Myanmar child limit defended

NAYPYITAW

Myanmar’s immigration minister has expressed support for a controversial two-child limit on a Muslim minority group that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the United Nations call discriminatory and a violation of human rights.

Khin Yi, Minister of Immigration and Population, is the most senior official to publicly support the recently announced enforcement by local authorities of a two-child policy in northwestern Rakhine State for Rohingya Muslims, the group termed as “Bengalis” by the Myanmar government.

“This will benefit the Bengali women,” Khin Yi said in an interview with Reuters.

Authorities in Rakhine State say they need to impose controls on Rohingya to prevent further unrest.

“The Bengali women living in the Rakhine State have a lot of children. In some areas, one family has 10 or 12 children,” said Khin Yi. “It’s not good for child nutrition. It’s not very easy for schooling. It is not very easy to take care of the children.” Asked whether he supported the policy, he replied: “Yes.”