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Mass fetus find under Thai temple
Source: Agencies |
November 20, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THAI police investigating a strong smell coming from a Buddhist temple have found more than 2,000 fetuses in the complex's morgue that appear to have come from illegal abortion clinics.
During an initial search at the temple in Bangkok on Tuesday, police discovered piles of plastic bags containing more than 300 fetuses. Police Lt Col Kanathud Musiganont said workers pulled more bodies from the temple's morgue yesterday. More than 2,000 have been unearthed from vaults where bodies are traditionally interred pending cremation.
Abortion is illegal in Thailand except under three conditions - if a woman is raped, if the pregnancy affects her health or if the fetus is abnormal.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that more must be done to prevent illegal abortions but that his government would not revise the abortion-related laws. He said his government has discussed the matter and believed that "the existing laws are appropriate and flexible enough."
Several people have already been arrested in the case: two undertakers for hiding bodies to conceal the cause of death and an abortion clinic employee on charges of operating an unlicensed medical clinic and performing abortions. The undertakers could each be sent to prison for up to one year and fined 2,000 baht (US$67). The clinic employee - who police said confessed she had delivered the fetuses to the morgue workers - could face up to five years in jail and a fine of 10,000 baht.
During an initial search at the temple in Bangkok on Tuesday, police discovered piles of plastic bags containing more than 300 fetuses. Police Lt Col Kanathud Musiganont said workers pulled more bodies from the temple's morgue yesterday. More than 2,000 have been unearthed from vaults where bodies are traditionally interred pending cremation.
Abortion is illegal in Thailand except under three conditions - if a woman is raped, if the pregnancy affects her health or if the fetus is abnormal.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that more must be done to prevent illegal abortions but that his government would not revise the abortion-related laws. He said his government has discussed the matter and believed that "the existing laws are appropriate and flexible enough."
Several people have already been arrested in the case: two undertakers for hiding bodies to conceal the cause of death and an abortion clinic employee on charges of operating an unlicensed medical clinic and performing abortions. The undertakers could each be sent to prison for up to one year and fined 2,000 baht (US$67). The clinic employee - who police said confessed she had delivered the fetuses to the morgue workers - could face up to five years in jail and a fine of 10,000 baht.
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