Rohingya Muslims, Most Persecuted Muslim Minority, Forced on Two-Child Policy by Myanmar Government

May 30, 2013

IBtimes

Athena Yenko

Rohingya Muslim families were forced to limit their children to only two as western Myanmar officials imposed a strict two-child policy exclusively to them, CNN reported.

Makeshift camps are made just out of bamboo and thatch.

Reuters

 The policy was applied to two towns within Myanmar's Rakhine State which had the largest population of the Rohingya Muslims. They were compelled to follow the limit on child birth because the government aimed to control the increase in Muslims' birthrate.
 The Rohingya Muslims were ill-treated with the Muslim minority caught between sectarian violence and endured long years of discrimination to whichever country they evacuated to.
 The imposition of the two-child policy was the most recent attempt against the Rohingya Muslims following the violence they had been subjected to from the Buddhist majority in Rakhine in 2012. It was reported that Buddhist Rakhine extremist burnt the whole Rohingya villages. The incident in 2012 forced the Rohingyas to live in makeshift camps floating along the coast of Myanmar.

 Although the two-child limit was part of a recommendation included in the official report on the communal violence, the restriction was being implemented in favour of the Rakhine's Buddhist who expressed strong disapproval against Rohingya's growing population.
According to the spokesman for the Rakhine Government, Win Myaing, "This (two-child policy) is the best way to control the explosion of the Muslim population in this region... If they (Rohingyas) want to live here, they have to follow the rules and orders of this state. If not, we can't live together in tranquility."
Mr. Myaing seemed to be blinded that the recommendation stipulated that government officials should "refrain from implementing non voluntary measures which may be seen as discriminatory or that would be inconsistent with human rights standards."
In fact, Mr. Myaing, insisted that the two-child restriction does not in any way violate human rights.
To which Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi disagreed. She said that she thinks that the restriction is against the law. Ms. Suu Kyi is the leader of the opposition group, National League for Democracy.
Although Ms Suu Kyi admitted that she was not aware that the restriction was being implemented or not, she explained that, "It's not good to have such discrimination; it is not in line with human rights."
Ms. Suu Kyi faced criticisms alleging that she has not expressed significant opinion on the matter yet.
Meanwhile, the advocacy group called Human Rights said that there were many restrictions already in effect in some areas of Rakhine inhabited by the Rohingyas since 2005. Rohingyas were subjected to difficult and expensive means when they want to gte marry or obtain birth certificates.
As for the two-child limit, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch in Asia Phil Robertson said, "I think it's profoundly chilling. It's an indication of a larger persecution."
Mr. Robertson also said that he does not know of any other Asian country imposing such restriction on one ethnic group besides Myanmar.
He added that he thinks, "the Rakhine government spews mistruths, saying that these people are overpopulating."
Mr. Robertson called the attention of Thein Sein to shed light on the issue and confirm whether the government thus supports the two-child limit imposed upon the Rohingya Muslims.
Mr. Robertson emphasised that the limit is "discriminatory and abuse of human rights. It's a policy that's been hidden in the shadows. Now it's time for the Burmese government to respond.
Thein Sein's spokeman, Ye Htut, has yet to give the government's official statement.
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