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Exposing Falsehoods in Kaladan Press Network’s Unverified Report
- globalarakannetwork
- Sep 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 25
Report Analysis
Global Arakan Network September 24, 2025
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”
This quote, often attributed to Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda during World War II, reflects a tactic some diaspora Muslim activists appear to employ in anticipation of the UN conference on “Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar” on September 30, 2025.
A media outlet named Kaladan Press Network (KPN), based in Chittagong, Bangladesh, released a report on September 23, 2025, titled “Kill Them All: The Htan Shauk Khan Massacre and Sexual Violence by the Arakan Army in Buthidaung Township.”
The report, based on unverified claims from 19 refugees in Bangladeshi camps, is deemed misleading due to its lack of credible evidence.
The report’s sensational title lacks substance, relying solely on oral testimonies from unverified individuals. Its key claims include:
A deliberate massacre of hundreds of Rohingya civilians by Arakan Army (AA) troops on May 2, 2024.
Systematic sexual violence against Rohingya women, including rape, murder, and sexual slavery.
Forced eviction of villagers, followed by mass shootings and burning of homes.
Arbitrary detention and confiscation of personal belongings from displaced Rohingya.
Extortion of large sums of money and documents from refugees fleeing to Bangladesh.
Alleged eyewitness testimonies claiming AA commanders ordered, “Kill them all.”
A call for AA accountability, civilian protection, and an independent investigation.
These serious accusations lack credible evidence and echo familiar, unsubstantiated narratives. The report has been widely shared by activist Nay San Lwin, allegedly through his manipulated media outlet.
Why the Report Is Considered False
The report’s credibility hinges on so-called eyewitnesses, but their authenticity is questionable. The Global Arakan Network (GAN) previously identified an alleged eyewitness, Ansar Ullah, as an active member of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) who fought the Burmese military in 2017 and fled to Bangladesh. Al Jazeera portrayed Ansar Ullah as a witness to the alleged Htan Shauk Khan massacre, yet he hails from Nan Yar Kone village, not Htan Shauk Khan.
An elder from his village provided testimony to local media outlet, exposing him as a fake eyewitness.
This case exemplifies a pattern of disinformation through fabricated eyewitnesses. Although the report claims 19 eyewitnesses, their identities and connection to the alleged events remain unverified.
Discrepancies in Eyewitness Accounts
Of the 19 alleged eyewitnesses, only eight are identified in connection with the Htan Shauk Khan incident, with one key figure—a 19-year-old villager—claiming prominence.
According to his account, AA soldiers shot his mother, father, and five younger siblings in front of him. To survive, he allegedly covered himself with his mother’s blood-soaked scarf and pretended to be dead.
This individual, possibly Rahamat Ullah, appeared on the Arakan Now platform on September 18, 2025, claiming that only he and one brother survived out of nine immediate family members, with approximately 75 extended relatives killed.
However, inconsistencies arise between the KPN report and the Arakan Now interview. KPN claims Rahamat Ullah was the sole survivor, with no family members left, while he told Arakan Now that his brother also survived. This contradiction suggests he tailored his story for different platforms, undermining his credibility.
Local ULA/AA officials in Buthidaung should investigate whether he is truly from Htan Shauk Khan and verify the status of his family members. Such discrepancies indicate that lies will eventually be exposed.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said:
“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”
Other Allegations
The KPN report mentions additional incidents, including the burning of homes, forcible detention of Htan Shauk Khan internally displaced persons (IDPs) at U Hla Pe village, body disposal, and sexual violence.
Only two eyewitnesses are clearly identified: an 18-year-old girl who described houses burning and two young women being captured and screaming, and a 30-year-old woman who claimed to witness a 25-year-old woman being raped and killed.
GAN found no concrete evidence beyond these oral testimonies to substantiate these claims. Some members of Muslim community in northern Arakan in connection with the diaspora activists have a history of unproven allegations of “rapes,” “massacres,” and “extortion” regarding the ULA/AA.
Ground Reports and Independent Observations
On August 18–19, 2025, the ULA invited 15 journalists from five independent media outlets to observe operations and engage with leadership, demonstrating transparency amid ongoing allegations. In an interview with local independent media, Colonel Kaung Myat, Deputy Commander of MOC-15, provided insight into the events in Htan Shauk Khan:
Journalist: What happened in Htan Shauk Khan village? What events or situations occurred?
Colonel Kaung Myat: On May 2, 2024, MOC-15 was occupied, and we collaborated with LIB-551 to organize a systematic retreat. The Arakan Army anticipated potential pursuit and attacks. Villagers packed their belongings and fled to nearby villages. Over 200 trained Muslim militia members joined our retreat, totaling 400 to 500 people. On the third day, we faced airstrikes and combat. Despite multiple breakthrough attempts, over 100 trained Muslim militia members were injured or killed, along with some family members. The remains found are those of our soldiers and the trained militia members.
GAN has published several reports addressing these allegations, including:
“AA Rejects False Claims of a Massacre of 600 in Htan Shauk Khan, Buthidaung”
“The Truth Behind the False Allegations in Htan Shauk Khan of Buthidaung”
“Irrawaddy Ground Report Exposes Lies in Al Jazeera and UN-OHCHR Coverage of Alleged Htan Shauk Khan Massacre, Buthidaung”
“Do Nay San Lwin and Al Jazeera Use a Fake Eyewitness to Build the Htan Shauk Khan Allegation?”
“The Fabrication of the Htan Shauk Khan Massacre: How Nay San Lwin Misled the Public”
These and several other reports from various independent media outlets highlight inconsistencies and challenge the narrative propagated by KPN and associated activists, reinforcing the need for independent verification of the KPN’s report.
