Abortion in Thailand
Last week Thailand was shocked by the discovery of over 2,000 aborted fetuses hidden at a Bangkok temple. Abortion is illegal in Thailand (except for several narrow exceptions) and this news has reopened the debate about whether that is the best policy.
Everyone already knew that many women choose to have illegal abortions at underground clinics around the country, but the discovery of this many dead babies in one place has been very unsettling. One woman is in custody and has confessed to both performing some of the abortions and receiving money to transport the remains to the temple. Apparently there are two possible explanations for why the fetuses were taken to the temple – and probably both are true. The first is that this is a way of making merit for the dead baby. It is widely accepted in Thai Buddhist belief that abortion is killing and that killing is sin. In fact, my friend and English student was surprised to hear that abortion is legal in America! This same friend said that he once talked to an abortion provider who said that he knew his actions were wrong, so to compensate for that he used most of his proceeds to make merit for the infant. A second, more sinister reason for storing the remains at the temple is that many people believe that babies have especially powerful spirits which can be used for personal gain or power. A person who knows the right “magic” can perform rituals that form some kind of contract with the spirit.
This whole story really highlights the importance that “saving face” has in this culture. I’ve read several newspaper articles recently which have contained interviews with women who have chosen illegal abortions. For many of them, fear of shaming their parents was the driving factor. University students also face a lot of pressure since pregnancy is grounds for expulsion.
Most people in Thailand apparently support the ban on abortion. Even the modifications that are being proposed are very minor – a panel which would consider every request and only grant permission in dire circumstances of poverty, mental illness, etc. Yet, at the same time, thousands of illegal abortions are taking place and as long as there’s not a public breach of the policy (as in this case) it is tolerated. In America the law is different, but the end result is depressingly similar – babies are being killed.
-Tom