The United League of Arakan / Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has strongly condemned the Htan Lauk Khan report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on 18 May.
When contacted by Narinjara News regarding the HRW report on Htan Shauk Khan in Buthidaung township, Arakan Army spokesperson U Khaing Thukha rejected it.
"We strongly object to and condemn the recently released HRW report. This report is completely baseless, fabricated, and it contains unjust accusations," asserted Khaing Thukha.
He also alleged that the report was intentionally designed by certain individuals and organizations to fuel racial and religious hatred with an aim to trigger conflicts.
"Mainly, certain individuals and groups are envious of the racial and religious harmony that has stabilized in the Arakan region through the efforts of Arakan People's Revolutionary Government. They are intentionally plotting to increase racial and religious hatred and cause conflicts," he added.
Khaing Thukha pointed out that such actions create a significant obstacle in building inter-ethnic friendship and mutual respect.
"This could spark mistrust with the Muslim families, who are living peacefully here. It also severely disrupts the inter-ethnic friendship and mutual respect that our ULA/AA is trying hard to generate," he stated.
“Regarding the issue they are falsely fabricating and assuming that Htan Shauk Khan villagers were killed during the war, we have already invited journalists and repeatedly explained with solid evidence that such an incident absolutely never happened," claimed the AA spokesperson.
Furthermore, he stated that the exact population records of Htan Shauk Khan village have been documented.
"We have solid, documented records of the exact households and population of Htan Shauk Khan village, including how many people there used to be, how many there are now, how many moved to which villages on what dates, and how many went abroad on what dates," he stated.He also mentioned that it is merely a malicious fabrication and accusation aimed at creating misunderstandings about the ULA/AA globally.
"The skeletons they are displaying and accusing are actually the skeletons of terrorist military council soldiers, who died in the battles. On some skeletons, military uniforms, combat boots on the feet, and even ballistic helmets on the heads remain clearly visible. Many overseas opportunists masquerading as Muslim activists put Muslim women's clothes onto these skeletons, staged and photographed them, and are falsely accusing and attacking us to create confusions on the ULA/AA," he pointed out.
Finally, he urged everyone to join hands in opposing and objecting to those who are issuing fabricated, groundless reports.
"This kind of unjust act can increase hatred between parties and harm peaceful coexistence. Therefore, I want to urge the Muslim communities, who wish to live peacefully, to join hands in opposing and objecting to the self-proclaimed overseas Muslim activist groups and those who are issuing fabricated, groundless reports," he said.
This AA statement was issued in response to a report released on 18 May by HRW, which claimed that the AA fighters killed 170 Rohingya residents in Htan Shauk Khan Village under Buthidaung township.
The HRW report stated that the Htan Shauk Khan incident was a mass killing and it amounted to committing war crimes.
The released report titled ‘Skeletons and Skulls Scattered Everywhere’ stated that it was prepared on the basis of interviews with 41 eyewitnesses, as well as experts and also verification of satellite imagery & video clippings from social media.
The report also indicated that the ULA/AA denied the allegation of mass killing.
