2000 Fetuses At Buddhist Temple

THAI OFFICIALS FIND 2000 FETUSES AT BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Associated Press

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 2000 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 5 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.

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