Myanmar to examine two-child rule for its Rohingya Muslims

Myanmar will examine a controversial ban imposed on Rohingya Muslims having more than two children, a top official said Monday, after criticism from the United Nations and rights groups.

Authorities in the strife-torn western state of Rakhine said last month that they had reaffirmed the longstanding rule - which was first introduced during the junta era - in two townships.

‘The central government did not announce that policy. We will look into it,’ presidential spokesman Ye Htut said. ‘The population in that area is much higher than in other regions so there are some social and economic problems within each family.’ 

He said the government planned to implement a population policy in the future that would take international standards into consideration. The UN has called for an end to the ban, saying it was discriminatory and an infringement on human rights.