Interview
Border News Agency
Maungdaw, August 23.

Some people abroad have alleged, by releasing photos of skeletons, that around 600 residents of Htan Shauk Khan Village in Buthidaung Township were massacred by the Arakan Army on May 2, 2024.

Border News Agency contacted Mamat Enus, a Muslim community elder from Maungdaw District, regarding these allegations.

“This statement was issued in collaboration with all of our religious leaders, community elders, and active youths across the whole of Maungdaw District, together with the respected figures and senior members within our Muslim community.”

“The purpose of issuing this statement is to respond to the propaganda spread by certain politicians and those living abroad, whose narratives threaten the peaceful coexistence we have here inside the country, where Rakhine, Muslims, Thet, and others are living together in harmony.”

“Such propaganda is a deliberate attempt to destroy the harmony we have built here. Those living abroad spread these narratives because they cannot accept the fact that we are living together peacefully.”

“By doing this, they are prioritizing their own interests, spreading false news and propaganda. They are doing it only for their own benefit.”

“By doing so, they are disrupting the harmony we have here and creating mistrust among our communities. It is a deliberate act with clear intentions. That is why we all came together to issue this statement.”

“Now we are enjoying opportunities and interactions that we never had under the previous junta. There is no racial discrimination. Anyone who commits wrongdoing is held accountable, without bias or favoritism, and we ourselves have witnessed this. The current authorities are not showing any partiality at all.”

“That is why we are living together in the Arakan State, and we are firmly committed to continuing this coexistence. The propaganda spread by those lobbyists abroad is only an attempt to destroy it.”

“In terms of the situation on the ground, we ourselves went to check, together with many local villagers. We carefully questioned them, and only then issued the statement. We reject those reports as false.”

“We strongly condemn such claims. They are completely untrue, and this is clearly stated in our statement.”

“Because they are spreading propaganda abroad, it has caused tensions among communities here, created setbacks for the country, and could obstruct progress. Statement was issued to prevent obstacles from hindering peaceful nation-building and foster community understanding.”