03:10:00 04:21
I bring charges against Saddam.
I demand my rights...
00:03:10:00 00:03:15:12 05:12
...because for years now I have been suffering and live in misery.
3.32 - voice over
Northern Iraq. Protected by police, we are on our way to Shanagse, a village close to the Iranian border. It was there that on 22 March 1988 the Kurdish Dutchman, Karwan Taufik was hit by a poison gas attack, ordered by Saddam Hussein. It marked him for life.
00:03:55:12 00:04:00:00 04:13
Whenever I am in Shanagse, old wounds are re opened.
00:04:00:00 00:04:05:00 05:00
Memories of that time are painfull.
Driver/passer-by
00:04:06:00 00:04:09:12 03:12
Shanagse is straight ahead?
- Yes.
00:04:09:12 00:04:11:12 02:00
Thank you.
4.15 - voice over
The attack on the village of Shanagse, was part of Saddam's campaign to attack the rebellious Kurds with poison gas. Even though it happened 17 years ago, the memories are still fresh in his mind. And yet, Karwan wants to show us where it all took place.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:04:30:19 00:04:34:18 03:24
My charge is against everyone of the Saddam regime...
00:04:34:18 00:04:39:12 04:19
...who participated in the genocide of the Kurdish people.
4.39 - voice over
Two months ago, Karwan testified in the lawsuit against Saddam Hussein and since then is known all over Iraq. The entire process is being shown on television. When he talks about the consequences of the poison gas attack, the former dictator reacts.
Saddam Hussein
00:04:56:09 00:05:04:00 07:16
According to this man he has seen bodies of children.
00:05:06:12 00:05:11:00 04:13
What were these children doing in a military area?
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:05:11:00 00:05:17:06 06:06
I never thought it would happen...
00:05:17:06 00:05:23:12 06:06
...that Saddam would be behind bars and that I would witness against him
00:05:23:12 00:05:28:17 05:05
...that I would feel very superior to him
00:05:28:17 00:05:31:24 03:07
...and that he and his accomplices would be so weak.
5.33 - voice over
The reason Karwan was chosen out of thousands of victims to testify against Saddam, is because the consequences of the poison gas attack are still so obvious. The gas has rendered him almost totally blind.
00:05:48:00 00:05:52:06 04:06
It is heavy for me.
00:05:52:06 00:05:59:12 07:06
For instance, I can not read books, watch tv for a long time or drive a car.
00:05:59:12 00:06:04:12 05:00
Mentally it is heavy.
00:06:04:12 00:06:08:18 04:06
It has strongly influenced and changed my life.
00:06:08:18 00:06:14:06 05:13
For instance:
For years I have lived in Europe
00:06:14:06 00:06:17:09 03:03
...but I could not learn the language.
00:06:17:09 00:06:20:17 03:08
I have lived in The Netherlands for 17 years
00:06:20:17 00:06:24:18 04:01
...but because of my mutilations, I was not able to learn the Dutch language.
00:06:24:18 00:06:30:00 05:07
If I had been healthy and had been able to take care of myself
00:06:30:00 00:06:35:00 05:00
...my life would have turned out different.
00:06:35:00 00:06:39:12 04:12
Even my own children are afraid of my eyes.
00:06:39:12 00:06:44:00 04:13
When I take off my glasses, they say: Daddy, please put them back on!
6.45 -voice over
Karwan watches the replay of his testimony for the first time. He is not afraid to testify against Saddam Hussein, but he protects himself against a possible revenge attack by Saddam's followers.
00:06:55:18 00:06:59:12 03:19
I avoid many places and I do not go outside at night.
00:06:59:12 00:07:01:19 02:07
I carry a gun with me.
00:07:01:19 00:07:07:24 06:05
And my armed friends always guard me when I go somewhere.
7.07 -voice over
After the attack Karwan received medical treatment in Iran. After that he fled to The Netherlands. Here he is, during a demonstration against Saddam. But The Netherlands is also the country of this man, Frans van Anraat, one of the main suppliers of chemicals to Iraq. From these chemicals Iraq made poisoned gas.
00:07:32:12 00:07:38:00 05:13
If he had not sold those weapens to Saddam, perhaps it would not have happened.
