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HRW Vs HDCO: An Analytical Assessment of Htan Shauk Khan Incident
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News Analysis ၊ June 18, 2026
Regarding the events that occurred in early May 2024 in Htan Shauk Khan village in Buthidaung Township, northern Rakhine State, international human rights organizations have issued various allegations and differing casualty lists of civilian deaths.
Among these allegations, HRW's report titled "Skeletons and Skulls Scattered Everywhere," released on May 18, 2026, is the most extensive, centrally alleging that the Arakan Army (AA) carried out mass killings or enforced disappearances of over 170 Muslim civilians.
However, the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the United League of Arakan (ULA) have fundamentally rejected these allegations as groundless after conducting a detailed review of field assessments, population records, and the background of the military situation.
Complex Military Background and Non-Civilian Zone Status
The primary shortcoming of the reports by international organizations is their failure to take into account the highly complex military environment that existed around Htan Shauk Khan village at that time. Htan Shauk Khan village is located in very close proximity to the Military Operations Command MOC (15) and Light Infantry Battalion LIB (551) of the Military Council.
Between April and May 2024, the Military Council forcibly recruited local Muslim youths and prepared to resist the AA's offensive by collaborating with Muslim armed groups such as ARSA, RSO, and ARA. Following the fall of MOC (15) on May 2, retreating Military Council troops entered Htan Shauk Khan village, established a base, and used civilian structures within the village as defensive shields.
Therefore, evidence indicates that this incident was not a one-sided attack on a defenseless civilian village, but rather a fierce, two-sided battlefield clash between the Military Council troops, allied armed groups, and the AA forces.
Advance Warning, Evacuation, and Discrepancies in Population Records
According to data in the report, local United League of Arakan (ULA) authorities and Muslim community elders had held advance coordination meetings since mid-April due to regional military tensions. On May 2, at around 6:00 AM, an advance warning was issued via loudspeakers stating that fighting was imminent, and by 8:00 AM, a large number of local residents were safely evacuated towards U Hla Phay village.
The most critical factor is the cross-checking of population records: Official records from the former Military Council administration showed that Htan Shauk Khan village had only 114 households and a permanent resident population of 933 individuals.
Within days after the battle, the village committee was able to re-document over 910 Htan Shauk Khan villagers taking refuge across 10 host villages.
Currently, when compiling lists of those who relocated within Buthidaung and those who went abroad, a total of 928 individuals has been traced and accounted for.
With the population standing at 933 before the battle and 928 traced after the battle, the discrepancy is only 5 individuals. This fact heavily challenges HRW's statistical allegations that over 170 villagers are dead or missing, as they failed to account for the temporary displacement and sheltering of the war evacuees.
Verification of Testimonies and the Influence of Bangladesh Camps
HRW primarily relies on testimonies collected under pseudonyms within the refugee camps in Bangladesh. However, international records have previously shown that refugee camps are not environments where individuals can testify truly freely, as they are under the threats, kidnappings, and influence of ARSA and other criminal gangs.
For instance, an investigation into 'Ansar Ullah,' who testified as a direct eyewitness to the Htan Shauk Khan incident on the Al Jazeera news network in August 2025, revealed that he was not a resident of Htan Shauk Khan village but from Nan Yar Kone village.
It was uncovered that he had been living in Bangladesh since 2017 and had ties to the ARSA group. Furthermore, regarding the corpses alleged to be civilian casualties, no systematic forensic autopsies or DNA testings have been conducted yet, making it impossible to distinguish whether they were civilians or members of the Military Council forces and allied armed groups killed during combat. (In the final stage of the battle, 406 Military Council personnel, 11 members of allied armed groups, and 513 family members of soldiers—totaling 930 individuals—surrendered, indicating a massive military presence and involvement in the area).
Post-Battle Reconstruction and Humanitarian Aid
Following the battle, ULA authorities did not neglect the villagers of Htan Shauk Khan but systematically rebuilt a new village (New Htan Shauk Khan), where approximately 700 people have resettled and are living as of May 2026.
Between July 2025 and March 2026, the ULA administration, in cooperation with international organizations provided 5,880,000 Myanmar Kyats for digging drinking water ponds, 22,200 bamboo poles, 13,800 thatch panels, 582 wooden house posts, and 148 tarpaulins for house construction, distributed 618 bags of rice, cash assistance of 37,620,000 Kyats, oil, salt, and mosquito nets.
The healthcare department made three field visits to administer vaccines to children and provided 331 types of medical treatments.
Field photographic records also prove that internet cafes and mobile phone lines are freely accessible within the village, and religious festivals, including the Qurbani Festival, are permitted to be celebrated freely. Similarly, over 5,000 Muslim officers and staff are serving across various sectors of the People's Government of Arakan, including administration, healthcare, education, and the judiciary.
Unbiased Assessment on Civilian Protection
The HDCO has pointed out that when investigating human rights allegations, scrutiny must be applied with equal standards regardless of race or religion. Between November 2023 and January 2026, the deaths of 162 local civilians, injuries to 22, and the abduction of 30 others among the Rakhine, Muslim, Hindu, Mro, Khami, and Daingnet communities were primarily caused by the Military Council and Islamic armed groups, including ARSA. However, international organizations have failed to effectively expose these incidents.
Based on the available military events, official population data, and post-battle resettlement records, HRW's allegation that the AA committed mass killings of civilians in Htan Shauk Khan village is found to be groundless. In reality, the destruction and losses were caused by the Military Council troops and their allied armed groups strategically utilizing civilian buildings, combined with the Military Council's aerial bombardments and heavy artillery fire.
The ULA has stated that it welcomes a transparent investigation into this incident and stands ready to continue cooperating with credible, independent investigators in accordance with witness protection, security, and humanitarian neutrality policies.
This Article is Based on the HDCO report released on June 16
Read HDCO Report...