HDCO Releases Report on the Htan Shauk Khan Battle Incident in Buthidaung

News ၊ June 16, 2026

Photo - HDCO

The Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the Arakkha People's Revolutionary Government released an evidence- and fact-based assessment report today, June 16, regarding the battles that took place in Htan Shauk Khan Village, Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, between May 2 and May 4, 2024.

It is reported that this release is not merely a response to the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), but a comprehensive analysis presenting the military and civilian situations before, during, and after the conflict in Htan Shauk Khan Village.

According to the HDCO, the assessment was compiled based on village and household records, population censuses, battlefield data, photographic and video evidence, satellite imagery, field studies, and testimonies from local residents.

The report also noted that the United League of Arakan (ULA) contacted HRW on May 20, 2026, to request the casualty list along with the photographic and video evidence referenced in their report. However, HRW declined to provide the materials, citing security concerns.

Furthermore, HDCO pointed out that some international reports regarding Htan Shauk Khan Village rely primarily on testimonies from refugees in Bangladesh and displaced individuals outside Arakan. The office emphasized that these statements need to be verified using identical evidentiary standards.

According to HDCO's key findings, the available evidence does not confirm the allegations that the Arakan Army (AA) committed a mass killing of civilians in Htan Shauk Khan Village.

HDCO's assessment indicates that between May 2 and May 4, 2024, the Htan Shauk Khan area was a site of intense multi-sided military confrontations involving AA forces, the Myanmar military commission troops, local armed Muslim groups, ARSA, and other armed organizations.

Regarding the population census, HDCO released figures showing that there were 933 permanent residents in Htan Shauk Khan prior to the battle. Within days after the conflict, over 910 individuals were relisted and accounted for in neighboring villages. Subsequent verification records successfully accounted for up to 928 original residents.

However, HDCO stated that this assessment does not imply that all humanitarian needs have been met or that all allegations have been definitively resolved. The office recommended that further detailed verification and analysis of the Htan Shauk Khan incident including witnesses, armed groups, and casualties should continue using uniform and consistent standards.

Source@HDCO