( CNN ) -- Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has joined human rights activists in criticizing a two-child limit imposed on Muslim families by authorities in areas of western Myanmar in an attempt to control their population . The government of Myanmar 's Rakhine State , which borders Bangladesh , says the restriction was ordered in two townships that have the biggest populations of Rohingya -- a persecuted , stateless Muslim minority -- because of concerns about their high birthrate . Terrorized , starving and homeless : Myanmar 's Rohingya still forgotten . `` If they want to live here , they have to follow the rules and orders of this state , '' Win Myaing , spokesman for the Rakhine government , said Tuesday , referring to the Rohingya . `` If not , we ca n't live together tranquilly . '' The ordering of the two-child limit is the latest measure taken against the Rohingya , who were the main victims in outbreaks of communal violence involving the Buddhist majority in Rakhine last year . The clashes killed scores of people and left tens of thousands of others living in makeshift camps . Q & A : What 's behind sectarian violence in Myanmar ? Deadly ethnic unrest has become a major challenge for the national government of President Thein Sein , who has overseen a series of reforms over the past two years that have moved Myanmar , which is also known as Burma , closer to democracy . 'Not in line with human rights ' `` I think this is against the law , '' Suu Kyi , who leads the opposition National League for Democracy , said Monday in reference to the two-child limit on Rohingya families . `` It 's not good to have such discrimination , '' she said after a meeting in Yangon , the country 's biggest city . `` It is not in line with human rights . '' Read more : Rights group accuses Myanmar of 'ethnic cleansing ' It was her starkest statement yet about the difficulties the Rohingya face , following criticism that she had n't spoken up strongly enough on the issue . Suu Kyi said Monday she did n't know whether the two-child policy was definitely being implemented or not . The advocacy group Human Rights Watch says the measure has been in place in areas of Rakhine since 2005 , one of multiple restrictions that make it difficult and expensive for Rohingya to do things like get married or obtain birth certificates . Now , local authorities appear to be exploiting a recent government-commissioned report on last year 's communal violence to reaffirm their commitment to limiting the number of children Rohingya can have . `` I think it 's profoundly chilling , '' said Phil Robertson , deputy director of Human Rights Watch in Asia . `` It 's an indication of a larger persecution . '' Read more : Despite reforms , Myanmar 's ethnic violence continues . He said he was unaware of any other country in Asia where one ethnic group sought to control the birthrate of another through governmental regulations . The official report on the communal violence included the recommendation that family-planning education be proposed to the Rohingya population in light of concerns among Rakhine 's Buddhist majority about the Rohingya birth rate . But the recommendation included the caveat that authorities should `` refrain from implementing nonvoluntary measures which may be seen as discriminatory or that would be inconsistent with human rights standards . '' Win Myaing , the Rakhine government spokesman , claimed the two-child limit does n't violate human rights . `` This is the best way to control the explosion of the Muslim population in this region , '' he said . Government silence . But Robertson disagreed . The Rakhine government `` spews mistruths , saying that these people are overpopulating , '' he said . Describing the two-child policy as `` discriminatory and an abuse of human rights , '' Robertson called on Thein Sein , who recently met with President Barack Obama in Washington , to say whether the national government supports the measure . `` It 's a policy that 's been hidden in the shadows , '' he said . `` Now , it 's time for the Burmese government to respond . '' Thein Sein 's spokesman , Ye Htut , and other government officials did n't respond to calls seeking comment on Tuesday . The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ) says that Rakhine 's population of about 800,000 Rohingya have suffered restrictions on their human rights for decades . It describes them as `` one of the most persecuted peoples in the world . '' Human Rights Watch has described the violence in Rakhine last year and its aftermath as `` a campaign of government-supported crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing '' targeting the Rohingya . The Myanmar government has disputed that account as `` one-sided . '' Journalist Phyo Wai Lin and CNN 's Kocha Olarn contributed to this report .
Washington 's Aung San Suu Kyi puts a two -child limit on Muslims in some areas . Officials say it is necessary to control the population of the Aung San Suu Kyi minority . But Aung San Suu Kyi and human rights activists say it violates human rights . The Rohingya suffered heavily during communal violence with The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs last year 's .