00:07:38:00 00:07:41:18 03:18
To me he is even more guilty than Saddam.
7.42 - voice over
Another important reason to the Iraqi prosecuters, to have Karwan testify against Saddam Hussein, was the fact that this Kurd had also testified against Frans van Anraat. The conviction of Van Anraat to 15 years in prison is now being used as evidence against the Iraqi dictator.
00:08:01:00 00:08:06:12 05:12
His name is: Frans van Anraat.
The judge
00:08:16:06 00:08:18:00 01:19
Who is that?
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:08:18:00 00:08:22:12 04:12
He has sold hundreds of tons of chemical weapons...
00:08:22:12 00:08:26:06 03:19
...to Saddam, to Irak.
8.26 - voice over
We continue our trip to Shanagse, the village where Karwan was attacked with poison gas. The terrain is becoming more and more inhospitable. It was from these mountains that the Kurdish rebels, called pesmerga, harassed the Iraqi troups of Saddam Hussein for years. Along the road, the mountains are still full of mine fields.
Passers by
00:08:54:00 00:09:00:05 06:05
Go straight ahead. Its the village after the next village.
00:09:00:05 00:09:02:12 02:07
Thank you very much.
9.03 - voice over
Karwan does not exactly know the way to Shanagse anymore. In the eighties he was also active in the resistance movement against the Iraqi troups. Back then there were no roads in the mountains and all movements were done by foot. Karwan brought a former comrade from the resistance, as his driver. Due to his bad sight, he is unable to drive himself. The further we get into the mountains, the more old memories are recalled.
Karwan Taufik and a comrad
00:09:30:18 00:09:35:00 04:07
Our path can be long and difficult
00:09:35:00 00:09:40:00 05:00
and even when there is fire all around us
00:09:40:00 00:09:45:00 05:00
we will never leave this high path
00:09:45:00 00:09:49:09 04:09
we are prepared to give our lives for this goal
Barzan Ahmad
(former resistance fighter)
00:09:52:18 00:09:55:06 02:13
This was a jail.
00:09:56:19 00:10:00:06 03:12
This was the section for women.
00:10:02:18 00:10:06:12 03:19
Women were emprisoned here.
00:10:06:12 00:10:09:19 03:07
So the families of the resistance fighters
00:10:09:19 00:10:12:18 02:24
were emprisoned here.
10.13 - voice over
Before the trip through the mountains, Karwan visits a former resistance comrade. Just like Karwan, Barzan Ahmad has also been injured by a poison gas attack. Here they both are in a prison, which was used In the Saddam regime.
00:10:29:00 00:10:33:12 04:12
It was the intention here that someone was strangled.
00:10:33:12 00:10:38:12 05:00
The weight of the body would take care of that. Like this.
00:10:38:12 00:10:41:06 02:19
And then he suffocates.
00:10:41:06 00:10:47:12 06:06
This does not need much explanation. Here, people were tortured by being hit on the soles of their feet.
10.49 - voice over
Many Kurdish rebels were tortured in these rooms. This prison has now been turned into a museum, which is directed by Barzan.
00:10:58:12 00:11:03:06 04:19
Many comrades were killed. We are still alive, but with many scars.
00:11:03:06 00:11:07:18 04:12
We chose for the battle ourselves and are proud of it.
00:11:07:18 00:11:13:03 05:10
I am very happy to be working here
00:11:13:03 00:11:18:18 05:15
...because now I can explain other generations which cruelties...
00:11:18:18 00:11:23:18 05:00
...were inflicted by the regime and how they tortured.
00:11:23:18 00:11:28:12 04:19
To make sure that it is never forgotten.
Karwan Taufik
00:11:29:12 00:11:37:00 07:13
Long live the resistance! Long live Kurdistan.
Barzan Ahmad
(old resistance fighter)
00:11:37:00 00:11:41:06 04:06
These five minors, have been shot to death without any proces
00:11:41:06 00:11:43:12 02:06
...according to the Saddam method
00:11:43:12 00:11:47:18 04:06
...in broad day light.
73: 00:11:47:18 00:11:51:18 04:00
Civilians were forced to watch and applaud.
