Interview
Border News Agency
Maungdaw, August 24

Some people living abroad have accused the Arakan Army of killing around six hundred residents of Htan Shauk Khan Village, Buthidaung Township, on May 2, 2024, and released photos of bones as evidence.

Regarding these allegations, Border News Agency contacted Maulvi Ustaz Mamat Tali, an Islamic religious leader from Maungdaw District.

“The purpose of our statement is that we are concerned a false incident could damage the existing harmony between Muslims and Rakhine in Maungdaw and Buthidaung.”

“For that reason and with that intention, in order for us to continue living here peacefully in harmony for the long term, we are responding to the release of false news. In fact, there are many Maulvi religious leaders in Maungdaw and Buthidaung.”

“Among the 167 people mentioned in our statement, nearly eighty are Maulvi religious leaders. For that reason, we released this information to inform the international community. We do not want false news to be spread by those groups, and we are concerned it could cause problems.”

“We are also concerned that social harmony could be damaged. That is why we issued this statement.”

“They are acting from abroad without knowing the on‑ground situation, causing unrest among locals.”

“We, along with people from Maungdaw and Buthidaung, personally visited Htan Shauk Khan Village in Buthidaung Township to study the villagers before issuing our statement.”

“The reason is that our village has over 700 residents. The claim that 600–700 people on their side died is completely false. These people abroad have spread false news, claiming that their Muslims had died, using dead soldiers as evidence. That is why, together with all the Maulvi religious leaders in Maungdaw, we issued a statement to inform the international community of the truth.”

“The other people involved in issuing the statement include young individuals, township elders, and educated adults.”