Maungdaw District, Rakhine State Allegations that more than 600 Muslims in Tan Shauk Khan village, Buthidaung Township, were murdered by the Arakan Army are fabricated propaganda is an attempt to harm the two ethnic groups. Muslim religious leaders and community representatives said today, August 23.
The statement was issued with the endorsement of 160 signatories, including senior Islamic leaders in Maungdaw District, social organization heads, business owners, village administrators, activists, and youth leaders.
Human rights groups such as Fortify Rights, HRW, and the IMM, along with Rohingya activist Ko Nay San Lwin and the Military Commission, had earlier alleged that the Arakan Army carried out a mass murder of more than 600 Muslims in Tan Shauk Khan village, Buthidaung Township.
Muslim leaders and community groups countered that such fabricated narratives not only damagepeaceful coexistence and inter-communal relations between Rakhine and Muslim populations living in the region, but also fuel hatred, mistrust, and misconceptions. They described the allegations as politically motivated efforts to deliberately incite hostility between the two ethnic groups.
In addition, Muslim leaders and community representatives in Maungdaw District stated that they completely reject and condemn politically motivated fabricated propaganda being spread by certain foreign-based hypocrites politicians and some media .
According to the statement, the human remains discovered in Tan Shauk Khan village are not those of 600 Muslims, as alleged by human rights organizations and the Military Commission, but rather the remains of Military Commission troops who were killed during clashes with the Arakan Army on May 23, 2024.
Census data from the Military Commission (Lwut Kaw) in 2023 recorded Tan Shauk Khan village as having 114 households and 933 residents. At present, the village population is reported as 790 residents, with 138 people having left abroad, the total number of registered residents to 928.