00:11:51:18 00:11:56:03 04:10
Afterwards the family had to pay back the costs of the bullets.
00:11:56:03 00:11:59:16 03:13
The bullets that killed them.
00:11:59:16 00:12:02:12 02:21
Five youngsters under the age of 18.
Karwan Taufik
00:12:02:12 00:12:07:06 04:19
You were our leaders
00:12:07:06 00:12:12:00 04:19
you became a support and a bastion for us
00:12:12:00 00:12:17:06 05:06
you became a support and a bastion for us
00:12:17:06 00:12:21:16 04:10
without your sacrifices
Reporter
12.32.00
Where did the the poison gas attack take place?
Karwan Taufik
00:12:35:12 00:12:41:00 05:13
Here. That side. Up there.
Reporter
Where did the airplanes come from?
Karwan Taufik
00:12:44:18 00:12:48:12 03:19
From that side. From the Iraqi side.
12.55 - voice over
We arrive in the village of Shanagse. Across from the valley is the border with Iran. In these hills the Iraqi airplanes dropped their deadly load. Karwan was staying here with three other resistance fighters in tents.
00:13:17:12 00:13:22:12 05:00
I came out of my tent, looked up and saw the aireplanes come down.
00:13:22:12 00:13:26:19 04:07
I ducked behind a pile of stones.
00:13:26:19 00:13:33:12 06:18
And then, on this very spot, a bomb fell.
00:13:33:12 00:13:40:15 07:03
It was so close, that the gas had not been spread yet and it splashed on me.
00:13:47:06 00:13:52:12 05:06
Slowly I started to become sick, and on my hands and face
00:13:52:12 00:13:56:12 04:00
...I got a burning feeling. They became bright red.
00:13:56:12 00:14:01:00 04:13
My eyes started to tear very badly.
00:14:01:00 00:14:08:12 07:12
About one hour after the attack
00:14:08:12 00:14:12:00 03:13
...I lost consciousness.
00:14:12:00 00:14:15:06 03:06
When I came to, I was in Iran.
14.18 - voice over
An old woman lives only a stone's throw away from where the bombs fell. She lost a son and a daughter In the poison gas attack. In her yard still lie remains of the battle.
Old woman
00:14:30:00 00:14:32:12 02:12
Many people got murdered.
00:14:32:12 00:14:36:00 03:13
Tens of people, I swear to God.
00:14:37:18 00:14:41:00 03:07
Tens of people.
00:14:42:18 00:14:47:00 04:07
When my daughter heard that Mahmoud was killed
00:14:47:00 00:14:53:00 06:00
...she called out that it would have been better if she had died instead of him.
00:14:53:00 00:14:56:22 03:22
Two days later, she was also killed.
00:14:56:22 00:15:02:00 05:03
What happened after your village was attacked with chemical weapons?
00:15:02:00 00:15:09:00 07:00
There was no village anymore. Everything was destroyed. It was awful.
00:15:09:00 00:15:17:00 08:00
When we came back, we were afraid. Everything was contaminated with chemicals.
00:15:19:00 00:15:21:11 02:11
It was horrible.
15.25 - voice over
After the poison gas attack Iranian hospitals were overflowing with victims. Also Karwan was treated there. Many people did not survive the attack.
Karwan Taufik
00:15:37:19 00:15:42:18 04:24
While standing here,
00:15:42:18 00:15:45:09 02:16
...do you feel mostly sad or angry?
00:15:45:09 00:15:46:22 01:13
I become sad.
00:15:46:22 00:15:51:00 04:03
Because it was the most horrible day of my life.
00:15:51:00 00:15:57:06 06:06
I got injured myself. I think of all those others that were gassed.
00:15:57:06 00:16:00:00 02:19
This makes me very sad.
Saddam Hussein
00:16:00:00 00:16:04:06 04:06
Two nationalities is not allowed.
00:16:04:06 00:16:09:00 04:19
The one who receives an other passport...
00:16:09:00 00:16:13:00 04:00
...automatically loses the Iraqi nationality.
16.14 - voice over
In the courtroom Saddam Hussein states that Karwan can no longer be seen as an Iraqi, because he now has a Dutch passport and he should not be allowed to testify against him.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:16:23:16 00:16:27:12 03:21
I am an Iraqi.
