Islamic leaders in Maungdaw District have issued an important clarification regarding the situation in Than Shauk Kan village, Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State. According to their statement released on August 23, they categorically denied claims that the Arakan Army (AA) had killed over 600 Muslims from Than Shauk Kan village. While Rohingya organizations and activists had released reports with photographic evidence alleging these killings, local leaders have come forward to refute these claims as false. The Islamic community leaders and social representatives have confirmed that the bodies found near Than Shauk Kan village were those of military council troops, not civilians.
The incident in question occurred during intense fighting between the military council forces and the Arakan Army on May 2 and 3, 2024. When journalists visited the area to investigate, they found skeletal remains with military council uniforms, further supporting the local leaders’ statements. According to the military council’s immigration records from 2023, Than Shauk Kan village had a population of 933 people. Currently, 790 residents remain in the village, while 138 have sought refuge in Bangladesh. These population figures make it mathematically impossible for 600 villagers to have been killed as alleged. Lieutenant Colonel Kaung Myat, the deputy commander of Strategic Command-15 who was directly involved in the Than Shauk Kan battle and was later captured by the AA, has also denied these allegations.
The Islamic leaders emphasized that spreading such fabricated news could severely damage the harmonious relationship between the Rakhine and Muslim communities who have been living together in the region. They warned that such actions could generate hatred, suspicion, and mistrust between the two communities. They strongly condemned what they described as politically motivated attempts to create discord between the two ethnic groups. The AA’s spokesperson, U Khaing Thukha, has also explicitly denied any civilian casualties during a press conference, stating that the remains found were solely those of military council soldiers killed during the battle.
The situation has drawn attention from various quarters, with the military council’s spokesperson Zaw Min Tun making claims about alleged mass killings by the AA, which have been contradicted by multiple sources including their own captured officer. The Islamic leaders stressed the importance of maintaining communal harmony and warned against attempts to exploit the situation for political purposes. They pointed out that such false allegations not only harm community relations but also create unnecessary tensions in an already complex situation. The evidence, including population records, eyewitness accounts, and physical findings at the site, all support their position that the allegations of mass civilian casualties are unfounded.
