ID :
150608
Sun, 11/21/2010 - 16:48
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/150608
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MPs to submit draft abortion law; Poll shows 60% shocked about foetuses found at temple
BANGKOK, Nov 21 -- A member of Thailand's ruling Democrat Party said Sunday that he and members of the House of Representatives will submit a draft law on legal abortion after 2,002 foetuses were found in a Buddhist temple’s morgue in Bangkok last week.
Satit Pitutacha, an administrative committee member of the Democrat Party and an MP representing the eastern province of Rayong, told journalists that he and fellow MPs with similar ideas on legal abortion will submit the draft law for debate during the next Lower House session.
If approved, the new law would allow an unprepared mother or parents to undertake an abortion, by setting up an agency to screen the unprepared requesting mother for an abortion. Applicants must register before receiving an abortion, Mr Satit said.
Benefits to be obtained from the law, if approved, are a decline in the death rate of mothers during abortion and reducing the legal guilt for abortion clinics, he said.
Applicants must bear entire expense, he said, adding that the law could reduce social problems by reducing 'low quality' population in the country.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, however, said during Sunday address that it is unnecessary to amend the abortion law as it is now appropriate.
Abortion is illegal in Thailand unless the mother’s health is in danger or she has been a rape victim.
“The most important thing now is to educate people to better understand a correct social ethic, especially among risk youngsters. Campaigns in the past failed to reach this group of people,” Mr Abhisit said.
A correct social ethic must be taught from primary to higher secondary schools, he added.
Last week’s discovery of 2,002 foetuses at a temple led the Dusit Poll to survey 1,458 people living in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces. Sixty-two per cent said they did not understand why there were so many abortions and some 15 per cent said it was both a sin and illegal.
The poll was conducted between Nov 18 -21.
Nearly half of the respondents -- 47 per cent -- said it is an individual’s right to have an abortion, if the need is shown.
As Thai society has changed drastically, 65.6 per cent said they agreed for the law to be amended while nearly 22 per cent said they are uncertain and amending the law alone might not be useful, as educating those at risk should be given simultaneously, according to the poll. (MCOT online news)
Satit Pitutacha, an administrative committee member of the Democrat Party and an MP representing the eastern province of Rayong, told journalists that he and fellow MPs with similar ideas on legal abortion will submit the draft law for debate during the next Lower House session.
If approved, the new law would allow an unprepared mother or parents to undertake an abortion, by setting up an agency to screen the unprepared requesting mother for an abortion. Applicants must register before receiving an abortion, Mr Satit said.
Benefits to be obtained from the law, if approved, are a decline in the death rate of mothers during abortion and reducing the legal guilt for abortion clinics, he said.
Applicants must bear entire expense, he said, adding that the law could reduce social problems by reducing 'low quality' population in the country.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, however, said during Sunday address that it is unnecessary to amend the abortion law as it is now appropriate.
Abortion is illegal in Thailand unless the mother’s health is in danger or she has been a rape victim.
“The most important thing now is to educate people to better understand a correct social ethic, especially among risk youngsters. Campaigns in the past failed to reach this group of people,” Mr Abhisit said.
A correct social ethic must be taught from primary to higher secondary schools, he added.
Last week’s discovery of 2,002 foetuses at a temple led the Dusit Poll to survey 1,458 people living in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces. Sixty-two per cent said they did not understand why there were so many abortions and some 15 per cent said it was both a sin and illegal.
The poll was conducted between Nov 18 -21.
Nearly half of the respondents -- 47 per cent -- said it is an individual’s right to have an abortion, if the need is shown.
As Thai society has changed drastically, 65.6 per cent said they agreed for the law to be amended while nearly 22 per cent said they are uncertain and amending the law alone might not be useful, as educating those at risk should be given simultaneously, according to the poll. (MCOT online news)
