Mass rally in Sittwe supports polygamy ban

Published on Sunday, 09 June 2013 10:54

A mass rally was held in Sittwe, Rakhine State on June 4th in support of a regional order restricting polygamous marriages and multiple children for Bengali communities.
Local authorities in Rakhine State recently issued a regional order in Maungdaw forbidding multiple marriages for Bengali men, and restricting them to a maximum of two children. Officials from the National Democracy Party and other parties in Sittwe support the order.
An estimated 2500 people, including 400 Buddhists monks and other social groups, took part in the peaceful rally. The demonstration was led by a group of Buddhist monks who are calling to observe discipline and obey the law in Rakhine State.
“We are not objecting anyone. We are welcoming the regional order. This order needs to be practiced in the entire Rakhine State. Today, we came to show our wish by the agreements of the political parties including National League for Democracy, and social organizations. We hold mass rally because we need to do this. Nobody can object nor cancel this regional order,” said U Kaythayra, a Buddhist monk.
Polygamous marriage is currently illegal in Myanmar but it is still practiced widely among Muslim communities. 
The decision to hold a mass rally was made on June 3rd after a meeting with social organizations, political parties, and town elders in Sittwe agreed to support the regional order aimed at restricting polygamous marriages among Bengali communities.
They peacefully marched along the route.