00:16:27:12 00:16:31:06 03:19
But I am proud to have a Dutch passport.
00:16:31:06 00:16:36:09 05:03
I am grateful to The Netherlands for giving me the Dutch nationality.
00:16:36:09 00:16:40:03 03:19
They have helped me and gave me medical treatment.
16.42 -voice over
Karwan is worried about the situation in Ira q. The violence in the rest of the country is only getting worse and he feels it's better to found an independent Kurdistan. In spite of all the problems, he is sure that this is where his future lies.
00:16:55:12 00:17:02:24 07:12
As you know, Kurdistan is free. There are few problems.
00:17:02:24 00:17:08:01 05:02
People actually love their own country more.
00:17:08:01 00:17:15:00 06:24
This is the land of my father and mother. That is why I returned.
00:17:15:00 00:17:19:06 04:06
When I went to Europe, I had problems and bad health.
00:17:19:06 00:17:25:00 05:19
My health is still bad, there just as well as here.
00:17:25:00 00:17:31:05 06:05
That is why I returned, to be with my own family in my own country.
NCRV Netwerk, The Netherlands
Director/reporter: Piet de Blaauw
Cameraman: Alexander Koning
Introduction
Seventeen years ago he survived a poison gas attack on his village that rendered him nearly blind. He fled to Europe, where he lived for many years. Now, 17 years later,
the Kurd Karwan Taufik is one of the prime witnesses in the ongoing process against the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Karwan takes a journey back to the village where he saw dozens of people get killed by the poisoned gas. And he visits the prison where his comrades were tortured to death.
Exit
Karwan Taufik is glad that Saddam Hussein has received the death penalty, but hopes that the sentence is not carried out until the process about the gas attack against the Kurds is rounded off.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:02:01:06 00:02:04:12 03:06
These are my eyes
00:02:04:12 00:02:08:12 04:00
I would like the camera to come closer
00:02:13:24 00:02:17:06 03:07
I ran over there
00:02:17:06 00:02:24:11 07:05
But I saw many old people, children and women lie here
00:02:24:11 00:02:27:24 03:13
Were they all dead?
00:02:27:24 00:02:33:05 05:06
Yes, they were dead. Over 50, 60 people.
Saddam Hussein
00:02:38:18 00:02:42:18 04:00
I want to ask that Dutchman:
00:02:42:18 00:02:45:00 02:07
Has he seen people
00:02:45:00 00:02:50:00 05:00
...who were hit by American chemical weapons in Vietnam?
Barzan Ahmad
(former resistance fighter)
00:02:50:00 00:02:56:12 06:12
Often the people were in so much pain, that they tried to turn around
00:02:56:12 00:03:00:19 04:07
...but then the torturers would start hanging on them...
00:03:00:19 00:03:05:04 04:10
...until their shoulders were dislocated.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:03:05:04 00:03:10:00 04:21
I bring charges against Saddam.
I demand my rights...
00:03:10:00 00:03:15:12 05:12
...because for years now I have been suffering and live in misery.
3.32 - voice over
Northern Iraq. Protected by police, we are on our way to Shanagse, a village close to the Iranian border. It was there that on 22 March 1988 the Kurdish Dutchman, Karwan Taufik was hit by a poison gas attack, ordered by Saddam Hussein. It marked him for life.
00:03:55:12 00:04:00:00 04:13
Whenever I am in Shanagse, old wounds are re opened.
00:04:00:00 00:04:05:00 05:00
Memories of that time are painfull.
Driver/passer-by
00:04:06:00 00:04:09:12 03:12
Shanagse is straight ahead?
- Yes.
00:04:09:12 00:04:11:12 02:00
Thank you.
4.15 - voice over
The attack on the village of Shanagse, was part of Saddam's campaign to attack the rebellious Kurds with poison gas. Even though it happened 17 years ago, the memories are still fresh in his mind. And yet, Karwan wants to show us where it all took place.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:04:30:19 00:04:34:18 03:24
My charge is against everyone of the Saddam regime...
00:04:34:18 00:04:39:12 04:19
...who participated in the genocide of the Kurdish people.
