Two thousand fetuses found in Buddhist Temple... wait, what?

[Randy]

BANGKOK — On the grounds of a Buddhist temple, dozens of white plastic bags lay in carefully arranged rows. Each sack was knotted at the top and contained the remains of a fetus.

Thai authorities found about 2,000 remains in the temple's mortuary, where they had been hidden for a year – apparently to conceal illegal abortions.

A strong stench had drawn police to the temple in Bangkok's old city Tuesday, and authorities searching the mortuary – where bodies awaiting cremation are normally kept – initially found more than 300 fetuses. They returned Friday to find more than five times that number, according to police Lt. Col. Kanathud Musiganont.

Health officials, police and charity workers counted the fetuses, placing each one in a white plastic bag bearing the charity's name in red Thai script and Chinese characters. The group is often involved in the handling of remains, including recovering bodies from accident scenes and organizing burials.

As the remains were laid out, Buddhist worshippers left offerings for the fetuses: milk and bananas to nourish their spirits in the afterlife.

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.

Although Thailand is home to a huge and active sex industry, many Thais are conservative on sexual matters, and Buddhist activists especially oppose liberalizing abortion laws.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Friday that more must be done to prevent illegal abortions but that his government would not revise the 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 a year and fined 2,000 baht ($67). The clinic employee – who police said confessed she had delivered the fetuses to the morgue workers starting early this year – could face up to five years in jail and a fine of 10,000 baht ($333).

2,000 Fetuses Found At Thai Buddhist Temple

[s_k_mullins]

What the hell? I don't know what to say...That is some twisted shit to keep them all lying around like that.

[silentrage]

I'm going to take a wild stab and say that illegal clinics may be in high demand due to liberal sexual activities and probably a lack of sexual education.

I may even go as far as to say there is a chance illegal clinics are paying undertakers at the temples to use their furnace to cremate the aborted fetuses.

There are some corrupt Buddhist temples out there...

[synrgy]

Photos from scene used in some album's liner notes in 5... 4... 3...

This is really odd, but then again odd things will happen when local laws prevent people from doing what they feel they have to do. Mind you, I'm not saying I feel their abortion laws are good or bad. It's just clear that if abortion is (mostly) illegal there, then there likely isn't any way to 'properly' dispose of the dead fetuses.

It sounds like the temple's undertaker(s) and the clinic(s) had some kind of under the table arrangement. Is what it is.

Better a religious temple than a dumpster in a back alley, anyway.

[Riffer]

I read that earlier today. Pretty crazy stuff right there. I told the guy I work with that the story sounds like a theme for a Cannibal Corpse song.

[Xaios]

Originally Posted by Riffer

I read that earlier today. Pretty crazy stuff right there. I told the guy I work with that the story sounds like a theme for a Cannibal Corpse song.

Dying Fetus would be more appropriate.


REALLY not trying to be insensitive. I lack the words to describe how utterly screwed up this is.

[SirMyghin]

Good lord...

In order to lighten the mood a little. . Naw , not going to tell a dead baby joke.

[Alberto7]

Uuhhh... Wait, what?... I don't have words. And I'm starting to giggle because I feel like an idiot now. That's extremely ....ed up, to say the very least...

[GuitaristOfHell]

I read the title and was like WHAAAT? *clicked link" OH MY GOD! Like I..I.. can't describe how screwed up this is ( sorry for some of the caps because I actually did scream those words very loud).

[Origin]

I'm all for abortion since it's integral to freedom, so ehn. They shouldn't have to resort to such ....ed up ways of hiding it, but that's what happens when your government's in the stone age.

Still really ....ed up though.

[Varcolac]

Originally Posted by Riffer

I read that earlier today. Pretty crazy stuff right there. I told the guy I work with that the story sounds like a theme for a Cannibal Corpse song.

More like Animals as Leaders. That's a Wave o' Babies right there.

I was rather shocked to discover (from this article) how limited abortions are in Thailand. After going there, it's the last place on Earth I'd expect to have a conservative attitude to any aspect of reproduction. I'm sure that even the most hardened pro-lifer would rather women go to a properly-regulated clinic than end up with bags of rotting fetuses in their church though.

[Demiurge]

Originally Posted by SirMyghin

Good lord...

In order to lighten the mood a little. . Naw , not going to tell a dead baby joke.

Dead babies aren't funny... unless they're wearing clown costumes.