Photos have emerged of the Arakan Army’s (AA) massacre of over 600 Rohingya on May 2, 2024, in Tan Shauk Khan village (known as Hoya Seeree to the Rohingya) in Buthidaung Township’s Ingyin Nghet Thae village tract, according to the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC).
The victims, numbering over 600, reportedly included children, adults, the elderly, women, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
Nay San Lwin, the Co- Chair of the ARNC, a political body recently form working for Rohingya told AAMIJ: “Regarding the massacre that happened in Tan Shauk Khan, I’ve spoken with some of the survivors since the incident occurred. Although at least 600 people were killed, the real number is actually higher. Since almost the entire village was killed, very few survivors remain. It was the kind of situation where entire families were killed. The photos that have surfaced now were taken back in March. We only got these photos after the survivors have only just been reached in Bangladesh.”
The photos show human remains, including remnants of women’s and men’s clothing, as well as small skeletons believed to be those of young children.
A survivor from a family affected by the AA’s killings, named Ro Khan, told AAMIJ: “The Rohingya name is Hoya Seeree. It’s only about 5 kilometers from my village. Most of the Rohingya in this village were protected by the military. Some went with the AA, and some stayed in their village. The AA gave them an order to leave the village, but it was not easy for them to leave. The AA accused those who didn’t leave of being with the military and brutally murdered them. My relatives were also killed. My aunt’s son was only in 9th or 10th grade. He was left behind in our village because he came to study. Over 10 other family members were killed. He was the only one left because he was studying in our village. In reality, about 700 to 800 people were killed. What (U) Nay San Lwin wrote must be the minimum number.”
When AAMIJ asked a doctor about the photos of the remains from the massacre, the unnamed doctor commented, “Based on the state of the heads and faces, they could be children.”
Nay San Lwin added that the bodies were also burned with gasoline. He believes the AA tried to cover up the crime, but the photos emerged more than a year later.
AAMIJ reached out to Arakan Army (AA) spokesperson Khaing Thukha and other officials for comment on the incident, but they did not respond.
Ejaz Min Khant, a human rights specialist from Fortify Rights, a rights organisation documenting the atrocities in Myanmar told AAMIJ: “When the AA committed this massacre against the Rohingya in Tan Shauk Khan (Hoiya Seero village), we received some information. However, because the AA tightly secured and sealed off the area, it was impossible to get photo or video evidence. A few months later, we were able to speak with a survivor who escaped the brutal massacre and got information and a testimony about this inhuman killing. We were also able to compile a list of over a hundred victims, including Rohingya civilian women and young children. We have quite a lot of evidence already. Now that the skeletons of the victims and the exact location have emerged, the severity of the AA’s war crimes against the Rohingya has become clearly visible. This is proof that war crimes are being systematically committed behind the scenes.” Ejaz said the international community will also be more focused on and watching how the AA is treating the Rohingya. “Since the AA has failed to investigate these serious war crimes and punish those involved, and continues to deny them, we will continue to work to get the International Criminal Court to investigate this matter and hold them accountable,” he added.
On July 23, a new investigation by Fortify Rights revealed that the Arakan Army (AA) has committed serious violations of the laws of war against Rohingya civilians in Rakhine State.
These abuses reportedly occurred in temporary detention centers and villages under the AA’s control.
The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) is reportedly continuing to gather various pieces of evidence for these injustices and will work for justice in any way they can.
Perpetrators must be brought to justice by any mean.