By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
While investigating a foul smell emanating from a Buddhist temple in Bangkok last week, Thai police discovered more than 2,000 human fetuses in the complex’s morgue which are believed to have come from abortion clinics.
The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that the remains were found in vaults where bodies are traditionally interred pending cremation, which can take place years after death in some cases. Police believe the remains came from illegal abortion clinics.
Abortion in Thailand is illegal except if a woman is raped, if the pregnancy threatens her health, or if the unborn baby is determine to be abnormal.
Responding to the grisly find on Friday, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said more must be done to prevent illegal abortions in his country but that the government would not revise its abortion laws. After discussing the matter with government officials, they determine that “existing laws are appropriate and flexible enough.”
Arrests have been made in the case. Two undertakers were charged with hiding bodies to conceal the cause of death and could face a fine of 2,000 baht ($67) and imprisonment for one year. One of the undertakers, Suchart Poomee, 38, confessed to having been hired by illegal abortion clinics to destroy the fetuses and says he has been collecting them since last November.
An abortion clinic worker who confessed to delivering the fetuses to the Temple morgue, has been charged with operating an unlicensed medical clinic and performing abortions. She faces a fine of 10,000 baht ($333) and imprisonment of up to five years.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisith told the AP that around 1 million Thai women get pregnant each year, with 60,000 suffering miscarriages, and another 80,000 getting legal abortions. He gave no estimate for the number of illegal abortions.
Jurin believes illegal abortions reflect a problem in society. “It requires efforts from both the government and the private sector to promote better understanding about sex among the Thai youngsters,” said Jurin.
Suriyadeo Tripathi, the director of Thailand’s National Institute for Child and Family Development, told the AP he believes young people are getting mixed messages from sex education.
“On the one hand, you see many campaigns trying to promote safer sex, but on the other, a lot of people still strongly encourage abstinence and retain a stigma against premarital sex,” he said.
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