US, UN Condemn Myanmar for 'Two Child Rule'

UN deputy spokesman Del Buey told reporters that the United Nations was aware that Myanmar authorities planned to impose the two-child rule.

This is a Rohingya child.

(RANGOON AFP) - The United Nations on Thursday called on Myanmar authorities to end a ban on families having more than two children in two Muslim-majority townships in a troubled state.

UN deputy spokesman Eduardo Del Buey said that pressing the policy in Rakhine state, where there have been widespread clashes between Buddhists and Muslims, would infringe "fundamental human rights".

The United States has appealed to Myanmar to immediately shun its plan of a two-child policy for Rohingya Muslims.

"We are deeply concerned over reports that local officials in Myanmar's Rakhine state plan to enforce a two-child limit for Rohingya Muslims," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, asserting that Washington will oppose any such "coercive and discriminatory birth limitation policy". "We have pressed senior Myanmar government officials to abolish this local order. We urge the government to eliminate all such policies without delay," Psaki said.

Rakhine authorities say the two-child rule has been reaffirmed in two townships in the state where most people are Rohingya Muslims. The rule was first imposed by Myanmar's military junta. UN deputy spokesman Del Buey told reporters that the United Nations was aware that Myanmar authorities planned to impose the two-child rule.

"If enacted this policy would be considered discriminatory and would infringe upon the fundamental human rights of the Muslim and the Rohingya communities in those places," del Buey said.