The smell revealed the chilling secret. The terrible stench emanating from the temple in southern Bangkok led to the morgue where more than 2,000 fetuses were found wrapped in plastic bags and in various stages of decomposition.
The hidden remains were awaiting cremation, the final stage of an underground abortion network in Thailand’s capital. But a broken furnace disrupted the process for months, possibly longer, until the smell became too strong to hide.
The discovery of the “fetal morgue” shocked the predominantly Buddhist country and forced Thai society to discuss an issue that is often sidelined. At that time, in 2010, strict laws meant that access to abortion was extremely restricted; the medical procedure was only possible in certain cases, such as rape.
But after the discovery of 2,000 fetuses, Thailand could no longer ignore the fact that women regularly risked their lives to have unsafe abortions. The issue suddenly splashed across the front pages and evening newscasts.
It was the first time that a Buddhist monk felt compelled to speak out in the midst of this heated debate. Writing in The Nation newspaper, Phra Shine Waradhammo argued that women who have abortions are “oppressed by religious teachings”.
“Normally monks don’t talk much about abortion, most people say it’s a sin,” says Phra Shine, surrounded by orange robes at his temple home on the outskirts of Bangkok.
“I think this is based on a one-dimensional interpretation of Buddhism… That’s why I wrote this article to question the status quo, to make people think.”
But while Thailand’s abortion legislation is changing (at least for now), entrenched attitudes still hinder access.
Abortion ‘a two-stage system’
It’s been four years since the nation’s supreme court ruled an abortion ban unconstitutional and decriminalized the procedure. A later amendment allowed abortions up to the 20th week of pregnancy.
But affordable, safe and convenient services are limited even in Thailand’s capital.
None of Bangkok’s 22 public hospitals offer assisted abortion services, according to a recent report by pro-abortion activist group TamTang.
“There is a lot of stigma,” says Chonthita Krisrikul of TamTang at a recent parliamentary event marking the fourth anniversary of legalization.
“This year we met with the Ministry of Health under Bangkok administration [which runs the public hospitals]and doctors said abortion was not necessary, it was ‘like having a nose job’. “They basically said: ‘If you want an abortion, pay for it yourself.'”
As a result, a two-tier system emerged; Only those who can travel hours out of town to hospitals offering subsidized procedures or to pay for private care can access services.
But the problem is not limited to Bangkok: hospitals in only 39 of Thailand’s 77 provinces are officially registered as abortion providers, according to government figures.
“[The price in the private sector] Starting from 5,000 baht [£110]This means approximately 15 times the daily minimum wage,” says Ms. Krisrikul. “Therefore, it is almost impossible for low-income women to reach a private hospital.
“Many instead go to uncertified shops online that sell abortion pills on the black market. Often, the pills are not even effective.”
And there is some concern that even that access could be revoked. Last week, a health minister linked abortion rates to concerns about falling birth rates in Thailand and suggested “changing existing laws or drafting new legislation” to reduce layoffs.
“We all know that the law or restriction will not reduce the number of abortions, it will only increase the number of unsafe abortions,” says Supecha Baotip, founder of TamTang.
He adds that abortion-related deaths have decreased since Thailand legalized the medical procedure, but said “we may need to prepare ourselves for this with this initiative from the Ministry of Health.” [regularly report] “This kind of news again.”
Much of the stigma and difficulty accessing services still stems from religion, such as Christianity in countries like the United States and the Philippines, or Islam in Indonesia.
At least 90 percent of Thailand’s population identifies as Buddhist, and many in the conservative Theravada Buddhism majority believe abortion directly contradicts the teachings.
This is why some activists use religious language to argue for and rally support for ending abortions; for example, TamTang held ceremonies honoring victims of unsafe abortion. Still, many in the medical profession are hesitant.
“It all depends on which doctor you talk to. [to] “When it comes to abortion,” says Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a lecturer in law and religious studies at Chulalongkorn University. “But I think doctors in general are a bit conservative and [take a] Strong moral stance on such issues.
“It’s completely understandable. The first rule for Buddhists is not to kill any life form. Conventional belief holds that it is wrong to prevent birth; “Even birth control was once thought wrong.”
Thailand’s abortion laws do not force doctors to perform the procedure if they object, but doctors must refer women to other services. Some do this, usually through the 1663 helpline or the Safe Abortion Referral network. But TamTang said most don’t.
The Telegraph also found a similar report. We called eight government hospitals pretending to be a 10-week pregnant woman; six explicitly said they did not perform abortions, while one suggested consultation but was vague about next steps. Only one said they did not offer service but referred us to the 1663 helpline.
“Many doctors are hesitant about abortion and it is still difficult to convince doctors [to perform abortions]says Tossaporn Sereerak, chairman of Thailand’s parliamentary health committee.
Activists warn that bureaucratic inertia, stigma and a lack of political will mean little has been done to expand affordable access or combat misinformation that has emerged since the US overturned Roe v Wade, the law granting the constitutional right to abortion.
In Thailand, speaking publicly about the issue can still trigger a wave of harassment.
More than a decade after her first article about abortion, Phra Shine was photographed at a protest. His presence provoked a strong reaction: he was labeled “trash” and a “hungry ghost in a saffron robe”; Part of the majority of conservative Theravada Buddhism says that a woman who has an abortion will be haunted by a ghost.
“People said I was a fake monk, exploiting the orange robes,” says Phra Shine, 55. “I think Thai society is shaped by a single interpretation of Buddhism… and is afraid of different views and confrontations. It can be difficult to speak openly, especially as a monk.
“But I think there is hope for the future, Thailand has come a long way… change is sometimes incremental,” he adds.
For now, Phra Shine is focusing on creating a space to share experiences on Facebook, where she has thousands of followers and regularly posts about women’s rights and LGBTQ+ issues.
“Women are shamed and blamed for so many things when it comes to sex and abortion,” she says. “My message to people is that they are not alone; As a monk, I do not deny their existence. An orange-robed cleric supported them.”
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