4.39 - voice over
Two months ago, Karwan testified in the lawsuit against Saddam Hussein and since then is known all over Iraq. The entire process is being shown on television. When he talks about the consequences of the poison gas attack, the former dictator reacts.
Saddam Hussein
00:04:56:09 00:05:04:00 07:16
According to this man he has seen bodies of children.
00:05:06:12 00:05:11:00 04:13
What were these children doing in a military area?
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:05:11:00 00:05:17:06 06:06
I never thought it would happen...
00:05:17:06 00:05:23:12 06:06
...that Saddam would be behind bars and that I would witness against him
00:05:23:12 00:05:28:17 05:05
...that I would feel very superior to him
00:05:28:17 00:05:31:24 03:07
...and that he and his accomplices would be so weak.
5.33 - voice over
The reason Karwan was chosen out of thousands of victims to testify against Saddam, is because the consequences of the poison gas attack are still so obvious. The gas has rendered him almost totally blind.
00:05:48:00 00:05:52:06 04:06
It is heavy for me.
00:05:52:06 00:05:59:12 07:06
For instance, I can not read books, watch tv for a long time or drive a car.
00:05:59:12 00:06:04:12 05:00
Mentally it is heavy.
00:06:04:12 00:06:08:18 04:06
It has strongly influenced and changed my life.
00:06:08:18 00:06:14:06 05:13
For instance:
For years I have lived in Europe
00:06:14:06 00:06:17:09 03:03
...but I could not learn the language.
00:06:17:09 00:06:20:17 03:08
I have lived in The Netherlands for 17 years
00:06:20:17 00:06:24:18 04:01
...but because of my mutilations, I was not able to learn the Dutch language.
00:06:24:18 00:06:30:00 05:07
If I had been healthy and had been able to take care of myself
00:06:30:00 00:06:35:00 05:00
...my life would have turned out different.
00:06:35:00 00:06:39:12 04:12
Even my own children are afraid of my eyes.
00:06:39:12 00:06:44:00 04:13
When I take off my glasses, they say: Daddy, please put them back on!
6.45 -voice over
Karwan watches the replay of his testimony for the first time. He is not afraid to testify against Saddam Hussein, but he protects himself against a possible revenge attack by Saddam's followers.
00:06:55:18 00:06:59:12 03:19
I avoid many places and I do not go outside at night.
00:06:59:12 00:07:01:19 02:07
I carry a gun with me.
00:07:01:19 00:07:07:24 06:05
And my armed friends always guard me when I go somewhere.
7.07 -voice over
After the attack Karwan received medical treatment in Iran. After that he fled to The Netherlands. Here he is, during a demonstration against Saddam. But The Netherlands is also the country of this man, Frans van Anraat, one of the main suppliers of chemicals to Iraq. From these chemicals Iraq made poisoned gas.
00:07:32:12 00:07:38:00 05:13
If he had not sold those weapens to Saddam, perhaps it would not have happened.
00:07:38:00 00:07:41:18 03:18
To me he is even more guilty than Saddam.
7.42 - voice over
Another important reason to the Iraqi prosecuters, to have Karwan testify against Saddam Hussein, was the fact that this Kurd had also testified against Frans van Anraat. The conviction of Van Anraat to 15 years in prison is now being used as evidence against the Iraqi dictator.
00:08:01:00 00:08:06:12 05:12
His name is: Frans van Anraat.
The judge
00:08:16:06 00:08:18:00 01:19
Who is that?
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:08:18:00 00:08:22:12 04:12
He has sold hundreds of tons of chemical weapons...
00:08:22:12 00:08:26:06 03:19
...to Saddam, to Irak.
8.26 - voice over
We continue our trip to Shanagse, the village where Karwan was attacked with poison gas. The terrain is becoming more and more inhospitable. It was from these mountains that the Kurdish rebels, called pesmerga, harassed the Iraqi troups of Saddam Hussein for years. Along the road, the mountains are still full of mine fields.
Passers by
00:08:54:00 00:09:00:05 06:05
Go straight ahead. Its the village after the next village.
00:09:00:05 00:09:02:12 02:07
Thank you very much.
