No information on a village called Amereyat could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. There is, however, a weapons site called Fallujah, (comprising Fallujah I, II and III and also called Project 9230). Weapons reportedly produced at Fallujah include chemical weapons (USA Today 21 Aug. 1990; Washington Times 10 Sept. 1990; Jane's Defence Weekly 1 July 1993; AP 22 Apr. 1995; Pointer Aug. 1998).), ballistic missiles (Toronto Star 24 Oct. 1990), HMX and RDX explosives (Jane's Defence Weekly 1 July 1993) and 155mm artillery shells armed with chemical weapons (Jane's Intelligence Review Dec. 1995, 559). The Fallujah site also reportedly included an army base (USA Today 21 Aug. 1990).

Coalition forces attacked the Fallujah sites during the Gulf War (AP 22 Apr. 1995). Later, the Fallujah sites were among those inspected under the auspices of the UNSCOM monitoring teams (CNN 7 Apr. 1995; BBC Online 19 Feb. 1998, 3; Washington Post 10 Nov. 1998) and it was discovered that equipment for producing enriched uranium was being stored there (ibid.). The Iraqi government has claimed that since the Gulf War the facilities at Fallujah are devoted to the manufacture of pesticides, insecticides and chlorine (United Nations 24 June 1994, para 37; CNN 7 Apr. 1995; AP 22 Apr. 1995).

The following information about Fallujah is taken from a document attributed to UNSCOM on the Website of the Federation of American Scientists:

Chemical sites:

2 - Fallujah I: This site was intended to be an additional precursor production facility for the chemical weapons program. The facility was in the initial phases of construction at the time of the Gulf War. Located 60km WNW of Baghdad.

3- Fallujah II: This facility produced chemical weapons precursors destined for the Muhanna site. Products included chlorine, phosphorous trichloride and oxychlorode, thiony1 chloride, and with high probability two direct nerve agent precursors. The site was bombed during the Gulf War. Remaining precursors and equipment were transferred to the Muthanna site for destruction under the supervision of the Chemical Destruction Group. Located 65km WNW of Baghdad.

4 - Fallujah III: This site was in the late stages of construction at the time of the Gulf War. The facility, intended to support the Muthanna site, contained multi-purpose production plants. These production areas were all destroyed by bombing in 1991. The intended products of this site remain unclear, but may be connected with the VX program. Located 70km WNW of Baghdad.

No information as to whether employees of weapons production facilities would be considered civilians, whether such employment would count towards military service and whether members of ethnic or religious minorities would be permitted to work there could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please consult below the list of additional sources consulted.

References

Associated Press (AP). 22 April 1995. Dilip Ganguly. "Iraqis Try to Build a Better Chicken at Former Weapons Plant." (NEXIS)

BBC Online. 19 February 1998. "Saddam's Secrets." [Internet] http://www.bbc.co.uk [Accessed 12 Jan. 1999]

CNN. 7 April 1995. Transcript #999-11. "Iraqi Chemical Plant Opens Doors to UN, World Views." (NEXIS)

Federation of American Scientists. 3 December 1997. "Major Sites Associated with Iraq's Past WMD Program." [Internet] http://www.fas.org [Accessed 12 Jan. 1999]

Jane's Defence Weekly. 1 July 1993. Barbara Starr. "Iraq 'Able to Expand Military Capability'." (NEXIS)

Jane's Intelligence Review. December 1995. Dr. Andrew Rathmell. "Chemical Weapons in the Middle East: Lessons from Iraq."

Pointer. August 1998. "What is Saddam Hiding?"

The Toronto Star. 24 October 1990. Eddy Mets. "Iraq Boasts an Array of Deadly Weapons." (NEXIS)

United Nations Secretary General. 24 June 1994. (S/1994/750). "Seventh report of the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission, established by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 9 (b) (i) of Security Council resolution 687 (1991), on the activities of the Special Commission." [Internet] http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s94-750.htm [Accessed 12 Jan. 1998]

USA Today. 21 August 1990. "Hostages as Human Shield." (NEXIS)

The Washinton Post. 10 November 1998. "Iraq: Special report." [Internet] http://www.washingtonpost.com [Accessed 12 Jan. 1999]

The Washington Times. 10 September 1990. Bill Gertz. "Missile Strike Against Iraq Mulled on Hill." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

War Resisters' International. 1998. Bart Horeman, Marc Stolwijk. Refusing To Bear Arms: A World Survey Of Conscription And Conscientious Objection To Military Service. London: War Resisters International.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, WNC.