9.03 - voice over
Karwan does not exactly know the way to Shanagse anymore. In the eighties he was also active in the resistance movement against the Iraqi troups. Back then there were no roads in the mountains and all movements were done by foot. Karwan brought a former comrade from the resistance, as his driver. Due to his bad sight, he is unable to drive himself. The further we get into the mountains, the more old memories are recalled.
Karwan Taufik and a comrad
00:09:30:18 00:09:35:00 04:07
Our path can be long and difficult
00:09:35:00 00:09:40:00 05:00
and even when there is fire all around us
00:09:40:00 00:09:45:00 05:00
we will never leave this high path
00:09:45:00 00:09:49:09 04:09
we are prepared to give our lives for this goal
Barzan Ahmad
(former resistance fighter)
00:09:52:18 00:09:55:06 02:13
This was a jail.
00:09:56:19 00:10:00:06 03:12
This was the section for women.
00:10:02:18 00:10:06:12 03:19
Women were emprisoned here.
00:10:06:12 00:10:09:19 03:07
So the families of the resistance fighters
00:10:09:19 00:10:12:18 02:24
were emprisoned here.
10.13 - voice over
Before the trip through the mountains, Karwan visits a former resistance comrade. Just like Karwan, Barzan Ahmad has also been injured by a poison gas attack. Here they both are in a prison, which was used In the Saddam regime.
00:10:29:00 00:10:33:12 04:12
It was the intention here that someone was strangled.
00:10:33:12 00:10:38:12 05:00
The weight of the body would take care of that. Like this.
00:10:38:12 00:10:41:06 02:19
And then he suffocates.
00:10:41:06 00:10:47:12 06:06
This does not need much explanation. Here, people were tortured by being hit on the soles of their feet.
10.49 - voice over
Many Kurdish rebels were tortured in these rooms. This prison has now been turned into a museum, which is directed by Barzan.
00:10:58:12 00:11:03:06 04:19
Many comrades were killed. We are still alive, but with many scars.
00:11:03:06 00:11:07:18 04:12
We chose for the battle ourselves and are proud of it.
00:11:07:18 00:11:13:03 05:10
I am very happy to be working here
00:11:13:03 00:11:18:18 05:15
...because now I can explain other generations which cruelties...
00:11:18:18 00:11:23:18 05:00
...were inflicted by the regime and how they tortured.
00:11:23:18 00:11:28:12 04:19
To make sure that it is never forgotten.
Karwan Taufik
00:11:29:12 00:11:37:00 07:13
Long live the resistance! Long live Kurdistan.
Barzan Ahmad
(old resistance fighter)
00:11:37:00 00:11:41:06 04:06
These five minors, have been shot to death without any proces
00:11:41:06 00:11:43:12 02:06
...according to the Saddam method
00:11:43:12 00:11:47:18 04:06
...in broad day light.
73: 00:11:47:18 00:11:51:18 04:00
Civilians were forced to watch and applaud.
00:11:51:18 00:11:56:03 04:10
Afterwards the family had to pay back the costs of the bullets.
00:11:56:03 00:11:59:16 03:13
The bullets that killed them.
00:11:59:16 00:12:02:12 02:21
Five youngsters under the age of 18.
Karwan Taufik
00:12:02:12 00:12:07:06 04:19
You were our leaders
00:12:07:06 00:12:12:00 04:19
you became a support and a bastion for us
00:12:12:00 00:12:17:06 05:06
you became a support and a bastion for us
00:12:17:06 00:12:21:16 04:10
without your sacrifices
Reporter
12.32.00
Where did the the poison gas attack take place?
Karwan Taufik
00:12:35:12 00:12:41:00 05:13
Here. That side. Up there.
Reporter
Where did the airplanes come from?
Karwan Taufik
00:12:44:18 00:12:48:12 03:19
From that side. From the Iraqi side.
12.55 - voice over
We arrive in the village of Shanagse. Across from the valley is the border with Iran. In these hills the Iraqi airplanes dropped their deadly load. Karwan was staying here with three other resistance fighters in tents.
00:13:17:12 00:13:22:12 05:00
I came out of my tent, looked up and saw the aireplanes come down.
00:13:22:12 00:13:26:19 04:07
I ducked behind a pile of stones.
00:13:26:19 00:13:33:12 06:18
And then, on this very spot, a bomb fell.
00:13:33:12 00:13:40:15 07:03
It was so close, that the gas had not been spread yet and it splashed on me.
00:13:47:06 00:13:52:12 05:06
Slowly I started to become sick, and on my hands and face
00:13:52:12 00:13:56:12 04:00
...I got a burning feeling. They became bright red.
00:13:56:12 00:14:01:00 04:13
My eyes started to tear very badly.
00:14:01:00 00:14:08:12 07:12
About one hour after the attack
00:14:08:12 00:14:12:00 03:13
...I lost consciousness.
00:14:12:00 00:14:15:06 03:06
When I came to, I was in Iran.
14.18 - voice over
An old woman lives only a stone's throw away from where the bombs fell. She lost a son and a daughter In the poison gas attack. In her yard still lie remains of the battle.
Old woman
00:14:30:00 00:14:32:12 02:12
Many people got murdered.
00:14:32:12 00:14:36:00 03:13
Tens of people, I swear to God.
00:14:37:18 00:14:41:00 03:07
Tens of people.
00:14:42:18 00:14:47:00 04:07
When my daughter heard that Mahmoud was killed
00:14:47:00 00:14:53:00 06:00
...she called out that it would have been better if she had died instead of him.
00:14:53:00 00:14:56:22 03:22
Two days later, she was also killed.
00:14:56:22 00:15:02:00 05:03
What happened after your village was attacked with chemical weapons?
00:15:02:00 00:15:09:00 07:00
There was no village anymore. Everything was destroyed. It was awful.
00:15:09:00 00:15:17:00 08:00
When we came back, we were afraid. Everything was contaminated with chemicals.
00:15:19:00 00:15:21:11 02:11
It was horrible.
15.25 - voice over
After the poison gas attack Iranian hospitals were overflowing with victims. Also Karwan was treated there. Many people did not survive the attack.
Karwan Taufik
00:15:37:19 00:15:42:18 04:24
While standing here,
00:15:42:18 00:15:45:09 02:16
...do you feel mostly sad or angry?
00:15:45:09 00:15:46:22 01:13
I become sad.
00:15:46:22 00:15:51:00 04:03
Because it was the most horrible day of my life.
00:15:51:00 00:15:57:06 06:06
I got injured myself. I think of all those others that were gassed.
00:15:57:06 00:16:00:00 02:19
This makes me very sad.
Saddam Hussein
00:16:00:00 00:16:04:06 04:06
Two nationalities is not allowed.
00:16:04:06 00:16:09:00 04:19
The one who receives an other passport...
00:16:09:00 00:16:13:00 04:00
...automatically loses the Iraqi nationality.
16.14 - voice over
In the courtroom Saddam Hussein states that Karwan can no longer be seen as an Iraqi, because he now has a Dutch passport and he should not be allowed to testify against him.
Karwan Taufik
(victim poison gas attack)
00:16:23:16 00:16:27:12 03:21
I am an Iraqi.
00:16:27:12 00:16:31:06 03:19
But I am proud to have a Dutch passport.
00:16:31:06 00:16:36:09 05:03
I am grateful to The Netherlands for giving me the Dutch nationality.
00:16:36:09 00:16:40:03 03:19
They have helped me and gave me medical treatment.
16.42 -voice over
Karwan is worried about the situation in Ira q. The violence in the rest of the country is only getting worse and he feels it's better to found an independent Kurdistan. In spite of all the problems, he is sure that this is where his future lies.
00:16:55:12 00:17:02:24 07:12
As you know, Kurdistan is free. There are few problems.
00:17:02:24 00:17:08:01 05:02
People actually love their own country more.
00:17:08:01 00:17:15:00 06:24
This is the land of my father and mother. That is why I returned.
00:17:15:00 00:17:19:06 04:06
When I went to Europe, I had problems and bad health.
00:17:19:06 00:17:25:00 05:19
My health is still bad, there just as well as here.
00:17:25:00 00:17:31:05 06:05
That is why I returned, to be with my own family in my own country.